Jack Rabbit Mountain – Hayesville, NC

Jackrabbit Mountain Campground is located a few miles south of Highway 64 east of Hayesville, NC. Located on the banks of 6,950 acres Lake Chatuge, this popular family campground offers ample opportunity for water sports. At an elevation of 1860 feet, it is cooler than most southeastern cities, but not too cold to enjoy the lake. It is open from May through September.

Because it is located on a lake the major recreational opportunities at Jackrabbit Mountain are water sports. There is a nearby swimming beach, which can be used on a day-use basis or by campers. There is a boat launch ramp near the campground. Power and non-power boats are allowed. If you try your luck at fishing, you are most likely to catch Northern Pike and Bass.

If your main interest is hiking rather than water, Jackrabbit Mountain is not the campground for you. There are only two short loop hiking trails. The longer one is about 2 miles. If you want a campground with easy access to hiking trails, try the nearby Standing Indian campground.

Facilities

Jackrabbit Mountain Campground has 100 campsites on three paved loops. When driving on these loops watch for kids riding their bicycles. The individual campsites are suitable for RVs and tents. There is no group campsite.

There are regularly cleaned restrooms with flush toilets and showers. Water faucets and trash receptacles are located around the campground. Each campsite has a tent pad, fire ring, and a picnic table. For a campfire bring your own wood or buy some.

Getting There

Drive about 5 miles east on route 64 from Hayesville, or west from Franklin, NC. Just east of Lake Chatuge, take route 175 south. Follow the signs for a few miles to Jackrabbit Mountain Campground. If you are coming from the south, take route 175 north from Route 76 in Georgia.

When you reach the campground, select a campsite. Then return to the entrance to pay the $15 nightly fee for your campsite.

Lakeside Location

This lakefront campground on a small peninsula in Lake Chatuge provides campsites with spectacular views of the lake, a small sandy beach, and verdant mountains. The location is also perfect for boating, swimming, and other water sports.

This location however makes Jackrabbit Mountain less secluded than other Nantahala National Forest campgrounds. Much of the land surrounding the campground is privately owned rather than a national forest. Like waterfront property everywhere, much of the Lake Chatuge shoreline is being developed with luxury private residences. If you want waterfront camping, Jackrabbit Mountain is for you. However, if you want a heavily wooded secluded campground, another campground in the western North Carolina mountains might better suit you.

Jackrabbit Mountain Campground is popular, so it may be often difficult to find a vacant campsite. You should plan to arrive early or make reservations. To reserve a campsite, you must make the reservations at least 2 days in advance. There is a minimum two-night stay on weekends and three nights on holiday weekends.

For tent campers, a drawback of Jackrabbit Mountain is the requirement that tents be placed on the gravel tent pads. Bring a well-padded sleeping pad.

Jackrabbit Mountain Campground is an excellent choice for those wanting a family camping vacation on the shore of a scenic mountain lake.