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| lake lanier general information
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Lanier is Atlanta's closest big body of water, about an hour north. I-985 runs along the east side and GA-400 along the west. GA-20 runs along the bottom from Buford to Cumming and connects 985 and 400. GA 369 runs across the middle connecting Gainesville and Cumming. (For the curious, the Olympic rowing events were held on the upper/northern part, north of Gainesville where the lake is much narrower.) When it blows hard, local sailors head this way. When fronts come through, the 4 mile fetch in front of Van Pugh can offer decent 2-3 foot ramps which tend to be better on starboard. During the "season" (October through May) winds can be from 7.5 to 4.5 as fronts allow with a few 3.5 days thrown in. The big days are usually accompanied by cold air so neoprene is a necessity. The lake temperature can vary from 45ish in deep winter to bathwater in the summer. Nonetheless, some locals will sail year round as long as the air temperature is above freezing. Check out our weather pages for phone numbers for local conditions.
Lanier is much calmer in the summer and is readily accessable to novice windsurfers. However, due to its proximity to Atlanta, the southern part of the lake can get very crowded from May to August and the more northern sites should be considered. After Labor Day begins the best part of the year as the water stays warm even into November and traffic drops off dramatically as football season starts. The 45-55 degree blasts of cold air are tempered by a dip into 65 degree water. Even in the middle of the week, parking is crowded at Van Pugh when a front rolls through. By New Year's however, the lake will have lost much of its warmth and the real cold weather sailing begins. This is page omits many parks on Lanier and Allatoona, because they are less than optimal for windsurfing. Usually, there is a better alternative close by. Requirements for a good launch generally are open, facing the wind and on a open body of water. Trees and hills wreak havoc on the wind flow for a fair distance downwind from 6 to 10 times their height and more. | ||
| van pugh
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50 min. N I-85 to N I-985 to Exit 8 (Friendship Rd & Lake Lanier Islands). Turn left at top of exit and go to first stop light. Turn right on Atlanta Hwy. In about one mile turn left on Gaines Ferry Road. Go straight, you'll pass one light (McEver Rd). Keep on for another 1.5 m until road deadends in park. Bear right and drive around past boat ramp and picnic shelter. This is where everyone in Atlanta goes for the big blows. An easy launch in west and northwest winds, Van Pugh attracts Atlanta's best when its 5.5 and below. Facilities include real toilets, pay phone, picnic area with shelter and BBQs. Cautions: Van Pugh gets very crowded from May to August. Unless it's really windy or a weekday, go to Sunrise in the summer. Also, this is not the best beginner spot especially on a westerly. You may get blown downwind to Chestnut Ridge Park which is a hike back and the swell and traffic make it somewhat annoying for beginning uphaulers (on the otherhand, you're more likely to get advice, both solicited and otherwise, here). Try Sunrise for anything west and Tidwell and Vann's Tavern for east. Also, in the big fall winds, the further you go out, the harder it blows. Consult one of the local sailors for appropriate sail size. | ||
| van pugh south
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50 min. Same as above except bear left as you reach the end of Gaines Ferry. Continue straight into old camp ground until road dead ends. Park in one of the camp site slips. Nice small sandy beach facing west. This is much preferable to the regular Van Pugh launch for something SW or S as you don't have a wind shadow at the launch. Not a good summer weekend spot as you are very close to some major marinas and their heavy traffic. | ||
| lake lanier sailing club
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55 min. N I-85 to N I-985 to Exit 12. Left on Spout Springs Rd. Right on Atlanta Hwy. Go 1/10 m to Spring St. and turn left. At end of Spring St. turn Right on Gainesville St. Continue across McEver Rd. on to Jim Crow Rd. (becomes Old Federal Rd.). Go a total of 2.3 miles to LLSC on left. Members only unless it's a windsurfing regatta. | ||
| sunrise cove
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1 hr. N I-85 to N I-985 to Exit 16. Left on Mundy Mill (GA 53). In about two miles, road will seem to end into McEver (it actually becomes a lane past the light. Turn left on McEver. At second light turn right on Flat Creek Rd. Go about two miles passing one 4way stop. As road appears to end at gate to Marina turn right just befor gate into public day use area. Park near Portajons at bottom of the hill. This is a good (for Lanier) sandy beach and pretty shallow for beginners. But like all of Lanier, beware of dropoffs. | ||
| tidwell
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50 min. N GA 400 to exit 16. Turn right on Pilgrim Mill Road. Go until road deadends into park. Closest park to Atlanta for east/northeast. Because of the riprap on shore (rocks), launching can be a chore. Vann's Tavern is an easier launch and only 5 minutes further. | ||
| two mile
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55 min. N GA 400 to exit 17 (Gainesville). Turn right on GA 306 to first stop light. Right on GA 369 about 5 miles to Bethel Church road. Follow signs to end of Bethel Church road. Good place to longboard in summer as traffic is less than lower lake. Nice grassy point for sun and picnic. Other sites are better for shortboarding. | ||
| vann's tavern
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55 min. The next best NE alternative since Athens Park, just up the road, was closed due to excess erosion (the result of the lake being kept over full pond for the Olympics). Named after the tavern owned by the great Cherokee Chief James Vann. Vann received the rights to establish a tavern and inn at a ferry across the Chattahootchee from a short-lived treaty (Andrew Jackson had little regard for treaties with the Cherokees). At the time, the Chattahootchee marked the boundary between Georgia and the Cherokee Nation. N GA 400 to exit 17 (Gainesville). Turn right on GA 306 to first stop light. Right on GA 369 about 6 miles. Towards end of second (maybe third, I'll check) three lane section, look for sign on right. Turn right and follow until road deadends into park. Great place for anything from NE to S. Nice grassy rigging area and real toilets. It is directly across the lake from LLSC. | ||
| west bank
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Alternative to Tidwell in a pinch. Possible launch for Long Distance Sail. Located on Buford Dam Rd about 1/2 m. west of the dam. From I-985 or Peachtree Industrial, take GA 20 west . About 5 miles turn right on Suwanee Dam Rd. Turn left on Buford Dam Rd. Cross Dam. (Yep, you get to drive on the thing. If you can, without wrecking, look into the gorge downstream of the dam and imagine how pretty it was before the Corps of Engineers created the lake.) Park is on the right. From GA 400, get off at Exit 14, GA 400. Go east (turn left if you came from Atlanta because of the cloverleaf). Turn left at first stop light in about 1/2 mile. Turn right in another 1/2 mile on Buford Dam Rd. Park is on left in about three miles. No trailers! You'll get a ticket. Very crowded in the warm months and especially weekends. | ||
| mountain view
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Last park before Brown's Bridge. Off Brown's Bridge Road just east of the Bridge. Access to some neat island beaches when the lake is down and quiet. Shadowed for all but southerly breezes. | ||
| galts ferry, allatoona
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50 min. North on I-75 from Atlanta to exit 120 (Hwy. 92), Right 92 . In approximately 1.5 miles, turn left on Kellogg Creek. Proceed approx. 2.5 miles. Take a Left on Galt's Ferry Park Rd (look for the brown sign for the park), bear left at the fork. Keep going through the gate next to the guard station if they are open. (There is no charge for boardsailors last I was told.) If guard station isn't open, turn left just before guard station and park on right and far right sides of the lot depending on launch choice. Because of the surrounding mountains, locals say this place rips on an East wind. For the big fall and spring westerlies, even those who live on Allattoona make the trip over to Van Pugh on Lake Lanier. |
