Wildcat Creek Campground #1 Lower

Campground closure

Temporarily closed (US Forest Service)

CLOSED TO MOTORIZED VEHICLE DUE TO ROAD HAZARDS. No safe access by vehicle to the campgrounds.

Wildcat 1 Campground is closed, no camping, no trash.

Wildcat Road has sustained 4 slides in recent years (with the first slide happening in 2019). Due to the risk of additional slides, the road has been closed in the interest of public safety. Funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Emergency Relief on Federally Owned Roads program has been submitted for all 4 slides. Since then, slide 1 has been repaired with slides 2-4 remaining.

It is our goal to have these slides repaired and the road reopened. We appreciate your patience as we work to restore Wildcat Road.

Please see photographs of the landslides and recent repairs to slide 1: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjAQDh5

***end of update***

Although the winding road leading to the campground is not trailer or RV-friendly, the payoff of landing a night in this environment is pure delight. These developed tent camping-only campgrounds are buried deep in the North Georgia Mountains west of Lake Burton and along the headwaters of Wildcat Creek. The creek, seasonally stocked with rainbow trout, runs directly adjacent to the campsites and provides an astounding setting, so be prepared to capture nature at its best, and bring your camera. On clear nights the stars appear to be just an arm’s reach away!
Photo 1
Photo 2

Fees

Camping: $10/site/night. $5/site/night with Senior or Access Pass, must have actual pass with the pass number to place on envelopes with the $5 cash or check for the discount. Please make all checks payable to USDA Forest Service.

Rules

No camping, no fires, and no trash pickup until campground can reopen after road repairs completed.

Directions

Physical Address: 2726 West Wildcat Rd., Clayton, GA From Clayton, GA, take U.S. Rt. 76 west for 9.7 miles to State Rt. 197. Turn left onto Rt. 197 and go 5.1 miles to West Wildcat Rd. (Forest Rt. 26). Turn right onto West Wildcat Rd. and go 2.8 miles to campground. NOTE: Wildcat Rd. is gravel, steep (in places), single lane with turnouts. There are minimal potholes and washboards.