Camping at Mountain Crossings

[Slow Roller]

I want to camp at MC on a weekend and day hike. Are there many sites available?

[capehiker]

Just behind the store going NoBo (about 300ft) is an area with a few spots.

[soumodeler]

There are some spots right behind the store. If you go one mile north up the trail to Bull Gap there are a ton of really nice spots and water.

[Slo-go'en]

There are some spots right behind the store. If you go one mile north up the trail to Bull Gap there are a ton of really nice spots and water.

Technically, the area just behind the store is a no camping zone, but they do look the other way during the spring busy season once the hostel fills up. I think they would frown on your using it as a "base camp" to day hike. They would rather you stay inside the hostel for $13 a night.

[Slow Roller]

Just behind the store going NoBo (about 300ft) is an area with a few spots.

Thanks. Is this on their land or USF.

[capehiker]

Thanks. Is this on their land or USF.

The USF. Youll see a Wilderness sign. It's just past that but within view of the store.

I'll echo Bull Gap. Tons of camping there. Fill up with water at Mountain Crossings and hike the mile to the camp site.

[Lone Wolf]

Thanks. Is this on their land or USF.

State of Georgia land.

[bigcranky]

Right behind the store is open but there is no camping. Follow the AT north a couple of hundred yards and there is a very small area that can hold a couple of tents. I would not count on this being available given its small size. As noted above, Bull Gap has plenty of campsites a mile north of the store.

[Slo-go'en]

As noted above, Bull Gap has plenty of campsites a mile north of the store.

Once you climb up and over the big hill behind the store...

[Slow Roller]

Thanks lots of good advise!

[gpburdelljr]

Bear in mind that you can't leave your car in the Mountains Crossing parking lot. There is parking about 1/4 mile north at the Byron Herbert Reese Memorial. More information on parking can be found here:

https://mountaincrossingsatneelgap.w...p-at-neel-gap/

[Slow Roller]

Bear in mind that you can't leave your car in the Mountains Crossing parking lot. There is parking about 1/4 mile north at the Byron Herbert Reese Memorial. More information on parking can be found here:

https://mountaincrossingsatneelgap.w...p-at-neel-gap/

OK We have decided to blow on thru MC based on the warnings and advise to tell us to press on , I dont like leaving the wilderness anyway!

[Gambit McCrae]

OK We have decided to blow on thru MC based on the warnings and advise to tell us to press on , I dont like leaving the wilderness anyway!

I have stayed at Bull gap nice spot. Some info about:
When going nobo, the spring is trail left about 100 yards.
I stayed trail right and a big storm came thru, I woke up in about 3-4" of water. Several other folks had the same issue, yes its up in the mountains but also yes the tent sites are super flat and water doesn't drain well in that location.

[Slow Roller]

We hiked Woody to Hogpen and yes the little site behind the store is a no go. The parking area down the road has some issues. Remove the boulders and 20 or so more cars can park. Plus allow camping there.

[glenlawson]

"The parking area down the road has some issues. Remove the boulders and 20 or so more cars can park."
Remove the boulders and 40 cars will try to park where 20 should be. This is the reason the boulders were added.

"Plus allow camping there."
You'll notice there is no camping all along the highways in this area. Camping at BHR would make it unusable for anything.

[Slow Roller]

The way it is now, cars are parking beside the rocks and clogging the road. Move the rocks so cars can park.

[soumodeler]

The rocks are placed there in an attempt to limit crowds on that section of trail. It is extremely overused at times. However, it doesn’t really work as people still cram cars into any available space. They recently added the wooden barriers near the entrance and exit to keep the road from being blocked. I heard they only ticket cars parked illegally overnight. It all comes down to too many people for a limited space.

And camping there would make it even worse.

[Slow Roller]

The rocks are placed there in an attempt to limit crowds on that section of trail. It is extremely overused at times. However, it doesn’t really work as people still cram cars into any available space. They recently added the wooden barriers near the entrance and exit to keep the road from being blocked. I heard they only ticket cars parked illegally overnight. It all comes down to too many people for a limited space.

And camping there would make it even worse.

Maybe the overuse problem could be curbed by less promotion.

[soumodeler]

Maybe the overuse problem could be curbed by less promotion.

What promotion?