Camp where cars can’t follow
A hike-in, creekside campground built for adventure, rest, and a deeper connection to the land
A.T. MILE 73.9 · ONE MILE HIKE IN · BIG JOHN CREEK · HIAWASSEE, GA · SMALL BY DESIGN · OPENING SPRING 2027
Hike in from the Appalachian Trail to a small creekside campground designed for people who want more comfort without leaving nature behind.
Secluded sites, hot showers, food, and recovery options make The Cut approachable for first-time campers yet rewarding for seasoned backpackers.
Not every place should be easy to reach
Near mile 74 of the Appalachian Trail, an old mountain cut drops from Plumorchard Gap down to Hightower Valley.
Long before marked trails and modern maps, this trail along Big John Creek carried Cherokees and gold miners through a quieter part of the mountains.
It was never built for crowds. And crowds never claimed it.
The Cut preserves that legacy: a natural creekside camp, private by design, reached on foot.
Choose your hike. Make the cut.
Whether you’re thru-hiking or just coming in for the weekend, The Cut gives you a comfortable place to land.
1) Pick your route
Start anywhere along the A.T. or take a shorter route that gets you from the trailhead to camp in under two hours. Explore ways in.
2) Camp your way
Bring your own gear or arrive at a site already outfitted with everything you need. See what we offer.
Once you reach camp, you won’t have to leave. Access our Supply Depot for simple breakfasts, lunches, dinners, snacks, fruit, coffee, and frozen treats throughout your stay, or ship a resupply package ahead, and we’ll have it waiting when you arrive.
3) Refuel
A well-appointed bathhouse, outdoor showers, and open-air tubs bring warm water to the edge of the woods. Soak, book a massage, or simply relax for a while before heading back to the trail.
4) Restore
“The Cut is a hidden gem in the mountains, like stepping back to a simpler time. It revives something in me that only the natural world can.”
Built from what belongs here
The Cut is shaped by the land, not imposed on it.
Paths follow the terrain. Trees stay where they can. Rock, timber, and native growth become part of the camp instead of being cleared away.
The result is a place that feels like it belongs here: simple, comfortable, weathered, and still close to the wild.
Bring the gear.
Or don’t.
The Cut offers outfitted wild camping: Bring your own gear, or let us prepare the full creekside stay.
Enjoy a complete backpacking experience. We’ll provide the perfect spot to land.
A premium creekside or platform site for hikers and campers with their own tent and setup. Includes bathhouse access and the option to add food, resupply, firewood, and other camp basics.
Bring your own setup
A fully prepared creekside stay with tent, food, fire, bedding, and even string lights included.
The easiest, most complete way to stay at The Cut. All you have to do is hike in. Add on a massage or a soak in one of our cast iron tubs for the ultimate camping experience.
Arrive to a ready camp
Waitlist members get first access when opening dates are released, along with opening-season savings and limited Cut gear.
Not everyone
makes The Cut
Some places let you visit the outdoors without leaving life behind.
A crowded campground. A car a few steps away. Nature within reach, but never far from the noise.
The Cut is different. Just 15 creekside campsites. No parking beside your tent. No golf carts. No RVs. No easy way in.
If that sounds inconvenient, there are easier places to camp.
If it sounds perfect, you might make The Cut.
“The adventure is part of what makes it special. Finding The Cut becomes part of your story.”
Will you make The Cut?
The Cut stays small on purpose, with just enough sites to preserve the quiet and solitude that make this place worth the hike.
Join the waitlist for early booking access, opening-season savings, and a chance to get limited Cut gear when reservations open.