Lake Lanier has dozens of public parks and ramps run by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, plus county and city parks. For a kayak or paddleboard you don't need a ramp, just a beach or a gentle bank with parking close by.
Management is changing. In 2025–26 Hall and Forsyth counties took over day-to-day operation of many Corps parks. Fees, hours and passes differ by operator, so check before you go.
Free Corps of Engineers parks
These Corps parks charge no day-use fee.
- Bolding Mill
- Duckett Mill
- Little Ridge
- Lower Overlook
- Nix Bridge
- Sardis Creek
- Thompson Creek
- Toto Creek
- Upper Overlook
- West Bank Overlook
Hall County parks with no fee listed
Hall County co-manages these Corps water access points and doesn't list a fee for them as of October 2026. Several are basic ramps with few amenities, so check conditions before you go.
- Belton Bridge
- Mountain View
- Robinson
- Simpson
Corps fee parks
Run by the Corps near Buford Dam. Card only at the kiosk: $8 per vehicle, $3 walk-in. The $40 Corps annual pass covers them.
- Buford Dam Park
- Lanier Park
- Lower Pool East
- Lower Pool West
- West Bank
Hall County fee parks
Corps parks now co-managed by Hall County. Same fees and the same $40 Corps pass apply, card only.
- Balus Creek
- Burton Mill
- Little Hall
- Little River
- Old Federal
- Van Pugh North
Van Pugh South switched to reservation-only day use on weekends ($15 a site through Recreation.gov, per a 2024 change). Check its status before planning on it.
Little River requires an annual pass displayed in the vehicle, and passes aren't sold there. Buy one at the kiosks at Little Hall, Van Pugh North, Burton Mill, Old Federal or Balus Creek.
Forsyth County-managed parks (Cumming side)
Forsyth County took over Tidwell, Vann's Tavern, Two Mile Creek, Keith's Bridge and Long Hollow under a 2026 agreement with the Corps. Fees at those five are still being finalized, so call Forsyth County Parks & Recreation before counting on one. The county's own lake parks charge $10 a day or $60 a year, and Corps passes are not accepted at any of them.
- Keith's Bridge
- Long Hollow
- Tidwell
- Two Mile Creek
- Vann's Tavern
Forsyth County's own lake parks:
- Mary Alice Park
- Charleston Park
- Six Mile Creek
- Young Deer Creek
Mary Alice Park in Cumming is the best beach launch on this side, and Burton Outdoor Adventures rents kayaks on the sand there on weekends and holidays.
Gainesville Upper Lanier Water Trail
The City of Gainesville runs a 14-mile paddling trail on the upper lake that continues the Upper Chattahoochee River Water Trail. City lake parks serve as put-ins and rest stops, including:
- Lake Lanier Olympic Park, 3105 Clarks Bridge Rd: the 1996 Olympic rowing and canoe/kayak venue, with dock rentals in summer.
- Holly Park, 2603 Old Thompson Bridge Rd: beach launch.
- Longwood Park and Lanier Point Park: closer to downtown Gainesville.
The upper lake is narrower and more river-like than the south end, so there's less open-water chop. See the city's water trail page for the paddle card.
Tips for any launch
- Summer lots fill before the water does. Arrive before 10 a.m. on weekends.
- Launch from the beach or the edge of the ramp, not the middle. Trailers have the right of way.
- Some county parks don't allow same-day re-entry, so pack everything you need.
No boat? Rent a kayak; some outfitters will drop it at the park for you.