The calm upper lake: Olympic Park dock rentals, Don Carter State Park and free city parks with easy shoreline launches.
Gainesville and Flowery Branch cover the Hall County side of Lanier and the narrow upper lake. For paddlers it's the best water on Lanier: river arms, fewer big boats and Gainesville's 14-mile Upper Lanier Water Trail.
Lake Lanier's only state park, on the quiet north end. The beach concession rents kayaks, paddleboards and aquacycles, mostly on summer weekends, and the park has its own boat ramps and a sand swim beach. State park parking fee applies.
One- and two-seat kayaks, paddleboards, floating chairs and electric boats. Also sets up on the sand at Mary Alice Park in Cumming on weekends and holidays, and teaches e-foil.
Canoes, kayaks and paddleboards from the docks at the 1996 Olympic venue, run with the Lanier Canoe & Kayak Club. Weekends May through September: Fridays 4 to 8 p.m., Saturdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Sundays 2 to 6 p.m. Off-season rentals by email request (info@lckc.org).
Pontoons, deck boats and large party pontoons from Port Royale Marina on the north side. Read the rental agreement and fuel policy before you sign.
Basic listings are free. A featured spot puts you at the top of the page that matches what you rent, with call and click tracking and a monthly report.
List or feature your businessSee every spot on the launch map, or compare Lake Lanier beaches.
Don Carter has its own page: Don Carter State Park kayaking. City parks don't charge the federal fee. Lanier Point Park has a long peninsula with easy shoreline launches, and Holly Park has a small free beach. Sardis Creek is a free Corps park with restrooms.
Gainesville's Upper Lanier Water Trail links city parks along 14 miles of upper lake. Start at Lake Lanier Olympic Park and paddle south with a car at the take-out.
Other towns: Cumming · Buford · all kayak rentals