Camper’s Guide to Prentice Cooper State Forest
Pitch a tent amid the pines in this outdoor recreation wonderland.
Vogel is one of the oldest state parks in Georgia, established in 1931 with some of its facilities built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Once you soak in the setting, you’ll understand why: The park sits at the base of Blood Mountain, nestled in the mountains of North Georgia (once the territory of the Cherokee and Creek peoples). And though Vogel isn’t large, at just 233 acres, it’s surrounded by Chattahoochee National Forest, offering state park-style amenities with quick access to rugged adventures. It’s also a hiker’s dream with 17 miles of trail that extend into the surrounding forest. And everything is centered around a picturesque 22-acre lake open to non-motorized boats and swimming. To top it off, Vogel is also at the tail end of a multi-million-dollar renovation meant to upgrade the camping facilities—meaning that now is the time to hit the park and pitch a tent.
Camping
Vogel has a variety of accommodations, from rustic cottages to primitive, walk-in tent sites. In total, there are 34 cottages, 90 tent and RV sites, 18 walk-in campsites, and one large group campsite.
The campground is far from primitive, with developments like playgrounds and a miniature golf course to dish out entertainment far beyond the great outdoors for the kids. Looking for more nature and less putt-putt? Don’t despair; many of the campsites are wooded, surrounded by tall hardwoods and pines that provide plenty of privacy. A few creeks wind through them, offering the kind of white noise most of us need an app to fall asleep to, and some of the sites back up to the creeks.
The park is finishing $2.6 million worth of renovations in the campground, so the sites are in primo condition right now. All RV sites have new pads, fencing, and upgraded electrical, water and sewage hookups. All of the sites received new picnic tables, grills and fire rings. Phase 1 and 2 of the renovations are complete and phase 3 will be done by the middle of March 2023. There will also be Wi-Fi throughout the campground when the renovations are complete.
If you have a trailer or RV, or want to park close to your tent, a number of campsites with full hookups back up to Wolf Creek ($38 a night). Try to score campsites 61, 62 or 64 for close access to the water. If you’re looking for quiet sites for tents only, consider one of the walk-in tent sites ($30 a night), which have their own parking area and are separated from the rest of the campground by streams. Campsite A offers the shortest walk, but if you want the most privacy, shoot for Campsite I, which is the farthest from the parking lot and tucked into the woods all on its own.
Not everyone wants to rough it, so Vogel also has more than 30 cottages ($135 to $290 a night), a few of which are located on the lake. Cottage 35 is the best location, just feet from the shore, with backyard access to the Trahlyta Lake Trail.
