Lake Rabun is a relatively small (835 acre) lake, located 10 miles south of Clayton, GA. It should be noted that this lake is highly developed and has few areas which facilitate exiting deep water onto land. This, coupled with its significant boat traffic, make it poorly suited for operation of a hovercraft during summer months.

Interesting hovering opportunities do, however, exist during the annual drawdown period for shoreline maintenance. This drawdown typically occurs between Thanksgiving and Christmas and includes a reduction of lake level of about 12'. Normal full pool elevation is 1690' and the current value can be seen on Georgia Power's web site listed below.

Due to the relative steepness of terrain in this area, much of the lake shoreline does not facilitate hovering. The upstream parts of the lake, however, offer some interesting terrain. A section immediatly below Lake Seed Dam includes about 1/2 mile of rocky terrain which can be negioated, but is slow and trecherous when water is not being released from Lake Seed. When water is being released this section is fast moving white water which is fun, but requires caution.

Moving downstream, the next 2 to 3 miles include mud flats, erosion gullys and sand bars. This is a good area to have fun, but one must stay alert for stumps and drop-offs.

Drawdown access to Lake Rabun presents an interesting challenge. A ramp exists with parking at Rabun Beach campground, however, if you plan to use this bring a shovel and be prepared for a need to establish a transition in the sand/mud to the current lake level. Another ramp exists at Hall's boathouse, but is even more of a challenge due to the topography of the lake bottom below the ramp.

One of Lake Rabun's earlier exposures to hovercraft when Harold Carter arrives with his Scat in the spring of 1999.

During the +/- 3 weeek annual drawdown the face of Lake Rabun changes dramatically.

Yes that is ice on the dash. Outside temp was 26F at the start of our 12/10/05 cruise.

Threading the needle immediatly below Seed Dam during a period on no in-flow.

Fred Ewing in his Neoteric Quesetrek

Not far into the day, the ice gives way to water as temperatures finally climbed up out of the 30s. Regardless, at 30 MPH it was challenging to keep warm and dry.

A creek bed near Rabun Beach offers a banked turn on entry into Lake Rabun.

Harold Carter immediatly below Seed Dam when water is flowing into Rabun.

What offers itself as a static rock field during drawdown periods of no in-flow becomes an interesting set of rapids when water is being discharged from lake Seed directly above.

With the exception of a few crews who were constructing boathouses, we had the entire lake to ourselves.