Georgia Trail Riders Forum

MEMBERS DISCUSSION AREA => General Discussion => Topic started by: BigJerm on June 23, 2008, 09:21:30 AM

Title: Lake Conasauga info?
Post by: BigJerm on June 23, 2008, 09:21:30 AM
Any info on this place? Chris it seems to be near you, 20 miles outside of Eton, GA.

Someone in Megan's company is planning a big camping trip for the employees there and of coarse I got invited to go. The guy's description it fishing, boating, kayaking, hiking, mountain bike trails at Bear Creek and 2 ORV trails (must be street legal!), campgrounds with bath houses and water. A quick Google search revealed a 10 mile bike loop that seems like it will be a little hard to follow but I can't find any 4x4 info except ATV and dirt bike trails. I assume the guy knows what he is talking about though since he has been there before a couple of times.
Title: Re: Lake Conasauga info?
Post by: yellowxj on June 23, 2008, 09:27:21 AM
I still have people telling me we can drive street legal OHV's at Davenport Mt. but everything online says no...it would be neat if there were more trails for us.
Title: Re: Lake Conasauga info?
Post by: Krawler00 on June 23, 2008, 10:39:38 AM
You got trails. Lets expand them and make it the new hot offroad spot! ;D
Title: Re: Lake Conasauga info?
Post by: BigJerm on June 23, 2008, 10:42:14 AM
well the trip isn't till the end of July so hopefully I can get some info by then. Ill bring the camera but I am going to assume if they are there and there is not real info on the net they must suck as for as a challenge or only be a mile long.
Title: Re: Lake Conasauga info?
Post by: camper on June 23, 2008, 07:27:48 PM
Lake Conasauga campground in the Cohutta Wilderness is a really nice campground.  I've been there several times and its one of my favorite places to go when I leave florida for north georgia.  U.S. hwy 411 runs south/north on the west side of the wilderness through Chatsworth and some smaller towns.  I go into the forest from a small community called Eton just north of Chatsworth, but I know there are several other ways in. I'm pretty sure you can come in from Ellijay on the southeast side of the wilderness.  Chatsworth is north of Atlanta and east of I-75.

I only recently became interested in jeeps.  My wife and I are (were) backpackers and there are some great hiking trails in cohutta.  We would set up a car camp at the lake conasauga campground and then day hike.  I have been in my stock jeep and found a few easy and short jeep trails.  There may be more, but I haven't explored for jeeps yet.  I bet mountain bikes would be fun there.  The forest road from civilization into the wilderness is a great jeep trail in itself.  It climbs up into the middle of nowhere and the campground is so far from anywhere, that it isn't as crowded as most places.  It probably takes most of an hour just to get from the town of Eton up to the campground. And if rough forest roads with the top down is pleasurable to you, then there are miles of scenic rides.

The campground itself is high in the wilderness and there's a dammed lake there.  Many of the camp sites are right on the water.  The campground is no reserve with the honor payment envelopes.  Theres a nice bathroom/shower, water spigots, fire rings, etc.  It's been a few years since I was last there.  Again, it's a long way back to town for extra hamburger or camera batteries.
Title: Re: Lake Conasauga info?
Post by: DOUG on June 23, 2008, 08:42:04 PM
Lake Conasauga campground in the Cohutta Wilderness is a really nice campground.  I've been there several times and its one of my favorite places to go when I leave florida for north georgia.  U.S. hwy 411 runs south/north on the west side of the wilderness through Chatsworth and some smaller towns.  I go into the forest from a small community called Eton just north of Chatsworth, but I know there are several other ways in. I'm pretty sure you can come in from Ellijay on the southeast side of the wilderness.  Chatsworth is north of Atlanta and east of I-75.

I only recently became interested in jeeps.  My wife and I are (were) backpackers and there are some great hiking trails in cohutta.  We would set up a car camp at the lake conasauga campground and then day hike.  I have been in my stock jeep and found a few easy and short jeep trails.  There may be more, but I haven't explored for jeeps yet.  I bet mountain bikes would be fun there.  The forest road from civilization into the wilderness is a great jeep trail in itself.  It climbs up into the middle of nowhere and the campground is so far from anywhere, that it isn't as crowded as most places.  It probably takes most of an hour just to get from the town of Eton up to the campground. And if rough forest roads with the top down is pleasurable to you, then there are miles of scenic rides.

The campground itself is high in the wilderness and there's a dammed lake there.  Many of the camp sites are right on the water.  The campground is no reserve with the honor payment envelopes.  Theres a nice bathroom/shower, water spigots, fire rings, etc.  It's been a few years since I was last there.  Again, it's a long way back to town for extra hamburger or camera batteries.

Sounds great for a family outing.  Chris, isn't this in your backyard?
Title: Re: Lake Conasauga info?
Post by: BigJerm on June 23, 2008, 09:46:46 PM
thanks for the info! I am pretty excited about it. We do plan to bring the bikes and the jeep and it should be a good time. Megan is pumped because of showers, lol.
Title: Re: Lake Conasauga info?
Post by: Krawler00 on June 23, 2008, 09:50:52 PM
Take some pics! I bet the bikes will be a blast! You should get yourself a hydration backpack if you don't have one already. This heat it will soak you up!
Title: Re: Lake Conasauga info?
Post by: BigJerm on June 23, 2008, 10:03:46 PM
Take some pics! I bet the bikes will be a blast! You should get yourself a hydration backpack if you don't have one already. This heat it will soak you up!

Camelbak slipstream baby!
Title: Re: Lake Conasauga info?
Post by: Krawler00 on June 23, 2008, 10:05:06 PM
1 liter or more? I have a 1 liter pack.
Title: Re: Lake Conasauga info?
Post by: BigJerm on June 24, 2008, 07:46:45 AM
50 oz. If I go for a longer ride Ill strap on the water bottle for an extra 24 oz of water. I keep myself very hydrated all day long too so that helps.
Title: Re: Lake Conasauga info?
Post by: 06trailrig on June 25, 2008, 07:41:46 AM
The trails that are up there are for bikes, atv's, and motorcycles. Nothing up there for jeeps but it is very beautiful up there like said before it's way out there.
Title: Re: Lake Conasauga info?
Post by: Chris Hyde on June 25, 2008, 08:19:57 AM
Laka Conasauga is out my back window on the top of Grassy Mountain.  It's very nice up there and you should have a FUN time!  This is where I always post snow pictures from in the winter.

This is not from my house because my house is at the base of the mountain, but see the snowy tip?  That's where Lake Conasauga is.  ;D

(http://www.srh.noaa.gov/ffc/images/mt_snow.jpg)
Title: Re: Lake Conasauga info?
Post by: BigJerm on June 25, 2008, 08:53:58 AM
nice picture... man I cant wait
Title: Re: Lake Conasauga info?
Post by: Krawler00 on June 25, 2008, 09:03:40 AM
Chris, you got pics from the top. Would like to see the lake up there.
Title: Re: Lake Conasauga info?
Post by: Chris Hyde on June 25, 2008, 09:36:19 AM
(http://www.forestcamping.com/dow/gallery/chat4.jpg)

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/6f/Lake_Conasauga.jpg/240px-Lake_Conasauga.jpg)

(http://www.bubbaacres.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/.pond/lakeconasauga.jpg.w300h225.jpg)

(http://www.jjanthony.com/waterfalls/falls/fallsimages/conasauga_0619.jpg)

(http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x147/Chris_Hyde/DSC04000.jpg)

(http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x147/Chris_Hyde/DSC04004.jpg)

(http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x147/Chris_Hyde/DSC04002.jpg)

(http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x147/Chris_Hyde/DSC04005.jpg)

(http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x147/Chris_Hyde/DSC03992.jpg)
Title: Re: Lake Conasauga info?
Post by: Chris Hyde on June 25, 2008, 09:37:39 AM
Any info on this place? Chris it seems to be near you, 20 miles outside of Eton, GA.

Someone in Megan's company is planning a big camping trip for the employees there and of coarse I got invited to go. The guy's description it fishing, boating, kayaking, hiking, mountain bike trails at Bear Creek and 2 ORV trails (must be street legal!), campgrounds with bath houses and water. A quick Google search revealed a 10 mile bike loop that seems like it will be a little hard to follow but I can't find any 4x4 info except ATV and dirt bike trails. I assume the guy knows what he is talking about though since he has been there before a couple of times.


Since you are passing my driveway to go there, you better stop at the house and say hey or I will hunt you down.  ;D 
Title: Re: Lake Conasauga info?
Post by: BigJerm on June 25, 2008, 09:40:03 AM
I will swing by for sure. Ill get your address as it gets closer... Man sometimes I wish I would have bought a 4dr Wrangler for these camping trips when people want to carpool with us
Title: Re: Lake Conasauga info?
Post by: Chris Hyde on June 25, 2008, 09:53:29 AM
I live on CCC Camp Road, which is the road you drive on to get to Conasauga, so heck yeah, lemme know.
Title: Re: Lake Conasauga info?
Post by: Krawler00 on June 25, 2008, 10:59:14 AM
Hey Chris, why do you have pics of Dougs Jeep? :D
Title: Re: Lake Conasauga info?
Post by: BigJerm on July 24, 2008, 09:14:47 AM
so bringing back the thread. We leave tomorrow afternoon, probably around 4ish with about 2 hour drive to Eton with traffic on a Friday.
Title: Re: Lake Conasauga info?
Post by: Will on July 24, 2008, 09:53:30 AM
I will swing by for sure. Ill get your address as it gets closer... Man sometimes I wish I would have bought a 4dr Wrangler for these camping trips when people want to carpool with us

haha, this is pretty good. You were saying this under a month ago  ;)
Title: Re: Lake Conasauga info?
Post by: BigJerm on July 24, 2008, 10:30:34 AM
haha yeah I thought the same as I read through the thread. I am pumped about the trip. I called the Rangers office this morning to talk to the guys about it and they said it is most every forest rangers favorite place to go because it is so secluded.
Title: Re: Lake Conasauga info?
Post by: lt99ls1 on July 24, 2008, 12:07:26 PM
I will warn you the water is cold as hell even when it is 100+ outside.
Title: Re: Lake Conasauga info?
Post by: BigJerm on July 28, 2008, 10:14:43 AM
WOW, what a weekend. We stopped at Chris's place for a few minutes to chat it up and then we headed out. The drive up was great, just winding gravel roads up the mountain side, lots of hiking and mountain bike trails intersect with the forest road. The road is not a “hard core” road by any means and we say 2wd trucks and cars going through with no issues.

The campgrounds at the lake is pretty good and there are a lot of spaces even though it doesn't seem that way because they are all spread out. There are a few spots on the lake but those seem to be the hard to get spots and are very popular. The lake itself is gorgeous and well maintained. We did a little swimming but mostly kayaking on the lake. The water is COLD! The lake is small though, took us about 20-25 minutes to walk around the whole lake in a slow to medium pace. There are several hiking trails that stem off from the lake loop as well.

While up there me and the 2 other guys got in the Rubi and check out Rock Flats ORV trail that is about 5 miles east of Crandall. Nothing to write home about as far as extreme crawling but still a nice ride along the ridge line. I had it in 4wd to disco the sway bar but I didn't need to be in 4wd. We explored a few other roads and such with creek crossings and then turned back to camp.

Overall, a great weekend, a great place to “get away” and camp and I would go again. Pictures to follow this evening!
Title: Re: Lake Conasauga info?
Post by: Krawler00 on July 28, 2008, 10:54:46 AM
Sounds like fun! I will be near Helen this weekend camping. Toying with heading up to tellico or beasley. Need a fix!
Title: Re: Lake Conasauga info?
Post by: BigJerm on July 29, 2008, 09:55:54 PM
alright so as promised

http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i189/JermTib05/lake%20conasauga/


My favorite one. On the way up at the look out point.

(http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i189/JermTib05/lake%20conasauga/DSC_0127.jpg)
Title: Re: Lake Conasauga info?
Post by: Krawler00 on July 30, 2008, 09:20:17 AM
Yeah, that is a great pic! Looks like a good place to stay!
Title: Re: Lake Conasauga info?
Post by: Matt on July 30, 2008, 02:15:50 PM
If its ok with you Jerm I may be using that pic on the site. ;)
Title: Re: Lake Conasauga info?
Post by: Krawler00 on July 30, 2008, 02:17:37 PM
Better charge him some royalty.
Title: Re: Lake Conasauga info?
Post by: BigJerm on July 30, 2008, 02:49:23 PM
If its ok with you Jerm I may be using that pic on the site. ;)

all yours buddy.


Ben, royalty fee's, haha. Now a free GATR sticker.... not a bad deal thur  {toast}
Title: Re: Lake Conasauga info?
Post by: Krawler00 on July 30, 2008, 02:55:59 PM
Not bad buddy!
Title: Re: Lake Conasauga info?
Post by: Chris Hyde on July 30, 2008, 03:15:48 PM
(http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i189/JermTib05/lake%20conasauga/DSC_0127.jpg)

I think I see my house!  :o                  ;D
Title: Re: Lake Conasauga info?
Post by: Krawler00 on July 30, 2008, 04:10:14 PM
I see the Jeep!

[attachment deleted by admin]
Title: Re: Lake Conasauga info?
Post by: jbaird1 on July 30, 2008, 07:42:36 PM
Wheres mine? Im closer than Chris.
Title: Re: Lake Conasauga info?
Post by: RotorHead on July 30, 2008, 11:08:45 PM
Nice pictures Jeremy. Looks like fun.