A hidden gem in Cumming right by the lake! A friend of mine told me about this park a few years…read moreago, and it's become a favorite of mine to visit, especially in the Fall! Heads up, you will feel like you're driving into a neighborhood but rest assured, you're in the right spot! It leads you right to the entrance, and there is tons of parking available. There's a trailhead sign as well which is helpful. Gorgeous views of the lake on every side of the park, with plenty of trails in and around the park. Every time I visit, it's always very quiet and serene, and there's a little beach/island that is all dried out now that you can go walk out on which is cool. Anytime I need to destress, a walk around here instantly does the trick!

This is a super cute park. There is no playground so definitely be aware of that but it is a nice…read moreplace to chill at the lake.

A hidden staycation opportunity that flies under the radar. Known for their boating and lake…read moreactivities 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.

I'm very surprised Lake Lanier has so few reviews. After all, it was one of the water sport venues…read moreof 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

Lovely paved trails…read more The BLK Hiking Club started their 2024 hiking season at this park. It was my first hike in GA in over a decade. The Hog Mountain entrance has plenty of parking (our group was over 120 people). The bathrooms are adjacent to the parking lot and were clean and stocked. The water was cold but the hand dryers have warm air so your hands will warm right up on cold days. The map by the parking lot and bathrooms shows the routes of various lengths. The trails are paved and easy to navigate with only slight elevations on the 2 mile trail. Our group of over 120 people had plenty of space and room on the trail (walking 2 by 2). Along the trail there are benches and picnic areas. Overall, this is a beautiful, serene hike that is great for groups. I highly recommend it.

Larger park that in a natural environment, offers playgrounds, paved trails, lakes and picnics…read moreareas. Ample parking. Very pretty and serene setting.

It's a beautiful spot for photos. We were just there a few years ago and are planning an upcoming…read moreprofessional shoot soon. This photo is a silhouette of my husband and son.

There is a car show today-the boat ramp is blocked, the music is so loud the neighbors have called…read morethe police several times but the city won't stop it and it is anything but a tranquil setting by the lake. You can't even ride through the park.

We just camped here for the first time this past weekend. Our reservation was accidentally double…read morebooked but the worker at the front was incredibly kind and helped us find an available site. Site 3 was very pretty, clean, and peaceful. The only reason I knocked off a star was because of the lack of privacy in the bathhouses. While there are curtains for the actual shower stalls, there is nothing for the changing area, nor any way to lock the bathroom door. I had to go back in to the wet shower stall to finish changing both nights due to someone walking in as I do not have the confidence to stand there unclothed in front of people. Regardless, my dogs and I loved the campground itself and we will be back! We will just be prepared next time.

Very clean and quiet campground except for a few hours one night. The nearby sailing club was…read moreblasting music on the outside patio. It echoed all around the lake. Even inside of our RV with the AC's on we could hear (and feel) the best of the loud music. The RV sites were fairly level and roomy. Our rig is 43' and we fit just fine. The water pressure was a bit low most of the days we stayed there. It's a nice park to relax or go fishing. I am a wildlife photographer so I spent my time down by the lake. I saw a variety of birds and the sunsets were beautiful. I would return to this park as a base camp. There's not much to do here but it was nice to be able to sit by the water and relax.

Absolutely gorgeous park with a beautiful view of Lake Lanier. This place has a stranger history…read morebut it is a nice place to take the kids.

A lovely park beach on Lake Lanier. The site features beautiful views of the lake as well as…read moreexcellent access to swimming, picnicking and boating. It's easy to remember Lanier Park. It's on Lake Lanier, just off Buford Dam Drive, which means it's near Buford Dam. Lanier Park is a scenic hideaway where you can rest or play, not far from Buford Dam. A beautifully groomed, sandy beach that's just right for swimming or laying out in the sun. Then, add in nearby picnic area with sturdy tables and grills, a boat ramp, and a half-mile walking trail. You can rent a pavilion area with its own dock and gorgeous views of the lake. The Lanier Park beach is open from late March through late September from 7 AM until 10 PM. Visitors can access the Laurel Ridge Hiking Trail from multiple locations and parks. The trail is a 3.5 mile loop that offers great views of the lake and Chattahoochee River. Fisherman can expect to catch a variety of species including bass, catfish and panfish. Activities include fishing, swimming, wake boarding, kayaking and hiking. Lanier Park offers access to a designated swim beach, picnic areas and restrooms. Alcohol is not permitted. Pets are not allowed. Arrive early, parking is on a first-come, first-served basis. Entrance fees to the park apply to all visitors. Fireworks prohibited. This location is available through advanced reservations only; no walk-ins. This location does offer first-come, first-served (walk-ins) availability on holidays only. All other dates are reservation only. Reservations cannot be made in person at the Park. Contact information is 1360 Buford Dam Rd., Buford, GA 30518. For any reservations contact 770-945-9531. Great spot to have a picnic lunch, watch the water and water fowl go by. I'll definitely be back many times.

Closest thing to a beach. The kids love it. Want to go back…read moresoon Jsjjsjsjsisksnsksiisjsisjsj

August 16, 2020…read more There is a 5$ fee to get in. This is our third park on Lake Lanier. Perhaps due to recent showers but I thought the water clarity was superior here compared to War Hill or Shoal Creek. You could see schools of fish sized 2-3 inches in length right there with you on the shore. The fish are used to being fed which is why they don't venture far from shore. The beach front is large and there is plenty of parking too. I liked that the park had trash cans right where you park. Good thinking. The water was in the low 80s and very refreshing. I went for a half mile swim by the buoys and played for a couple of hours with our little one in the water. The beach does have a few rocks at the shoreline and if you don't have water shoes you might stub your toe. Just tread carefully. So far this was a winner but there are other parks we have yet to explore.

This park was beautiful. It is hilly in parts and the trails aren't marked well in my opinion. I…read moreenjoyed my walk overall and views.

Beautiful park...especially during fall foliage. Looks straight out of a movie. Tons of colors…read moreeverywhere. Really nice rest stops and benches with trees. Walking path isn't too difficult for those of us who may not be used to hiking. Tons of people walking on the trails as well...all ages. Recommend!

I contacted Wake Lanier 2 months ago to hire them for an afternoon with guests in mid-October…read more They confirmed the appt from 3pm to 6pm. I called that morning to confirm and did not hear back. They then no-call, no-showed and haven't yet followed up afterwards (2 weeks ago). It was pretty disappointing for our kids and guests. Maybe it was just an oversight as they were very friendly on the phone and we were slightly off season.

Wake Lanier is a really special and unique camp. This is the only one I know of where you spend…read moreevery day on a boat. My son had a blast. He developed social skills, athletic skills like balance and coordination, and tons of self confidence. Andy Still is the owner and runs the camp. Andy is a great leader and teacher on top of being a daring and skilled wake boarder. He makes sure the environment at the lake house is wholesome despite being filled with teenagers. Another bonus is that my picky eater was exposed to a lot of new foods and developed a liking for them. I was shocked when my son won the most improved award and got an Oculus Go!! That is the absolute best prize he's ever gotten. I'm so proud that I found this camp despite them doing little advertising. JD came back looking tan with new little muscles on his arms. I was initially afraid about him getting hurt doing so much high speed activity on the lake but now I think he was safer there than just about anywhere else. Wake Lanier earns 5++ stars!!

A great spot on Lake Lanier, with plenty of things to do; whether it's fishing, boating, sailing,…read moreswimming, this place has it. There's a wonderful restaurant (Pig Tales) on the property, as well as equipment rentals for your water-based activities. Pack plenty of sun screen and get ready to have plenty of fun.

Nickle and dime all current marina members thousands a month but allow abandoned vehicles to be…read moredumped in the parking lots for years and do nothing about it.