Some parks capture your heart as soon as you arrive.
Maybe it’s flowers, or a beautiful sign. Maybe it’s a little bridge you have to go across that makes you feel like you’re in for an experience. This was how our arrival felt at Vogel State Park in Blairsville, Georgia.
One of Georgia’s oldest parks, Vogel State Park offers hiking,
and swimming in a diverse, beautiful mountain landscape.
Vogel is very popular during the fall when the Blue Ridge Mountains transform into colors of red, yellow and gold leaves. Hikers can choose from a variety of trails, including the popular 4-mile Bear Hair Gap loop, an easy lake loop that leads to Trahlyta Falls, and a challenging 13-mile Coosa Backcountry Trail.
Making reservations for camping ahead of time is key at Vogel. We only stayed for a total of eight nights, but because we did not plan ahead, we had to move campsites five times! It was more than worth the work for us.
Brickle and Digby loved all of our campsites, but especially site 15. This site had plenty of room and shade. In the heat of summer, we never even turned on our air conditioning.
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This wasn’t our first time to this state park in Georgia and it won’t be our last. When we were younger, we remember the lake and the trails. But we also remember the way it made us feel to be here. The sounds of the creeks and streams and waterfalls are certainly calming.
Hearing the wind thru the trees and finding the hidden hollows, even in the campground made us feel that this was how camping should be everywhere.
Brickle and Digby were eager to get up each morning and head to the lake. They loved seeing other hikers and walking thru the cabin area in a socially distant proper manner. Dogs are a common sight and all seem to have their favorite spots in the park.
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• Unlimited space to hike, jump in creeks and explore.
• Large campsites privacy
• Friendly campers and staff
• A scenic waterfall and an easy lake trail with only a short hike to get there. Perfect for senior dogs.
• Large campground to walk around and see others. Many short trails and places to explore even without leaving camp.
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• Easy reservations on Reserve America. Socially distant check in.
• Bathrooms and showers are individual and cleaned regularly.
• Laundry facilities.
• A dog friendly atmosphere.
• Campsites are large and have a grill.
• Wildlife is abundant and protected throughout the park.
• Great visitor center with supplies and local goods.
• Firewood is delivered to your campsite upon calling the office.
• Grocery stores just a half hour drive away.
If beautiful surroundings and a true camping experience are what you are looking for, Vogel State Park is for you.
The campground does have some tight turns and some areas are uphill. This is not a resort.
This is a state park for those who truly want an experience.
And isn’t that what camping should be for both people and our dogs?
The Details
Vogel State Park is a 233-acre or 94 hectares state park located at the base of Blood Mountain in the Chattahoochee National Forest. It became one of the first two parks in Georgia when it founded a state park system in 1931. Much of the park was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the 1930s.
Vogel State Park
405 Vogel State Park Road
Blairsville, GA 30512
GPS Coordinates
N 34.765883 | W -083.925416
Cottages, campsites and primitive backpacking sites provide a range of overnight accommodations. The park’s 22-acre lake is open to non-motorized boats, and during summer, visitors can cool off at the mountain-view beach.
