TIME TO Get Away A Guide to Camping

If you’re searching for anything good that might have come out of the COVID-19 pandemic, consider the fact that getting outdoors, away from confined indoor environments, became something growing numbers of people have found renewed excitement in.

Wayne Petty, from Forney, got involved in hiking and camping as a Boy Scout and has been enjoying the natural resources of Cherokee County for more than 40 years. From the Pinhoti Trail, which crosses the southern end of Cherokee County, to the Little River Canyon on the north side, Petty feels the county has a lot of places where people can get away from the hustle and speed of day-to-day living.

Hammock camping is the latest ‘trend’ among folks who enjoy a weekend in the wild. Petty believes a good rain fly is an important key to hammock camping. “Check your weather forecast ahead of time,” Petty said.

Without hesitation, Petty says a good water filter is a must when you’re out in the woods for a couple of days. Water supplies aren’t tough to find anywhere near Weiss Lake, but if you’re going out for a few days on the Pinhoti Trail water supplies can be iffy, particularly at higher elevations like Indian Mountain. The dry summer months also demand that people research the exact locations of water holes. “You’ve got to plan ahead for it,” Petty said.

Footwear is another critical element for anyone spending time outdoors. If you’re going to be out in rocky terrain, a good hiking boot that provides some ankle support is important. Aside from rocks, campers and hikers must be aware of roots, particularly wet ones, along trails. A trip and fall can result in any number of injuries, and if you’re off the beaten path, so to say, help might not be able to reach you for a while.

Insect repellant should be an important part of outdoor gear, particularly during summer.

Cell phones are good to have, but make sure that if you’re going to be out for a couple of days, you stay off of them until absolutely necessary (Isn’t that why you’re getting away from it all in the first place?) or make sure you have a way of charging them back up. RV campgrounds are all over Cherokee County, and virtually all have access to electrical hookups. Service is generally good across the region, though some spots may be a little spotty.

Cherokee Rock Village has more tent camping sites than anyplace else in the Cherokee County area. The center of the park has upwards of 100 tent sites. Anyplace with a fire ring is designated for tent campers. The number of folks coming out to Cherokee Rock Village has grown steadily over the last several years. The vast majority of visitors to Cherokee Rock Village are rock climbers from as far away as Atlanta, Birmingham, Huntsville, and Chattanooga.

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The latest addition to the campground opportunities in Cherokee County is over at the Leesburg Landing Park. Leesburg Town Clerk Susan Williams said that 30 designated tent camping sites with fire rings were completed over the winter. “It used to be you’d just find an open space to put your tent down,” Williams said. The new sites are better defined and easier to maintain and care for.” She said the use of the area has been steadily growing, and the city of Leesburg was always trying to improve visitors’ park and outdoor experience.

“If you want the outdoor experience in Cherokee County, the Pinhoti is the best option,” Petty said. “It doesn’t have as many people as Little River Canyon, which gets a lot of visitors because it’s right on the road.” He was out on the trail for a week in March and said he didn’t encounter a half dozen people the whole week.

For those who are more social types while still wanting to get away for a while, Cherokee Rock Village and Leesburg Landing are each excellent options.