Atlanta is a great city for Stand Up Paddleboarding. It is home to several scenic lakes and rivers, providing spots for water activities like kayaking, canoeing, fishing and paddle boarding. Knowing the best locations is a step forward to getting a wonderful SUP experience as a beginner or a professional paddleboarder.
To get the best out of paddle boarding and other fun attractions in Atlanta, you must know the certain spots in the city.
Here are six beautiful places to explore paddle boarding while in Atlanta:
1. Lake Acworth
2. Lake Lanier
3. Stone Mountain Lake
4. Lake Allatoona
5. Morgans fall overlook park
6. Lake Tugalo
6 of The Best Places to Go Paddleboarding in Atlanta
1. Lake Acworth
Lake Acworth is a small artificial lake in the city of Acworth, Georgia, located about 39 minutes north of Atlanta. This lake is a haven for paddle boarders as motorized boats are prohibited from plying the waters. So, you don’t have to worry about any turbulence in the water.
The small lake of about 260 acres is ample for a long, uninterrupted paddle experience. It is also attached to the Lake Acworth beach, a public beach that acts as a launching area, playground, and picnic spot and also provides restroom facilities to the public. The Acworth beach also offers plenty of space away from the water for easy parking.
A major perk about the lake is that it is the heart of the historic city with great eating spots. You can top off your paddling experience by going downtown to enjoy its awesome BBQs.
More Information:
- Opening Hours: Lake Acworth is open daily from 6:00 a.m to 11:00 p.m.
- Parking Fees: Non-residents are expected to pay $10 as a parking fee.
- Rentals: You can rent your paddle boards and other paddling gear from Appalachian Outfitters.
2. Lake Lanier
The largest lake in Georgia, with over 700 miles of shoreline spread across 38,000 acres. Lake Lanier guarantees a lot of space to enjoy your paddle boarding trip. Its calm and flat waters make it the best option for beginner paddle boarders to hone their skills.
Lake Lier offers something for everyone, well known for its aqua-blue waters, stunning scenery and great recreational activities. Though popularly known for fishing and camping, you can also enjoy other water activities like canoeing, kayaking and paddle boarding.
With over 75 recreational areas and 40 corps-operated parks, beaches and playgrounds scattered around the lake, visitors can enjoy various amenities like picnic areas, playgrounds, boat ramps, hiking trails and restrooms.
Additional Resources:
- Opening Hours: The lake is open from 7:00 a.m to 10:00 p.m every day
- Parking Fee: Entrance, parking and boat ramps are free in the lake lanier. However, some parks around the lake charge certain fees.
- Rentals: The Lanier Canoe and Kayak Club on the opposite end of the lake offers rental services.
3. Stone Mountain Lake
This manmade lake offers paddlers a nice view of the granite mountain which often reflects on the lake. Stone Mountain Lake is the best place to improve your paddle boarding skills, as motorboats are not allowed. Fishing is very common here as it houses various species like Largemouth Bass, Bluegill and Black crappies.
Its public boat ramp is located on the southern end close to the Evergreen pavilion on Stone Jackson Drive. The lake attracts diverse visitors, from kayakers to canoers and paddleboarders. You should note that swimming is not allowed in Stone Mountain Lake.
Additional Resources:
- Opening Hours: The park gates are open from 5:00 a.m to midnight.
- Parking Fees: You must pay a monthly fee of $20 or $40 annually to gain access.
- Rentals: This Park doesn’t offer rental services. However, there are parks where you can get your paddle boarding gear, like the High Country Outfitters.
4. Lake Allatoona
Officially known as Allatoona lake, this is one of the most popular lakes in the United States, and it is just a 45 minutes drive from Atlanta. The Allatoona lake covers about 12,000 acres and has over 270 miles of shoreline. Managed by the US Army Corp of Engineers, this lake has only a few houses on its shores, allowing visitors to experience its delightful natural scenery while paddle boarding.
Paddling this lake in the early hours of the day gives you a beautiful view as you can watch the sunrise. You catch glimpses of the hawks, deer, eagles and other wildlife.
The lake also offers other facilities like hunting grounds, 8 privately operated marinas, 15 public boat ramps and 7 campgrounds scattered around its shore.
Additional Resources:
- Opening Hours: The lake opens from 8:00 a.m – 6:00 p.m during summer and otherwise 8:00 a.m – 4:00 p.m
- Parking Fee: Visitors pay a daily fee of $5 per vehicle for parks with beaches. Visitors are to pay a $5 boat launching fee for parks with boat ramps daily. You can choose to pay its annual fee of $40.
- Rentals: Lake Allatoona Kayaking offers the best rental service for paddleboarding wear.
5. Morgans Fall Overlook Park
Another amazing spot for paddle boarding in Atlanta is the Morgan Fall Overlook Park. The 30-acre riverside park is located at a dam on the Chattahoochee River. It’s a good spot for beginners or those wanting to sharpen their skills. Its smooth waters make it a great place to learn stand-up paddle boarding.
The park has a generally relaxed environment with beautiful scenic views. It also features several picnic pavilions, a fire pit, restrooms, hiking trails, a fishing pier and a playground.
Additional Resources:
- Opening hours The park is open from 8:00 a.m – 9:00 p.m every day.
- Parking Fee: Admission into the morgan fall overlook park is free
- Rentals: The popular High Country Outfitters is a perfect place to rent your paddling wear.
6. Lake Tugalo
About 135 miles from Atlanta, Lake Tugalo is an amazing spot for paddle boarding. The Georgia Power Company manages the 597-acre reservoir with about 18 miles of shoreline.
Lake Tugalo also has steep and narrow sides, and this causes the wind to be more friendly to paddlers, unlike other open lakes. The lake is also a good spot for fishing as it houses several species of fish like the bass, bluegills and many others.
Additional Resources:
- Opening Hours: Tugalo park is open from 7:00 a.m to 9:00 p.m everyday
- Parking Fee: The lake offers free admission and parking. Visitors are also allowed to fish for free. However, guests must pay a $2 fee to use the boat ramp.
- Rentals: You can rent your paddle boarding gear at the Tugaloo Bend Heritage Park.
Conclusion
Atlanta is an ideal place to enjoy paddle boarding in any season. There are various spots open to visitors to enjoy the diverse recreational activities, including paddle boarding, fishing, kayaking and canoeing. These recommended locations are also a great option for beginners.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a license to paddle board?
Yes, you need to be licensed by relevant authorities before using a paddle board or any other watercraft on inland waters.
Can you paddle board the Chattahoochee?
Yes, Chattahoochee river is an amazing place to paddle board. It is, however, recommended for veteran paddleboarders.
Can I paddleboard anywhere?
You can stand up paddle board on any water. However, lakes, rivers and ponds are the common places for paddle boarding.
Can you sit while paddle boarding?
You can choose to stand, sit or kneel. Go for a position that affords you the most comfort.
Can you launch SUP anywhere?
Though it seems easy, you cannot launch your paddle board just anywhere. There are several launching spots depending on where you choose to paddle board.
Can you paddle board alone?
Though it is Legal to paddle on your own, it should only be done by expert paddle boarders. For beginners, it is advised that you don’t venture into the river alone.
How much does it cost to rent a paddle board?
In the United States, renting stand-up paddle boards costs between $25-45 per day. However, you should note that this price varies and can be determined by the rental’s location and competition in the area.