Lake Conasauga Picnic and Swim Site
Chatsworth, Georgia · on Conasauga Lake · Chattahoochee National Forest
Verified · 5 independent sources · top-verified
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- $15/night
- SEASON
- Best in summer
About Lake Conasauga Picnic and Swim Site
Lake Conasauga Picnic and Swim Site is a US Forest Service day-use area on the shore of Lake Conasauga, a 19-acre spring-fed lake in the Chattahoochee National Forest near Chatsworth, Georgia, notable as the highest-elevation lake in the state, which makes this swimming hole the loftiest lake to swim in Georgia. The site has an official designated swimming area with a grass beach and dock alongside a picnic area with tables, grills, and a group shelter.
The site sits on the shore of a small, high-elevation, spring-fed lake near Grassy Mountain in the Cohutta Ranger District of the Chattahoochee National Forest, reached via unpaved Forest Service roads. The surrounding recreation area also includes campgrounds, a group camping/overflow area, and trailheads for day hikes, with cool summer temperatures typical of the elevation.
Swimming at Lake Conasauga Picnic and Swim Site
Swimming takes place off a grass beach and dock in a roped/designated area of the lake rather than a sand beach; a first-hand account notes the water is cold (owing to the lake's spring-fed, high-elevation setting) and gets deep quickly near the dock. Dogs and fishing are not allowed within the swimming area.
How to get to this swimming hole
From Chatsworth, roughly 16 miles via Forest Service Roads FSR 18 and FSR 68; from Ellijay, roughly 12 miles via Gates Chapel Road and FSR 90. Within the recreation area, the picnic/swim area parking lot is reached via FSR 49 turnoffs.
Parking: A parking lot serves the picnic/swim area, reached via forest roads (FSR 49 and connecting spurs); roads into the area are unpaved.
The hike in
This is a drive-up day-use site: the parking lot sits directly at the picnic/swim area, so no trail hike is needed to reach the water (just a short walk of a couple hundred feet from car to grass beach/dock). Separate day-hiking trails (e.g., Grassy Mountain fire tower hike, Songbird area) start nearby in the recreation area but are not required to access the swimming spot.
Roads into the site (FSR 18/68/90/49) are unpaved forest roads; allow extra driving time getting to the trailhead-equivalent parking lot.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
Grass-beach entry makes wading in easy for kids, but the lake bottom 'gets deep quickly at the dock' per a first-hand account, there is no lifeguard on duty ('swim at your own risk' per Recreation.gov), and the spring-fed water is cold year-round at this high elevation. Supervise closely, especially near the dock.
Parking
Free
A dedicated parking lot serves the picnic/swim area, reached via Forest Service road spurs off FSR 49; it sits roughly 1/2 mile from the overflow campground area. No fee is stated for day-use parking or swimming; the unpaved forest roads leading in should be driven with care.
Restrooms
Yes
None at the picnic/swim site itself as of the current USFS page ('Currently there are no bathroom facilities or drinking water available' at the swim site). Flush-toilet restrooms (no showers, no hot water) are available in both camping loops of the adjacent Lake Conasauga Campground, about 0.2 mi away.
Water clarity
Clear
A Recreation.gov photo caption describes the lake surface as 'like glass,' consistent with a small, spring-fed, high-elevation lake with limited development on its shore. No conflicting reports of murkiness were found.
Hours
Day-use only at the swim site (no overnight access); facilities/season generally run mid-April through October 31, though spring opening can be delayed by water-system repairs per USFS.
On the water
Restrictions: Electric-motor-only or non-motorized boats; gasoline/combustion motorboats and jet skis are prohibited. A small boat launch provides access for canoes, kayaks, and small boats (electric motors only). No lifeguard on duty.
Paddleboards are not named explicitly in USFS/Recreation.gov text but fall under the general non-motorized-craft allowance.
Lake Conasauga Picnic and Swim Site: FAQ
Does Lake Conasauga Picnic and Swim Site charge a fee?
No fee is stated for the day-use picnic/swim site itself; the adjacent Lake Conasauga Campground is reservation-only via Recreation.gov at $15/night (mid-April through October 31 season).
Is Lake Conasauga Picnic and Swim Site kid friendly?
Grass-beach entry makes wading in easy for kids, but the lake bottom 'gets deep quickly at the dock' per a first-hand account, there is no lifeguard on duty ('swim at your own risk' per Recreation.gov), and the spring-fed water is cold year-round at this high elevation. Supervise closely, especially near the dock.
Do I need to hike to reach Lake Conasauga Picnic and Swim Site?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Lake Conasauga Picnic and Swim Site?
A dedicated parking lot serves the picnic/swim area, reached via Forest Service road spurs off FSR 49; it sits roughly 1/2 mile from the overflow campground area. No fee is stated for day-use parking or swimming; the unpaved forest roads leading in should be driven with care.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Lake Conasauga Picnic and Swim Site?
Paddleboards are not named explicitly in USFS/Recreation.gov text but fall under the general non-motorized-craft allowance.
When is the best time to visit Lake Conasauga Picnic and Swim Site?
Facilities and camping generally operate mid-April through October 31; swimming is most comfortable in summer given the lake's cold, spring-fed water.
What are the rules at Lake Conasauga Picnic and Swim Site?
Alcohol is prohibited throughout the entire Lake Conasauga Recreation Area. Dogs and fishing are not permitted within the designated swimming area. Only non-motorized boats or those with electric motors are allowed on the lake.
What water body is Lake Conasauga Picnic and Swim Site on?
Lake Conasauga Picnic and Swim Site is on Conasauga Lake, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.
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