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Ten Best in the U.S. Campgrounds:
Pocket Campground in N.W. Georgia
By Suzanne Dow, edited
Nearly 100 miles northwest of Atlanta, the geological area known as The Pocket has never been a great center of civilization. Today, a small, 24-site campground sits here in a holding that is part of the Chattahoochee National Forest. There have been, however, visitors to this little gap between John and Horn mountains for thousands of years. In 1980, a Native American site was documented in the pasture across from the Pocket campground's entrance.
Until the 1940s, arrowheads and shards of pottery were found in and around the campground. Today, chert flakes, left by tool makers, can be found in John's Creek as it flows through the campground.
In the early 1800s, there were few white settlers in the area. In 1838, with the removal of the Cherokee Nation, the area opened to large-scale settlement by European settlers. The land was sectioned off into 160 and 490-acre lots for the Cherokee Land Lottery. In this lottery, John J. Hunt won the section that would later be called The Pocket, a U-shaped valley in the lush green hillside. By 1854, The mountainous terrain of The Pocket encouraged a close-knit community. Grist mills and farms were scattered throughout the area, and two churches, one Methodist and one Baptist, saw to the community's spiritual needs. By 1938, a 35-acre parcel of land was sold to the federal government. At that time, this parcel was selected for a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camp. The barracks, mess hall, latrines, and other facilities were built for the CCC enrollees. Today, campers at the Pocket campground will find the foundation of the CCC constructed spring-house on Spring Creek and the floor of a large shower house. Still visible are the foot dips used to keep foot disease to a minimum and an old drainage ditch. Scattered throughout the campground, tucked in between the sites, are odd-shaped cement objects, their exact purposes unclear.
History isn't the only reason to visit the Pocket campground. The surrounding lush forest of deciduous trees beckons many to explore. Two trails, the 2.5-mile Pocket Loop Trail and 0.5-mile Pocket Nature Trail, offer easy ways through the woods. And the clear, flowing John's Creek offers a wonderful opportunity to cool down with a quick wade in the cold water. Good fishing is available in nearby Girl Scout Lake and Pitcher Pond. The towns of Villanow and Calhoun are nearby and offer interesting day trips. Today, as in the past, visitors to The Pocket enjoy the quiet lushness of this hidden place in ancient mountains. During the day, the quiet is occasionally broken by the sound of children playing in the CCC-built wading area or the chatter of squirrels. At night, the crackling of a campfire, the rustling of leaves, and the gurgle of Spring Creek serenade campers.
Directions: The Pocket is in North West GA, between the cities of Calhoun
and Lafayette. There is a scenic Mtn road to be crossed where you should probably try to stay in 2nd gear. To Start - Head towards Hwy 41 and take it to downtown Calhoun, Ga via your route - While in downtown Calhoun look for a BP gas station and a CVS Pharmacy across from each other on the west side of 41-you will turn west off of Hwy 41 onto East Line St between this BP gas station and CVS Pharmacy. Go a short distance to conn 136 towards Lafayette (right), next to the Armory - you will ride with the Armory on your left if going West on W conn. 136 - Headed towards Lafayette (or come from Lafayette to Calhoun on HWY 136 E.) From Calhoun, stay on W. conn. 136 for 5mi - then you will cross some bumpy RR tracks at a Mohawk Facility. In the curve of the road you will turn onto Pocket Rd headed towards John's Mtn. Stay on Pocket Rd for 7mi till you come to a junction at the Ranger's Station - you will need to vere right, STOP and then go out about 3/4 of a mile - you will see the Pocket Picnic area on the rt. The next entrance is the campground. If you think that these directions are not appropriate for your journey - look up The Pocket Campground using MapQuest.com and/or
www.google.com.
