Red Top Mountain State Park

Nice people every time we visit this park. There are lot’s of walking areas and picnic areas.
We take our bikes, snacks and blankets so that we can visit for a while.

The super plus side to this camping site is that there are amenities: bathrooms, showers, and electricity. There is also a lake where you can swim and fish, and if you drive out a bit, there is a beach area for actual swimming. The area also offers a playground for the kiddies, and trails for biking and hiking. And yes, there is electricity. Do bring extension cords as there is a post right there with a water pump as well.
You will need a passcode to get thru the gate. It’s rather odd how you’re supposed to set up the tents on the gravel and park on the grass. I would think you park on the gravel and set up tents on the grass. Oh well. We’re newbies at this. We roll differently. Lol. Plus, there is a limit on how many cars and persons per lot. I think they cap the limit at 2 cars and 6 persons per camp site. Glad we booked 2 sites side by side for 15 folks.
I recommend bug spray! Lots and lots of it. You know how there is always one person in your group who will attract all the mosquitoes? That person would be me! Yup. I came home with hoards of the lovely red bug bites all over: legs, arms, back, shoulders, etc. I also do recommend bringing pillows and something cushiony to sleep on. My back just hurts so much after getting back. Call me old, but the sleeping bag and pillow didn’t suffice. Now I regret making fun of my friend for buying an air mattress. :/​
Sorry. I don’t know about the prices here since my friends booked this place… I know once you check into the site and pay for the car pass, you can for instance access the beach area without paying for parking there.

the iron hill trail is the best to bring children on, theres a few bridges lots to see and plenty of picnic tables towards the middle to stop and have lunch! my 3 year old Basically learned to walk here back when we lived down the road when he was younger, now we litterally live 2 miles from kennesaw mountain and still drive out to red top. while people have said to us watch out I seen a snake back there, i’ve never actually seen one on iron hill trail.

My review is based strictly on the campground area of the park compared to other GA state Parks.
Pros
Multiple shaded camp sites
Plenty of comfort stations
Visible campground hosts
We saw multiple snakes, frogs and other interesting animals
Easy access to the lake
Cons
Since this state park is so close to Atlanta I think you get many rookie campers who don’t care to follow the rules. It was common to have people cut directly thru your campsite even though I was not near the lake. Cars would often drive thru the campground area well over the speed limit or go down «one way» in the wrong direction. It can be scary since I had multiple small children camping with me.
The two bathrooms I used were dirty and full of rust. Only use them as a last resort.
Not that anybody is to blame for it but many of the campsites are surrounded by poison ivy. It just seemed to be everywhere.
At the other state parks I’ve camped at you couldn’t get away with 4 – 5 cars at one site. Apparently it is allowed here.
I’m also not a fan of the sites being taken up when nobody is really there yet. I was under the impression they were on a first come first serve basis. Cards would be placed at the sites while the families wouldn’t show up until hours later. Are they arriving early and not setting up one single item or is someone else hooking them up with a more desirable site?
This isn’t a bad state park but it is not on the same playing field as many of its neighbors to the north in Georgia.

This a beautiful, big park with great hiking trails and and awesome car-​camping sites. The camp sites are secluded enough but still close to a community bathroom area that has been well maintained both times we’ve camped here. We’ve enjoyed geocaching, hiking and riding pontoon boats on Lake Allatoona.

Red Top Mountain State Park is a beautiful, well maintained park that is isolated enough to enjoy nature and serenity, but only about an hour outside of Atlanta. A close retreat for city dwellers!
I actually enjoy the «primitive» camping area most of all. Better views.

The park was beautiful. However the hospitality of the lady at the visitors center was to best stated rude.

Homestead trail is my sanctuary. Red Top is my absolute favorite place to hike. I almost don’t want to leave a review because I don’t want it to become as overpopulated on weekends as Kennesaw Mountain, but Red Top Mtn State Park and it’s employees deserve the merit.

Did the complete yellow and red trails and a part of the green and blue. The yellow and red were a good workout — trails were wide with intermittent views of the lake when they looped. I’d rate the difficulty level as low moderate (I was very deconditioned at the time of this hike) and the lakehead trails were a nice wrap up with phenomenal views. Took a nap at the lakeside on a bench. The views at sunset were surreal! Be advised that the «visitor Center» is closed but you can park there and there’s a grail leading off from there. You can pay for the parking at a green kiosk nearby. The maps are available at the «park center». Side tip — you can swim or kayak in the lake if you are so inclined.

First of all it was a ghost in my cabin no BS! thank goodness a casper but it froze me to my toe bone, I had to go to bed with my clothes on and double sox to stay warm. Ok now to the basics, the was not not cleaned proper the sheets were either not cleaned or not cleaned well still had hair in the sheets but it was so cold I had to just take it, i took off all the sheets even the comforter to double it on my bed to try to stay warm and I did not like it one bit who likes to sleep with filth and the wifi never connected not once! even when I went to the office still no connection had to end up going an exit north to starbucks– Overpriced and not getting what is advertised don’t help. The good things were natural like the sky and the lakeand the trails (period).

This is our favorite spot to take a short weekend camping trip. You can’t beat the scenery, the trails are beautiful and, despite the fact that it is the most popular GA State Park, it never seems crowded.

Wanting to see if the fall leaves had started changing I decided to take a drive and ended up here strictly by accident what a nice find. There is a huge lake for boating, cabins and shelters, trails for biking or walking even a hay ride.
*Warning some of the roads up there will wind quickly and are very narrow so if the signs tells ya the speed limit is 15 miles an hour pay attention to it and do it.
On my way out shortly before dusk I looked to my right and saw three large birds at first I thought they might be pheasant so out of curiosity I slowed down to get a better look then realized they were wild turkeys I was able to get a very good look at the neck and tail as one flew over the car right in front of me landing in a tree across the road immediately the other two followed this was a nice surprise.
Now before you go scratching your head and saying «she’s nuts turkeys can’t fly,» wild turkeys can look it up I did.
Also on the way out is kind of fenced area with a sign, it had caught my attention on the drive in and decided to check it out when leaving it is a meadow that «the once almost extinct white tailed deer come too.» None were to be seen this early evening.
If all goes well I hope to return the colors in a week or two will be gorgeous.

Came by this past weekend with my boyfriend’s coworker and his family, and had a blast. Lake Allatoona is located here, but currently, it’s been dried out so you have the chance to walk on the bottom of the lake ;]. We bought plaster with us and made sculptures of foot prints we saw that were made by animals. I was able to make two baby puppy prints, deer prints, and a raccoon print. There is a small, MUDDY lake and it’s cross-​able, since the dad in the group decided to try to walk across it, and he did. There was also a snake in the lake with him so he hurried on back just in case the snake was poisonous.
Had a fun time hiking and hanging out here.

Technically this review is for both Red Top mountain and the adjacent Corps property on the other side of the dam along the Etowah River closer to Cartersville. Both are very beautiful places. Great for running hiking, easy bicycling. Red Top is also great for summertime swimming and boating… Some of the facilities are old and a little dank… but it’s all about the mountains and the lake.

After the weekly recurring Battle of 285 and 85, I need to get away– I’m desperate for some semblance of sanity and a reminder to «be as simple and well as Nature.»
Red Top Mountain serves that purpose beautifully. It’s one of Georgia’s many state parks that too many of us ITP folks forget and neglect. Our state parks are truly gorgeous and a source of state pride (and you bet my state pride is in the gutters after the Battle… all the bad drivers with Georgia license plates and state school decals, ugh. Anyway…).
What makes Red Top Mountain especially special is Lake Allatoona. There’s a trail at/​near the base wrapping around the lake, and I can’t think of a better place for trail running! The trails are wide enough you can run in pairs comfortably but narrow enough you will want to say hi, or at least smile, to oncoming traffic consisting of families, dog walkers, bikers, serious trail runners, etc.
Besides trail running/​hiking, all the activities you can imagine doing at a mountain with a lake and camp sites are available. Easy day trip from the city and a fantastic way to recover from the weekly traffic battles.
$ 5 for daily park pass, $ 50 for annual park pass. Go support our state parks!

Dear Red Top Mountain State Park,
I’m no camper. This was made very apparent to my friends when I jumped out of the car and was elated to find that each campsite came with its very own coatrack, when in fact, it was some elevated trash hook to keep raccoons out of the garbage. Who knew there were such things? I brought matches & no lighter fluid, a flashlight & no batteries, a sleeping bag, a down-​feathered pillow and enough clothes for a week. We stayed two nights. Still, after those two long, sleepless, dark nights were over, I left with a camera full of beautiful pictures and a head full of great memories. Your campgrounds are clean, conveniently located, and while your mini-​golf is in dire need of a facelift, all in all, Red Top, you were a great experience!
Sincerely,
Future Lodge Cabin Guest
P. S. Raccoons ate my s’more ingredients. But, on the bright side, my
black double-​breasted peacoat didn’t have any wrinkles.

We camped here in a tent, and settled in Friday afternoon… Beautiful weather all weekend, and the park is balanced when it comes to shady/​sunny areas over your lot.
We hiked the Iron Hill Trail: 3.9 miles of biking/​hiking mostly around the lake perimeter, and it was perfect. Mild and lots of variety for viewing. Fyi, not the best for your pet, as it’s all gravel for the bikes, and the rocky surface got uncomfortable for his paws after a while. Otherwise, beautiful scenery.
The tent sites are spacious, but somewhat close together, though definitely not as close as the sites we saw in nearby Camp McKinney. I loved that it’s just a short drive up I-​75 from the city!
Bathrooms are clean and well taken care of. Lots of amazing water views to hike.

Several times every year my family and friends gather here for a good BBQ and and trail run, and it is during the fall season that this place really comes alive. There is a small beach you can lay around and splash in, and cabins and picnic areas to take a nice leisurely break.
The trail here is fantastic. As a little kid, I always ran ahead, relishing the quiet beauty and warmth of the forest. It was here a couple of years ago I saw my first stag, and I was completely floored by his beauty, dignity, and magnificence. I never completely understood nor respected the importance of conservation and preservation of nature until I came here.

Halfway between Cherokee Farms (site of Harvest Fest, Alchemy and other psy-​trance events) if you’re heading to a festival in the forest, Red Mountain Park is the perfect point to have a picnic and dive in the water.
It’s $ 5 to pay for parking and you can spend the whole day playing in the water and laying on the beach.
Bring a tube and float the afternoon away. Decompress, and go home to sleep.

This is one of my favorite state parks in GA. It’s just a jump up 75 from Kennesaw/​Woodstock and there is so much to do there. Don’t let the name fool you as Red Top does not seem like a mountain the trails are mild, they are not steep hikes! There is a «beach» which is nice though some of the people there are very «local» it seems. I think that adds a bit of charm to this park =). I would say this is one of my favorite places to go fishing though I have never caught anything! There are countless areas to go fishing from the shore where you will not be bothered by others. The coves seem the most private and relaxed areas for fishing.
Camping at Red Top is also awesome though I have not been since 2007 when I went it was a very enjoyable experience. Many of the camp sites are right on the water. This is a great place to spend a day or a night camping. Two thumbs up from this guy!