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Lake Sidney Lanier is well known for its recreational opportunities. The Corps operates 46 park areas around the lake providing, picnicking, campgrounds, boat launching ramps, swimming areas, group picnic shelters and hiking trails. Additional areas have been leased from the Corps and are operated as city and county parks as well as marinas. With over 690 miles of shoreline and over 100 small islands Lake Lanier is the perfect place to pursue your recreational adventure. Whether it is fishing, camping, boating, picnicking, swimming or a variety of other recreation activities, Lake Lanier has it all.
Directions & Factoid
Directions: From I-985/Buford Take GA Hwy 20 West, from GA 400/Cumming, take Ga Hwy 20 East, to North on Suwanee Dam Road. Go three miles and go left on Buford Dam Road. The Visitor Center is one mile down on the right.
Factoid: Nestled in the foothills of the Georgia Blue Ridge Mountains lies Lake Sidney Lanier, one of America's favorite lakes. Over 7.5 million people a year choose to visit Lanier. Seventy-six recreational areas have been developed around the lake under the direction of the Corps of Engineers. These include 46 parks operated directly by the Corps, 10 marinas, and Lake Lanier Islands. The remaining areas are leased to county and city governments or other organizations such as the Boy Scouts. With over 692 miles of shoreline, the lake is well known for its aqua-blue colored water, spectacular scenery and variety of recreational activities. Constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the 1950's, Lake Lanier is a multi-purpose lake that provides for flood protection, power production, water supply, navigation, recreation and fish and wildlife management. Lake Lanier is one of 464 lakes in 43 states constructed and operated by the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers. It has won the best operated lake of the year award in 1990, 1997 and 2002.
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| Aqualand Marina |
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Auraria |
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Bald Ridge Creek $ |
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| Bald Ridge Marina |
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Balus Creek $ |
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Belton Bridge |
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Bethel |
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Big Creek $ |
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Bolding Mill $ |
E N |
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A GS |
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Buford Dam Park $ |
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Burton Mill $ |
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| Charleston |
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Chestnut Ridge $ |
E N |
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| Clarks Bridge |
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| Don Carter State Park |
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Duckett Mill $ |
E N |
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East Bank $ |
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| Flowery Branch |
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| Gainesville Marina |
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| Habersham Marina |
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| Holiday On Lanier |
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A G |
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| Holly |
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A GS |
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Keiths Bridge |
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| Lake Lanier Islands |
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A GS |
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B P |
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| Lan Mar Marina |
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| Lanier Harbor |
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Lanier Park $ |
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A GS |
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| Lanier Point |
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A GS |
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| Laurel |
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| Lazy Days |
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Little Hall $ |
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A GS |
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B |
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Little Ridge |
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Little River |
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Little Shoal $ |
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Long Hollow |
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B |
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| Longwood |
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A GS |
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Lower Overlook |
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Lower Pool |
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Lula |
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| Lumpkin |
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| Mary Alice |
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Mountain View |
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Nix Bridge |
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Old Federal $ |
E N |
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GS |
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Old Federal Day Use |
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Powerhouse |
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| River Forks |
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B |
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Robinson |
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Sardis Creek |
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Sawnee $ |
E N |
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Shady Grove $ |
E N |
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Shoal Creek $ |
E N |
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B |
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Simpson |
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Six Mile $ |
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| Starboard Marina |
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| Sunrise Cove |
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Thompson Bridge |
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Thompson Creek $ |
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Tidwell $ |
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Toto Creek $ |
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Two Mile |
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Upper Overlook $ |
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A GS |
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Van Pugh North $ |
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A GS |
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Van Pugh South $ |
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Vanns Tavern $ |
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Wahoo Creek |
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War Hill $ |
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X |
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A |
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B |
D |
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West Bank $ |
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A GS |
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West Bank Overlook |
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| YMCA |
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| Young Deer |
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A GS |
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Corps Managed |
$ Corps Fees Collected |
Managed by Others in Italics |
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| Camping |
| E |
Electric Campsites |
| N |
Non-electric Campsites |
| T |
Pull Through Campsites |
| G |
Group Camping |
| D |
Dump Station |
| Picnic |
| A |
Picnic Area |
| G |
Group Picnic |
| GS |
Group Picnic Shelter |
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| Swimming |
| B |
Beach |
| P |
Swimming Pool |
| Fishing |
| C |
Fish Cleaning Stations |
| D |
Fishing Docks |
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| Trails |
| B |
Bike Trails |
| Q |
Equestrian Trails |
| H |
Hiking Trails |
| I |
Hiking Trails - Interpretive |
| R |
Off Road Vehicle Trails |
| M |
Miscellaneous Trails |
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Boating on Lake Lanier
Whether you are on a houseboat, fishing boat, personal watercraft, sailboat or canoe, there is plenty of room for everyone on this 39,000-acre lake. Boaters can launch from any of 76 boat ramps around Lanier's shoreline. User fees are charged for launching at most boat ramps.
The lake also has 10 marinas that offer fuel, boat storage, repair services, snacks and supplies for your last minute needs. If you don't have a boat check with the marinas for rentals.
Events such as tournaments, sailing regattas and water carnivals may require a permit from the Corps of Engineers and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.
Camping on Lake Lanier's serene shoreline
Lake Lanier offers some of the finest camping opportunities in the South. Whether it's a primitive campsite hugging the shoreline of the lake or a site for your recreational vehicle, Lanier has it all.
The Corps of Engineers operates 9 campgrounds with 741 campsites. This includes 565 sites with water and electric hookups. Most sites are waterfront and all have a picnic table fire ring, grill and lantern pole. All campgrounds have beach areas, boat ramps and restrooms. Most of our campgrounds also have showers, playgrounds, accessible sites and manned entry stations.
Large groups may be interested in our group camping areas available at Shoal Creek and Shady Grove Parks. Both feature sites with water and electric hookups as well as an assembly shelter that will seat up to 60 persons.
Fishing on The Wonderfull Lake Lanier Paradise
Lake Lanier is well known as a productive fishing lake. Many species of fish thrive in the lake. The lake has approximately 39,000 surface acres of water at its full level. Although there is little natural cover in the top 1/3 of the lake due to tree clearing during construction, there are trees left standing in the lower portions of the lake as well as brush piles, drop-offs, submerged humps, and rock outcroppings in shallower areas. A navigation map will be helpful for finding these spots and is available in the map room.
The Corps of Engineers, in conjunction with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources actively manages fish habitat on Lake Lanier. Each year volunteers help build and maintain fish attractors around the lake. Information about fish attractor structures may be obtained the map room.
Trout fishing below Buford Dam is also popular. The cold waters released from the bottom of the lake support rainbow, brown and brook trout that are stocked in the river by the GA DNR. Fishing is permitted year-round. However, fishermen must use extreme caution when fishing below the dam and abide by special safety regulations.
Picnicking on Lake Lanier
Lake Lanier has hundreds of picnic sites with beautiful views of the lake and surrounding woodlands. Most sites have boat ramps and convenient access to restrooms. Group picnic shelters are available at several parks. These are a perfect setting for a family reunion, birthday party or company picnic. Most shelters will accommodate up to 100 people and all have tables, a large grill as well as electric outlets and lights.
Swimming in Lake lanier
Wade the shoreline, float on a raft or make a big splash in the cool, clear waters of Lake Lanier. The Corps of Engineers operates 23 swimming areas around the lake. All Corps of Engineers operated swimming areas are "swim at your own risk'. No lifeguards are on duty. The Corps recommends swimming at designated swim areas only. View the complete list of all Corps swim areas.
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Hiking around Lake Lanier
Hikers may want to visit the Laurel Ridge Trail located near Buford Dam. Along the 4-mile trail you can glimpse beautiful views of the lake, woodland and river scenery, as well as rare wildflowers and a variety of wildlife. The trail winds through several park areas, along the lake's shoreline and the banks of the Chattahoochee River. View a map of the trail from the map room or see a video.
You may also want to visit the newly constructed Little Ridge Trail. The trail is 1.05 miles long and features a number of different wildlife viewing opportunities. Trail Brochure
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Park User Fees-2006
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PARK*
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Pedestrians
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Vehicles
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Boat Launching
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Buford Park
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$1.00
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$4.00
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no ramp
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East Bank
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$1.00
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$3.00
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$3.00
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Lanier Park
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$1.00
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$4.00
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$4.00
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Shoal Creek Day Use
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$3.00
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Big Creek
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$1.00
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$3.00
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$3.00
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Burton Mill
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$1.00
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$4.00
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$4.00
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Van Pugh North
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$1.00
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$4.00
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$4.00
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Balus Creek
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$3.00
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Little Hall
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$1.00
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$4.00
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$4.00
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Vann's Tavern
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$3.00
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Six Mile
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$3.00
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Tidwell
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$3.00
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| West Bank |
$1.00 |
$4.00 |
no ramp
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Park Operation Schedule, updated as of
Friday May 12, 2006
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Facilities Chart Key:
o = open
m = marginal
X = closed
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See the current lake level
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Press Release on Park Closings
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Corps Campgrounds
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Boat Ramp
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Swim Area
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2006 Schedule
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Shoal Creek
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X
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X
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4/26 - 9/10
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Chestnut Ridge
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X
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X
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CLOSED |
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Old Federal
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o
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o
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3/29 - 10/29
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Duckett Mill
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o
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o
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4/26 - 9/10
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Bolding Mill
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X
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X
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CLOSED |
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Shady Grove
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X
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X
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CLOSED |
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Bald Ridge
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o
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o
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3/29 - 10/29
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Sawnee
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o
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o
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4/26 - 9/10
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Corps Day Use Parks
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Boat Ramp
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Swim Area
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2006 Schedule
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Powerhouse
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none
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none
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CLOSED
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Upper Overlook
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none
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none
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CLOSED |
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Lower Overlook
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none
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none
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Year-round
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East Bank
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o
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none
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Year-round
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Buford Dam Park
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none
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o
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4/28 - 9/10
Thursday-Sunday
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Shoal Creek Day Use
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o
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none
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Year-round
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Big Creek
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o
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none
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Year-round
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Burton Mill
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o
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o
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Ramp: year-round
Beach: 4/28 - 9/10
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Van Pugh North
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o
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o
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Year-round
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Van Pugh South
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o
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none
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4/29 - 9/10
weekends & holidays only
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Old Federal Day Use
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o
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o
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Year-round
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Balus Creek
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o
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none
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Year-round
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Mountain View
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o
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none
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Ramp: year-round
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Belton Bridge
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none
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none
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Year-round
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Lula Park
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o
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none
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Year-round
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Little River
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o
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none
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Year-round
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Thompson Bridge
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o
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none
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Year-round
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Sardis Creek
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o
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none
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Year-round
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Simpson Park
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o
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none
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Year-round
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Robinson
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o
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none
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Ramp: Year-round
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Duckett Mill Day Use
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o
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none
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Year-round
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Little Hall
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o
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o
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Ramp: year-round
Beach: 4/1 - 9/10
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Bolding Mill Day Use
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o
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X
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Ramp: year-round
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Toto Creek
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o
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o
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Ramp: year-round
Beach: 4/28 - 9/10
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Nix Bridge
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o
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none
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Year-round
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Thompson Creek
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o
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none
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Year-round
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Keith's Bridge
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o
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o
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Ramp: year-round
Beach: 4/1 - 10/22
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Long Hollow
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o
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o
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Ramp: year-round
Beach: 4/1 - 10/22
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Vann's Tavern
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o
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none
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Year-round
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Bethel
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o
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none
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Ramp: year-round
Beach: 4/28 - 9/10
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Two Mile
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o
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none
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Year-round
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Six Mile Creek
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o
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none
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Year-round
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Tidwell
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o
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none
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Year-round
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Lanier Park
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o
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o
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Ramp: 4/1 - 10/22
Beach: 4/28 - 9/10
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Little Ridge
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o
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none
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Year-round
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West Bank
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none
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o
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Year-round
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| Wahoo |
o |
none |
Ramp: Year-round |
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Lower Pool
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o
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none
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Year-round
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