Photo: Thomson200, public domain (CC0), via Wikimedia Commons
Lake Sidney Lanier, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir behind Buford Dam on the Chattahoochee, is the busiest Corps lake in the country, with more than 11 million visits a year. Here are the rules and practical details for its Corps-run parks: hours, shelters, swimming, fishing and trails.
- SizeAbout 38,000 acres and 692 miles of shoreline
- Managed byU.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Lake Lanier Project Office
- Phone770-945-9531
- ReservationsRecreation.gov or 1-877-444-6777
Park Rules at a Glance
Hours
Corps day-use parks generally open in the morning and close at 10 p.m.; opening times vary by park, and parks close to new arrivals when parking fills, so arrive early on summer weekends.
Day-use fees
Many Corps parks charge a per-vehicle day-use fee, and an annual pass is available. Some parks are now run jointly with Hall County, so check the park before you go.
Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages are prohibited in Corps-managed parks at Lake Lanier.
Shelters
Reserve Corps picnic shelters on Recreation.gov. Most hold up to about 100 people and have tables, a large grill and electricity. Fees are non-refundable, capacity limits apply, and tents, carnival equipment and roadside signs aren’t allowed.
Swimming
The Corps runs designated swim areas around the lake. None has lifeguards; you swim at your own risk, and the Corps strongly recommends swimming only at designated beaches and wearing a life jacket. Lanier has a sobering drowning record, so read our water safety tips before you go. For slides and wave pools, the private resort on Lake Lanier Islands runs a beach and water park in summer.
Fishing
Lanier is known for spotted bass, striped bass, crappie and catfish. Much of the upper third of the lake was cleared of trees during construction, but timber was left standing in the lower lake, and the Corps and Georgia DNR add brush-pile fish attractors with volunteers every year. Below Buford Dam, cold water released from the bottom of the lake supports a year-round trout fishery in the Chattahoochee, stocked by DNR. Water there can rise fast and without warning when the dam generates, so obey the warning horns and safety rules. See our Lake Lanier fishing guide for seasons and hot spots.
Waterfowl hunting is allowed on the lake under state and federal rules; because of limited public land and heavy development, no other hunting is permitted.
Hiking
The 3.8-mile Laurel Ridge Trail loops past Buford Dam through Buford Dam Park and the Lower and Upper Overlook parks, along the lakeshore and the Chattahoochee River, with lake views, wildflowers and restrooms along the way.
Buford DamSouth end of the lake
Lake Lanier IslandsResort and beachGetting to the Buford Dam Area
From I-985 at Buford take GA 20 west, or from GA 400 at Cumming take GA 20 east, then turn north on Suwanee Dam Road. Go about 3 miles and turn left on Buford Dam Road; the Lake Lanier Project Office is about a mile ahead on the right.
More Lanier guides: Lake Lanier overview, Lake Lanier parks and fishing.
Plan the rest of your trip with our guide to things to do at Lake Lanier.
Sources we checked
Facts in this page were checked against the agencies and operators that run these places:
- Lake Lanier Association: Our Lake
- Hall County: jointly managed Lake Lanier parks
- Recreation.gov: Lake Sidney Lanier shelters and campgrounds
Spot something out of date? Email Contact@n-georgia.com and we’ll check it against the official source. Read how we research our guides.