In comparison to other Southeastern US lakes, this is big water. The lower portion of Lake Lanier is up to 4 miles wide and is home to numerous yachts, cabin cruisers and speed boats. These coupled with hundreds of sailboats, thousands of jet skis and many more water skiers, make summer operation here less than ideal for hovercraft. None the less, the lake is surrounded by rolling hills, dotted with scenic islands and close to Atlanta. On the occasional off season warm afternoons this offers a convenient location for a day trip or even overnight camping.

Numerous access points include parks and commercial marinas. Generally the west shore is serviced by Hwy 400 and the east by I985. It should be noted that the ramps closest to Atlanta generally see the highest level of traffic. On Sunday afternoon during mid summer this can equate to long lines at the ramp. Off season, however, this is not a significant issue.

This lake is impounded by Buford Dam which is operated by the Army Corp of Engineers. General practice is to drop the lake level down some 10 to 15' from fall through spring, but during drought years this often stretches on into the summer or even year round. Because low level is a common occurrence many ramps facilitate lake levels 6 to 8' below normal full pool elevation. At 10 to 12' below normal boat launching becomes selective, but hovercraft use may continue to be an option.

Up the Creek Cafe near Flowery Branch is one of several shoreline restaurants which serves lunch on and off season. Menu includes Cuban sandwich fried catfish and more with the option of dining on the deck which overlooks Starboard Marina.

The Marriott Pine Isle Resort on Lake Lanier Islands is a nice high-end facility with a golf course, water park and numerous other amenities. This and the surrounding shoreline host numerous private and semi-private dwellings in the + $2 million range. While this doesn't necessarily contribute to extraordinary hovercrafting opportunities, it does add an interesting element to the scenery.

Home