One of our favorite places to camp in our popup camper is Black Rock Mountain State Park. This park has some beautiful views, great hiking trails, a fishing lake, and some peace and quiet.
Located on the Eastern Continental Divide at an altitude of 3,640 feet, Georgia’s highest state park is surrounded by some of the state’s most extraordinary scenery. While this is the best part about the park, we also want to share the downsides to this park and why it might not be for you.
This park was on our bucket list, but we didn’t actually visit until we got our popup. When we had our fifth wheel, there was no way we were pulling that camper to the top.
Since we have been camping at this park, we have seen many people pull large campers up there, but you need to know that you will NOT fit in just any campsite. There are only a few that are big enough, and even those sites aren’t easy to get into.
When you look at the site descriptions, the measurements for each site are the entire length. So if it says 30 feet, this means your vehicle and your camper must be under 30 feet.
If you want to see how tight the roads in the park are, watch our video above, where we drive through Black Rock Mountain. The purpose of this video is to give you a glimpse of the entire drive.
We stayed in site 36 (this visit), which was directly across from the second bathhouse. We like this site because it has great views, is close to the bathroom, and is a pretty large site. You have to back into this site.
Campground Information
This park in Mountain City, GA, is a 1743-acre park. There are 44 RV, trailer, and tent sites. They have 10 cottages. 12 walking sites, 4 backcountry sites, and 1 pioneer campground.
As I mentioned before, the roads are tight and the sites are small. You will definitely want to check the measurements of each site before you book. It might not even be a bad idea to call and speak with someone.
We have stayed in a few sites at this park but each time was in our popup camper. We stayed on site 45 for one visit and it was a tight fit for our popup and truck to both be in.
Hiking Trails
This park also has some really great hiking trails. We hiked the Tennessee Rock Trail on this visit. We got to see some really great fall foliage colors during our hike.
Tennessee Rock Trail
2.2 mile loop. Rated moderate to difficult.
The yellow-blazed 2.2-mile Tennessee Rock Trail, winding its way through some of the highest and lushest forests, is the park’s most popular hiking trail. Rated by experienced hikers as “easy to moderate,” the trail offers most visitors a perfect opportunity to get better acquainted with the area’s rich woodlands and vistas, that on clear days span over 80 miles into the neighboring states of both North and South Carolina, as well as Tennessee.
James E. Edmond Trail (Backcountry)
7.2 mile loop. Rated difficult to strenuous.
The 7.2-mile James E. Edmonds Backcountry Trail, named in honor of one of the park’s first rangers, has both day hiking and backcountry camping. This trail is quite steep in a number of places and is rated as “moderate to strenuous.”
In laurel-filled coves, the trail follows cascading streams with small waterfalls. In the northernmost section of the park, the trail climbs to the summit of Lookoff Mountain and offers a stunning view of Wolffork Valley and the surrounding mountain ranges. Backcountry Camping is available by Permit Only. Camping is allowed on four designated campsites (you must make reservations).
Ada-Hi Falls Trail
0.25 mile one way. Rated moderate to difficult.
The Ada-Hi Falls Trail provides a delightful but challenging walk into an outstanding example of a moist, north-slope Appalachian cove. The trail features mature hardwoods, lichen-covered rocks, a variety of ferns and wildflowers, and a dense thicket of rhododendron. At the trail’s end is the observation platform for the Ada-Hi Falls, a small cascade typical of those found at higher elevations throughout the Blue Ridge Mountains.
We have hiked this trail during a spring break visit, and it was beautiful.
Black Rock Lake Trail
0.85 mile loop. Rated easy.
The loop around Black Rock Lake is a wonderful addition to the park’s trail system. The 17-acre lake is unspoiled by development and is rimmed by forests of white pine and yellow poplar.
The 0.85-mile loop is rated “easy” and is great for beginners. Wooden bridges cross Taylor Creek and Greasy Creek, the two cascading streams that feed Black Rock Lake, and an 80-foot bridge spans Cricket Cove on the lake’s southwest corner. A wheelchair-accessible pier adjacent Turtle Rock and a 160-foot wooden boardwalk allow anglers a chance to fish for bass, bream, catfish, yellow perch, and rainbow trout.
Things to Do
The nearby town of Clayton, GA is a great place to visit if you love to shop. There is a really cool outdoor store there called Wander.
Our favorite restaurant to have breakfast when we are camping is called The Vally Cafe. To get there, you take a left onto Highway 441, and its 4.2 miles north (the restaurant is on the left in an old bank).
My kids get the Chicken and Waffles, my husband gets Eggs Benedict, and I get whatever I’m in the mood for that morning. It’s all delicious.
There are several hiking and site seeing opportunities nearby like Warwoman Dell, Tallulah Falls, Moccasin Creek, Rabun Bald, Minnehaha Falls, Angel/Panther Falls, Hemlock Falls, Lake Rabun, Lake Burton, and the town of Dillard are all within 15-20 miles, making this the perfect place for exploring the best outdoor attractions in Rabun County.
We recommend visiting the Tallulah Adventures and The Edge Cafe. They have a restaurant, store, bar, and outdoor play area where my kids did their rock climbing and we played some outdoor games.
Other things you can do at Black Rock are relax by the fire, read a book, and enjoy nature from your hammock.
This is the park where we made our campfire chili. It was a perfect chilly mountain camping recipe. You can grab your Dutch Oven and see the recipe here.
My Honest Opinion
This is a beautiful park to visit. You can make it a day trip and have plenty of things to keep you busy all day. If you are thinking of camping here, I would not make this trip in a large camper. You are going to have a hard time getting into almost all of the sites.
It’s a great place for small campers and tents. Since this park is at such a high elevation, you will want to make sure you are prepared for the wind. Every time we have visited, the mornings have been breezy and cold. (This is why we had breakfast at The Vally Cafe because it was so cold and breezy).
We recommend arriving in the daytime, you don’t want to navigate this park in the dark.
We love this place, and we already have another visit on the books.