The lake in numbers
- Lake Sidney Lanier is a man-made lake that opened in 1957 after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers finished construction. It covers about 38,000 acres, and its 690-plus miles of shoreline touch five counties: Dawson, Forsyth, Gwinnett, Hall and Lumpkin. City of Gainesville: Lake Sidney Lanier; City of Gainesville: History
- The Corps operates Lake Lanier for flood protection, power production, water supply, navigation, recreation, and fish and wildlife management. City of Gainesville: Lake Sidney Lanier
- Explore Gainesville estimates more than seven million visitors a year at Lake Lanier. The City calls it the most visited Corps of Engineers lake in the nation, with more than $2 billion in annual economic impact. Explore Gainesville: Lake Lanier; City of Gainesville: History
- Lake Lanier has 76 recreational areas: 40 Corps-operated parks and campgrounds, 10 marinas and Lake Lanier Islands. More than 20 public access points via boat ramps and park complexes ring the lake. City of Gainesville: Lake Sidney Lanier
- Lake Lanier holds 16 species of game fish, including largemouth, spotted and striped bass and lake trout. City of Gainesville: Lake Sidney Lanier
Walking from the square
- The Rock Creek Greenway's 2 miles of tree-shaded trail link the historic square to Lake Lanier through four parks: Rock Creek Veterans Park, Ivey Terrace Park, Wilshire Trails Park and Longwood Park. City of Gainesville Parks & Recreation: Greenways
- The Midland Greenway, formerly the Midtown Greenway, is a rails-to-trails path along an abandoned rail line south of the square. It has an amphitheater, dog park, inclusive playground, FitCourt and public restrooms, and connects to the Highlands to Islands Trail. City of Gainesville Parks & Recreation: Greenways
City parks on the water
- Five City of Gainesville parks give public access to Lake Lanier: Holly Park, Lake Lanier Olympic Park, Lanier Point Park, Linwood Nature Preserve and Longwood Park. None has lifeguards on duty. City of Gainesville Parks & Recreation: Lake Parks
Longwood Park
city lake park
20 Pearl Nix Parkway, Gainesville, GA
Courtesy boat dock, fishing pier, pavilions, two playgrounds, eight tennis courts and restrooms. It is the lake end of the Rock Creek Greenway, so you can walk to the square. No lifeguards.
Source: City of Gainesville Parks & Recreation: Lake Parks, checked 2026-10-16
Lake Lanier Olympic Park
Olympic venue / city lake park
3105 Clarks Bridge Road, Gainesville, GA 30506
The 1996 Olympic rowing and canoe/kayak venue has a public beach (no lifeguards), a free boat ramp, courtesy docks and picnic areas, and it hosts Food Truck Fridays. Plan to drive.
Source: City of Gainesville Parks & Recreation: Lake Parks; Explore Gainesville: LLOP Amenities, checked 2026-10-16
Holly Park
city lake park
2603 Old Thompson Bridge Road, Gainesville, GA
Small beach, two pavilions, a public boat ramp and a fishing area. Swimming is not recommended (no lifeguards).
Source: City of Gainesville Parks & Recreation: Lake Parks, checked 2026-10-16
Lanier Point Park and Athletic Complex
city lake park / athletic complex
1530 Lee Waldrip Road, Gainesville, GA
Boat ramp, an island with a covered bridge and trails, a pavilion and ball fields. No lifeguards.
Source: City of Gainesville Parks & Recreation: Lake Parks, checked 2026-10-16
Linwood Nature Preserve
nature preserve (city lake park list)
415 Linwood Drive (trailhead); 118 Springview Drive NE (ecology center), Gainesville, GA
A 32-acre greenspace and native-plant preserve run with the Redbud Project, in the heart of the city.
Source: City of Gainesville Parks & Recreation: Lake Parks; City of Gainesville: Parks, checked 2026-10-16
The Olympic venue
The 1996 rowing and canoe/kayak course is a short drive north of downtown. Our Lake Lanier Olympic Park guide has the address, what is there and how parking works on event days.
Questions
Was Lake Lanier used in the Olympics?
Yes. In July 1996, Lake Lanier Olympic Park in Gainesville hosted the rowing and canoe/kayak events of the Atlanta Summer Olympics. The original timing tower still stands and is described as the last 1996 venue still used for its original purpose. An NBC broadcaster's "Hospitality Capital of the World" nickname for Gainesville dates from those Games.
Source: City of Gainesville: History; Explore Gainesville: Lake Lanier Olympic Park
Can you visit Lake Lanier Olympic Park?
Yes. The park is at 3105 Clarks Bridge Road, a drive from downtown. It has a sandy public beach with a designated swim area (no lifeguards), a free boat launch with free truck-and-trailer parking, courtesy docks and picnic areas. It hosts Food Truck Fridays and the Chicken Festival, and two Olympic-legacy rowing and paddling clubs are based there.
Source: Explore Gainesville: Lake Lanier Olympic Park Amenities
What is the Gainesville Chicken Festival?
It is "Georgia's Official Chicken Cook-Off," held at Lake Lanier Olympic Park, with backyard and professional pitmasters, People's Choice voting, a wing-eating contest and an egg-and-spoon race. In 2026 it falls on Saturday, Oct. 17, from 11 a.m. Single tasting wristbands (10 samples) cost $6. On-site parking is limited, so use the shuttle lot.
Source: Explore Gainesville: Gainesville Chicken Festival; City of Gainesville news release, Oct. 10, 2026
Can you walk from downtown Gainesville to Lake Lanier?
Yes, by the Rock Creek Greenway. Its 2 miles of shaded trail start at Rock Creek Veterans Park, one block from the square, and run through Ivey Terrace and Wilshire Trails parks to Longwood Park on the lake. Longwood has a fishing pier, courtesy boat dock, playgrounds and restrooms.
How big is Lake Lanier?
Lake Sidney Lanier covers about 38,000 acres, and its roughly 690-plus miles of shoreline (Explore Gainesville says 692) touch Hall, Forsyth, Dawson, Gwinnett and Lumpkin counties. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built it, and it opened in 1957. The City says it is the Corps' most visited lake in the nation.
Source: City of Gainesville: Lake Sidney Lanier and History; Explore Gainesville: Lake Lanier
Where can I get on Lake Lanier from Gainesville?
Five City parks give public lake access: Longwood Park, Lake Lanier Olympic Park, Holly Park, Lanier Point Park and Linwood Nature Preserve. Holly Park, Lanier Point and the Olympic Park have public boat ramps. Around the whole lake there are more than 20 access points, 10 marinas and 40 Corps-run parks and campgrounds.
Can you swim at Gainesville's lake parks?
There are no lifeguards at any of the City's lake parks. The City says swimming is not recommended at Holly Park, Lanier Point, Linwood and Longwood. Lake Lanier Olympic Park has a sandy beach with a designated swimming area, but it is also unguarded, so you swim at your own risk.
Source: City of Gainesville: Lake Parks; Explore Gainesville: LLOP Amenities
Dates, rules and hours can change. The organisers have the final word: City of Gainesville downtown events
