Lake Lanier

Great resort with a Lake Buena Vista vibe. Amazing golf course, boat rentals, resort, and snow machines on the hill for tubing in the winter. Highly recommend this place.

I surprised my mom with what turned into one of the greatest birthday gifts ever a fishing trip out on Lake Lanier. We rolled into the boat ramp early, loaded up, and by mid-morning we had lines in the water. Not long after, the rod nearly snapped right in half from the fight. It felt like we’d hooked a beast striped or largemouth, I couldn’t tell at first but when it surfaced, it was huge. My mom gasped. I had to help her guide it in so it wouldn’t break off. Her face lit up like I’ve never seen. Mission accomplished: once-in-a-lifetime catch for her, and a memory I’ll never forget. Lake Lanier itself is a marvel. It spans around 38,000 surface acres when full, formed by the Buford Dam and fed by the Chattahoochee and Chestatee Rivers. The lake is a powerhouse of recreational activity more than 10 million visitors come through annually, enjoying everything from boating and swimming to fishing tournaments and waterfront life. The variety of fish is spectacular. We aimed for bass, and sure enough, Lake Lanier is teeming with largemouth bass, spotted bass, and striped bass. Crappie, catfish, white bass, and walleye also call the lake home. Below Buford Dam, cold water releases support stocked trout (rainbow, brown, brook), giving anglers a special bonus if you’re fishing near that zone. Some argue the lake’s spotted bass population is stronger now than ever, with anglers reporting healthier, heavier fish in recent years. On that day we drifted near structure: sunken humps, brush piles, drop-offs, submerged timber and old stumps all prime ambush zones. The lake is well managed, and the Corps of Engineers and Georgia DNR put effort into fish habitat, maintaining attractors and structure for anglers. The lake is lined with marinas, boat houses, and access points along many highways and feeder roads. Because it stretches across many communities, you’ll often see homes, docks, and waterfront properties along the shore. And major routes like GA-400 and I-985 offer relatively easy access to different lake arms. We didn’t run into heavy congestion that day it was busy in places, but not overwhelming. We launched, trolled, cast, and stopped to enjoy the quiet, the sun, the water. The size of that fish, and the moment she held it, made me proud I nailed the birthday surprise. If you love the outdoors, fighting fish, and creating memories that last, Lake Lanier is exactly where you want to be.

The early evening was beautiful and free while coasting about 40 miles an hour on the enchanting Lake Lanier in Honda’s BF-350 Pontoon Boat powered by its V8 BF350 engine. In typical fashion, I enjoyed the open-air Honda Marine experience to and from dinner while visiting Atlanta. While taking in the fresh air hovering over the 38,000 acres of water, the man-made Lake Lanier is special to residents and visitors of the recreational facilities as it covers a few counties and hosts the North Georgia Mountains (Blue Ridge Mountains), which feed it with water from the Chattahoochee and Chestatee Rivers. The Lake is strongly tied to harmony in motion, where peace of mind connect adventurers to nature through water.

Very large 400+ mile waterfront reservoir that serves Atlanta. Pretty peaceful park surrounding the lake with few beaches, boat rides, picnic and play areas. Plenty of parking invites attracts daily walkers and joggers, and tourists.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️ Lake Lanier is gorgeous with rolling water views, plenty of docks & beaches, and lots of boating fun. The restaurants around Margaritaville are a huge plus: LandShark Bar & Grill offers burgers, seafood, tacos and drinks right on the water, and the Chill Zone tiki bars give that relaxed lakeside vibe.  One of the best parts on special occasions like the 4th of July, Margaritaville lights up the sky with fireworks over the lake, along with live music and celebrations at LandShark Landing.  If you’re visiting, go for a sunset cruise, dine waterfront, and stick around after dark, it’s a magical way to experience Lake Lanier.

Beautiful scenery, for sure. The lake is huge so much bigger than anyone would think without going out and exploring by boat. It doesn't matter if you want a romantic escape, or flying through the water getting soaked, or maybe getting off to yourself for some laid back fishing whatever you want Lake Lanier has you covered. Also, for picture lovers, it's paradise. The only negative thing I have seen the last couple of weeks is that the gar is really bad. I don't know if they are aggressive they have way to many really sharp teeth for me to knowingly give them the chance to see.

This was my first time visiting Lake Lanier. I went there to kayak. It cost me 10 dollars to park for the day. I put in at Mary Alice Beach. I was pleased and surprised by the international mix of people around the lake. The area I explored was dotted with little beaches and hiking trails. Bring repellent if you plan to hike. The water was choppy from the wind and boat wakes, which made it fun. The boaters were all courteous. I recommend taking pics and paying attention to your starting point, because this is a big lake with lots of similar inlets and islands. I stopped short of 5 stars due to some visitors leaving Trash in otherwise nice areas.

Beautiful lake (although it falls under one of the dirties in America). The scenery is always beautiful. Great spots to fish and hike.

A hidden staycation opportunity that flies under the radar. Known for their boating and lake activities but the other side offers a relaxed environment. Lodge/hotel lodging with spacious rooms with the treat of a Keurig in each room. A truly heated pool with poolside service or indoor or patio eating. Onsite restaurant with outdoor lake views offering buffet breakfast and menu dinners. A coffee nook offering fresh coffee/lattes along with patries. The topper is an onsite spa. Plenty of options on the property with golf, pickle ball, game room and water park.

Nice and quiet 4th of July was fun there had fun with my boo. He also enjoyed it will definitely recommend.

I've camped Grilled Fished Swam boated Partied Worked And all at lake Lanier I love that place People get way to drunk there at the restaurant, on their boat and just in general it's a drinking place for the adults which cause lots of accidents don't believe the myths It's a great place for the family Just be aware and safe and enjoy

I'm very surprised Lake Lanier has so few reviews. After all, it was one of the water sport venues of the 1996 Olympics, one of the most popular summertime destinations in the state. Most any warm season holiday is celebrated at Lake Lanier making it a popular place for vacation rental homes. Here you can go boating, fishing, swimming, hiking, golfing, as well as experience a fabulous fireworks show in the summer or Christmas lights and snow sleds in the winter. There is a spa, a beach, a waterpark, a luxury resort and good times @ Margaritaville. You can rent jet skis, go horseback riding, charter a fishing boat, rent a house boat, go camping or take a hot air balloon ride nearby. It was created by the completion of Buford Dam on the Chattahoochee River in 1956, and named for Confederate Army poet Sidney Lanier. Its primary purpose was for flood control and water supplies and has a water volume of about 1,049,400 acre-ft. The narrative will tell you its construction destroyed more than 50,000 acres of farmland and displaced more than 250 families, 15 businesses, and relocated 20 cemeteries along with their corpses in the process. But I want to pause here and dive a little deeper under the surface of its waters and introduce you to: [ OSCARVILLE, GEORGIA ] "The truth is rarely pure and never simple." ― Oscar Wilde Lake Lanier is partially located in Forsyth county. It is a county that prided itself on not having black residence so much that Oprah came to film an episode of her Emmy Award-winning talk show here in 1987 (trigger warning): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WErjPmFulQ0 The show makes mention that "no black person had lived in the county for 75 years", which was a direct reference to a predominantly African-American community known as Oscarville. It was home to 1,100 black people prior to a racial conflict in 1912 which was so brutally violent that it caused blacks to flee the county... even those who were landowners. "According to Elliot Jaspin, a historian and journalist quoted by the Digital Library of Georgia and the New Georgia Encyclopedia, only about 24 of the nearly 40 Black landowners in Forsyth County at the time were able to sell their land. The other properties have no record of sale, and some believe the abandoned land was simply taken by White residents." - The Times Oscarville began as a small farming town around 1870, but after so many fled the county in 1912, it was practically a ghost town. Those still claiming ownership of their land either had it seized or were "asked" to to forfeit their land to build the Buford Dam by Newport Dam Development according to an article published on April 6, 2021 by The Signal. Prior to the violence, Oscarville was actually known for its agricultural prowess in fighting off the boll weevil infestation that hindered many farm crops and enriching the soil with chicken feces. A technique that has been duplicated to this day to revive poor farming/gardening soil. "Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored." ― Aldous Huxley [ MUST WATCH ] Link to Oscarville | The Town Submerged by Lake Lanier (Intrigued Mind): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifMKfBO_R6s [ FINAL THOUGHTS ] Lake Lanier is a beautiful lake and a rich resource for Atlanta. It provides approx. 70% of the drinking water for Metro Atlanta as well as power, recreation and businesses. But there is more than what meets the eye as you look across its glistening surface. An entire town is buried by its waters and has been nearly forgotten, and the hard truth is this is not an isolated story. There are several other towns across the country who suffered the same fate. They include: Kowaliga (Benson), Alabama Seneca Village In New York City Susannah, Alabama and Vanport, Oregon The story of Lake Lanier and Oscarville will be featured in an upcoming TV series called Oscarville - Below the Surface. Here is the link to the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVux8Y96cok Thanks for reading. 2022 / 59 #BlackHistorySeries

Beautiful, calm water, easy access. Went paddle boarding, it was so fun! Took the dogs out with us!

I give Lake Lanier 3 stars. It's A-OK. I'm not much of a nature or outdoors person, so Lake Lanier doesn't appeal to me as much as others. I've driven boats out on the lake including a 24-foot pontoon and a two-story private party yacht through companies such as Aqua Sports Adventures (Buford) and Port Royale Marina (Gainesville). Boating on the lake can be a lot of fun. If you live in metro Atlanta, I highly recommend doing it at least once. The lake is big (59 square miles) and is located less than an hour north of the city. There are several small islands and beaches. The premiere resort is Lanier Islands Resort which requires a gate fee to get inside. However, there are plenty of public parks and beaches you can get to by land or sea which do not charge a fee. Examples of some parks I've been to include Van Pugh North Park and Burton Mill Park. These parks have docks so you can load/unload boats, jet skis, etc. as well as beaches, picnic tables, grills, and restrooms. When I visited these parks, they were relatively clean, including the restrooms. Along the shoreline, you can see little fishes along with cute flocks of ducks. On the weekends, the lake, beaches, and parks are busy. Bring insect repellent. There were a lot of yellow jackets flying around the grills at Burton Mill Park and there are various other bugs that can bite/sting you along the trails. The Legacy Golf Course at Lanier Islands Resort is an affordable public daily fee golf course. I believe it's the only golf course situated directly on the lake. The lake is surrounded mostly by wooded areas with not a whole lot of development (probably by design).

Very clean environment, space for plenty of people to grill and enjoy themselves on the beach

It was such a lovely day when we paid Lake Sidney Lanier a visit, and everyone else got that memo as well, because whoa, the crowds were all out and about. We specifically came to walk the trail that followed much of the lake shore, and along that walk, we encountered several families grilling, having picnics, sunbathing boating or simply swimming. The trails are well paved, clean and access points to the waters or beach have a natural trail that leads to it from the concrete trails. As you walk along you do get the sense that something is missing....and you'd be right....dogs! There's no pets allowed at Lanier, which is pretty socking considering all of the green space, but somewhat understandable, considering how some pet owners don't clean up after their fur babies. Stepping in a pile of poo will take the cool right out of your day. Animals are around though, in the form of geese, but they stay out of your way. One thing I don't like about the trails is they're very poorly marked, outside of one general map that gives a general overview of the trail and its distance. It doesn't give you any "you are here" markers though. Along the trail you'll find a couple of basketball courts, swing sets, volley ball, small strips of beach....some isolated completely and some filled with people. Throughout the park grounds there's several benches and grills. If you want a view of the dam up close, you can park at the smaller lot maybe a half mile away from the main entrance. This is free, and allows for more nice shots. Getting access to the main area and trail I've been speaking of costs $5 to enter per car Beautiful views, very clean and a nice area to bring your family and so much area to explore. Worth checking out!

Just such an amazing place to be! Just know on the weekends during the summer it gets packed! But for a good reason! Everyone out just enjoying themselves!

Lake Lanier is home for some time now. Tonight finding a place near the dam to watch the fireworks which are easily visible from West Bank or the Dam. Hardest part is parking but beats trying to get Back into Lanier islands . Our playground for 30 years! Love this lake- all idiots who don't know how to operate a boat-please stay home so we can enjoy! Picnic time, feet in water, lounge chair, breeze, the best!

Beautiful!!! There is no lack of activities to do on Lake Lanier. Boating, hiking, zip lining, fly boarding and many more. There are also lots of dining opportunities and beautiful properties that help make Lake Lanier a great community.

This was my first time at the lake considering I've lived in Atlanta less than a year. I loved it. I really enjoyed docking close to Margaritaville that seemed to also be a water park. Great for the family. Or if you're like me, great for having a get together with friends on a boat. The lake was way bigger than i expected it to be . I would definitely go again

Good Ole Lake Lanier! What can I say? When can you go wrong with a great outdoors day with family, friends, grills, and boats?! I recently visited for 4th of July and had an amazing time! The staff was very friendly. The set up of the campsites was great and it was easy to maneuver around the park with he well place signs. It was just a great time! You can choose to be very secluded if you'd like or you can head to the beaches around the lake and be social with other campers! The lake was a little busy in the 4th so waves were kind of choppy but this is a great place to chill on the water in a boat or take a smooth sunset ride. I'd come back every weekend if I could!

If you know me at all, you would know that I'm not an outdoor girl by any means. With that being said, I like coming to Lake Lanier - specifically to West Bank Park (directions to get there: http://www.lakelanier1.com/West_Bank_Park_Beach_Lake_Lanier_Beaches.html) - with my family. We come here a few times a year for our family barbeques. Parking costs $4 per car, but this is paid on an honor system. There is no parking attendant on duty in the booth by the entrance. However, there are envelopes by the entrance where you should put the money in. So bring a couple dollars and don't be cheap if you're going to the park to enjoy the benefits that it has to offer! During the warmer months, people like to cool off by swimming in the lake. The West Bank Park seems to attract families with small children, so be ready for that if you come to the park specifically to go for a swim. (There's also a small playground for kids.) This park is a chill spot where you can find a table with a BBQ grill right beside it in the picnic area. The grills were replaced probably less than a year ago, so they aren't super old and rusty. I really like that the picnic area is usually pretty quiet. Our family brings a large beach parasol and camping chairs and normally just hang out by our table and BBQ grill. I like to bring a book to pass the time while my siblings walk around and explore the park. It's also fun to pass the time watching the Canadian geese that are always hanging out. Although it is prohibited (as it should be!), people feed them all the time, so they'll swim or waddle close to you in anticipation of a snack. My biggest gripe is the fact that there is rarely any toilet paper in the restrooms, and there is no soap. Other than that, the restrooms aren't in bad shape, but you should definitely bring your own roll of toilet paper in case they run out and don't refill them. In addition, bring some hand soap or hand sanitizer because there isn't any in the restrooms. Overall, the West Bank Park of Lake Sidney Lanier gets 4 stars for its clean and relaxing environment. It isn't the best park you will visit, and there aren't a ton of things to do there, but it definitely isn't the worst. Again, it's a very chill spot that our family will continue to have our occasional family BBQs. [Review 216 of 366]

Now let's be honest, everything in Atlanta is always a problem especially this lake, I had to wait 4 hours to rent a boat and by the time we got in the water the sun was setting and then one of the motors busted, if you want to waste your money on a lake and risk your life im by swimming in It you do you, also the motor busted by a tree branch that was poking out of the water, safety regulations need that be in check if I could give this lake 0 stars I would.

Close to home, awesome spot to spend few hours....or a day. There are lots of parks around the lake, with grills, pavilions and seating areas. Some parks have kids play areas too I love the place!

Always nice place to take family. Trails pretty well maintained but they don't allow dogs which is very unfortunate as if you want to bring entire family you can't or you're limited with how much time to stay as furry kids not allowed. One of the reasons we don't come very often and we live 2 mins away

An easy drive from Atlanta. Lots of places for swimming. Will be back

The lake is a life saver for me on those hot summer days when there is nothing to do and my three dogs are restless. We visit the lake at least two or three times a week with the dogs (A husky/sheppard mix, a husky malamute mix and a PomChi). They absolutely love it there we take them to the secluded parts of the lake where it's animal friendly and they swim until their little hearts are content. The spot we go is very quiet and most always far away from other people although sometimes kids like to skip school and come out to goof off. I'll definitely be going back this spring/summer it's going to be a scorcher!

The lake is beautiful. The resort is exceptional. The staff is friendly and courteous! I'll be back

I came to this spot to recon the area for some bass and cat fishing. There are many parks around these parts. I love this due to the fact that it's not an independent lake and it runs in comparison with other water outlets for fishing as far as connecting is concerned. The sad part about it, I don't hear many people talk about going fishing anymore and just want to walk around these parks. Nothing wrong with that but did some kind of way we forget about manual survival if need be?? Especially while the water isn't totally polluted??

One of my very favorite places. Plenty of places on the lake to fit whatever your mood. Quiet calm areas, play/family Areas, and party areas. I love living so close.

This man made lake is A-OK... I liked learning about some of the history. Whatever MAN made this lake, literally just filled the valley it was with a ton of water. Didn't even take the stuff that was in the valley away... Like a race car track, and it's cement bleachers. Trees...I guess when the water gets really low, you start to see tree tops and have to navigate around them. I've been in Georgia since Thursday night, and this is really all I've seen of it, oh and a Publix...haha.. I'm visiting friends and said I just kind of wanted to chill, but now I'm kind of bored, I want to see more..

$4 per vehicle fee... decent beach area makes this spot a must do or see at least once.. They need to invest in some covers for the sun tho but other than its nice and not overalls crowded except for the ducks.. there's also grills and picnic benches throughout as well..

This place is a great weekend spot for a day-long BBQ with boating and jetskiis. Love coming here for some quality family time. Come here early as you can though, ideally by 10AM in order to get a good picnic table and grill by the water. The picnic tables are all shaded, so I don't have to worry about it ever getting too hot. The public swimming area is decent, but I'm not quite a fan for what the bottom of the lake feels like, so ideally it's best to swim if you go to deeper areas IMO. The public lake area and the boating dock are equipped with clean bathroom facilities in a nearby parking lot, so that was a huge plus. Always a good time when I come here! One of my favorite spots surrounding Atlanta.

You are not living unless you are Lake Living. Love all of the commerce on the lake. Restaurants, Marinas, and boat dealers make it fun to be out on the water. It's more of a destination and way of travel than just a place to tool around on. Great fishing too.