The Pocket Campground and Recreation Area is in the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest, just south of Walker County in north Floyd County and a touch west of Sugar Valley, GA. Sitting in a natural bowl-shaped valley between Horn and Mill mountains, the Pocket was formed by limestone dissolving, which left significant ridges and valleys in the area. The iron-rich ridges are filled with iron ore “pockets,” hence the name.
- Campsites26 non-electric sites on one loop
- Fee$15 per site per night
- 2026 seasonApril 1 to Oct. 29
- ReservationsRecreation.gov, up to 6 months ahead
Home to many animals including deer, turkey, beavers, trout, turtles and more, the Pocket is also full of native wildflowers and trees. A small creek known locally as Spring Branch, a tributary of nearby Johns Creek, winds through the recreation area.
In the Pocket you can camp, picnic, hike and fish for trout.
History: Pocket, Zone and the CCC
From the mid-1800s until the Great Depression, two communities, Pocket and Zone, stood here, with farms, churches, a grist mill, a sawmill and a general store. Between 1938 and 1942 the Pocket Recreation Area was a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) work camp for Company 3435. Members of the CCC built roads and bridges, planted trees, fought wildfires, controlled erosion and cared for the local environment.
You can still find remnants of the old camp, including building foundations, the old fountain house (the spring box in the picnic area), retaining walls, trenches and more, though mostly beavers control the local ecosystem now.
Why We Camp Here
My wife and I camp here each fall and love the amenities: fire pit, bathrooms and tent space, as well as the natural beauties, including the beaver pond at the center of camp, many nearby hikes, and trout fishing in Johns Creek. In the fall of 2025 we saw an otter hunting in the stream, a first for both of us.
I would recommend the campground to anyone looking for a simple, beautiful campsite. It’s great for young children, convenient weekend trips, or longer stays if you like (up to 14 nights).
The Campground
Campsites
Each site has a paved parking spur, gravel tent pad, picnic table, lantern post and a fire ring with a grill. Sites vary in size and fit tents up to 28-foot travel trailers.
Water & restrooms
A central restroom with flush toilets (no showers) and water hydrants throughout the campground.
No hookups
There is no electricity and no dump station. Generators are allowed in daylight hours.
No cell service
Coverage is extremely limited. The nearest store and gas station are 8 miles away in Villanow, so bring what you need.
Reservations, Fees & Rules
Campsites are $15 per night and are reserved through Recreation.gov (or by phone at 877-444-6777) on a 6-month booking window. The 2026 season runs April 1 to Oct. 29. Check-in is 3 p.m. and check-out is 2 p.m.
Per site
Up to 5 people and 2 vehicles.
Stay limit
14 days within any 30-day period on the national forest.
Quiet hours
10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Pets
Allowed, on a leash at all times.
Alcohol & fireworks
Both are prohibited.
Food & firewood
Store food and trash in a vehicle or the bear-resistant bins. Gather only dead and down wood.
Picnicking, Trails & Trout Fishing
Next to the campground, the Pocket Picnic Area has tables, grills, a reservable picnic shelter and a vault toilet. The CCC spring box sits in the creek here, releasing cold water that makes a good place to wade on a summer day.
Pocket Interpretive Trail
A 1.5-mile walk from the picnic area with signs on the habitats, wildlife and plants along the way.
Pocket Loop Trail
A 2.5-mile loop from the picnic area through pine and oak forest, past a small wildlife pond. It shares some tread with the interpretive trail.
Johns Creek trout fishing
Less than a mile away. Turn left on Pocket Road, stay right at the Y after a quarter mile, and look for pull-offs after 1 mile. Georgia DNR fishing regulations apply.
Nearby
Keown Falls
A picnic area and 3-mile loop trail to the falls, best after rain. Turn right on Pocket Road, then left after 2 miles on Forest Service Road 702.
Johns Mountain Overlook
Views of the Armuchee Valley and Taylor’s Ridge. Turn right on Pocket Road, left after 3 miles on Forest Service Road 208, then 2 miles to the overlook.
Ridge and Valley Scenic Byway
The 51-mile driving loop that passes the Pocket, Keown Falls and Johns Mountain.
Houston Valley OHV Trails
25 miles of ATV and motorbike trails near Dalton (fee area).
Directions
From I-75, take Exit 320 (LaFayette/Resaca) and go west on Georgia 136 for about 14 miles. Turn left on Pocket Road and go about 7 miles. The recreation area is on the left. The roads in are paved. GPS: 34.583573, -85.085440.
Contact
Conasauga Ranger District, 3941 Highway 76, Chatsworth, GA 30705. 706-695-6736. A campground host lives at the entrance; it is a residence, not a store or office. See more Georgia national forest campgrounds.
Sources we checked
Facts in this guide were checked against the agency that runs this campground:
- Recreation.gov: Pocket Campground – sites, fees, season, rules, history and directions
Spot something out of date? Email Contact@n-georgia.com and we’ll check it against the official source. Read how we research our guides.