Some ramp directories list Flowery Branch Bay Park as a free boat ramp. The City says plainly: “The park does not have a boat ramp. Boat ramps are next door at Hideaway Bay Marina (formerly Starboard Cove Marina).”
- Flowery Branch Bay Park has shore and pier fishing but no boat ramp. The City says there are boat ramps next door at Hideaway Bay Marina, formerly Starboard Cove Marina, and a train runs along the water's edge by the park. City of Flowery Branch: Flowery Branch Bay Park
Find the right spot
Decision tool · lake access
Which Lake Lanier access fits you?
Tell us what you want to do on the water. We match you to the parks, ramps, beaches and marinas near downtown Flowery Branch that offer it, using what each operator publishes, and flag anything they do not say.
Every access point near downtown, side by side
| Lake access | Boat ramp | Swim beach | Marina | Fishing | Picnic | Camping | Restrooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Safe Harbor Hideaway BaySafe Harbor Marinas · 0.4 mi | Yes | Not published | Yes | Not published | Not published | Not published | Yes |
| Flowery Branch Bay ParkCity of Flowery Branch · 0.5 mi | No | Not published | Not published | Yes | Yes | Not published | Yes |
| Safe Harbor AqualandSafe Harbor Marinas · 2.1 mi | Not published | Not published | Yes | Not published | Not published | Not published | Yes |
| Old Federal Day Use ParkU.S. Army Corps of Engineers, jointly managed with Hall County Parks & Leisure · 3 mi | Yes | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Old Federal CampgroundU.S. Army Corps of Engineers, jointly managed with Hall County Parks & Leisure · 3 mi | Yes | Yes | Not published | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Van Pugh North Day Use ParkU.S. Army Corps of Engineers, jointly managed with Hall County Parks & Leisure · 3.2 mi | Yes | Yes | Not published | Not published | Yes | Not published | Not published |
| Van Pugh South Day Use FacilityU.S. Army Corps of Engineers (not under Hall County Parks & Leisure) · 3.3 mi | Yes | Not published | Not published | Not published | Yes | No | Yes |
| Burton Mill ParkU.S. Army Corps of Engineers, jointly managed with Hall County Parks & Leisure · 3.3 mi | Yes | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Balus Creek Water Access PointU.S. Army Corps of Engineers, jointly managed with Hall County Parks & Leisure · 4.8 mi | Yes | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Mountain View Water Access PointU.S. Army Corps of Engineers, jointly managed with Hall County Parks & Leisure · 5 mi | Yes | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | No |
| Shoal Creek CampgroundShoal Creek Campground (USACE schedule lists Lake Lanier Islands as the managing agency) · 5.6 mi | Yes | Yes | Not published | Not published | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Lanier Islands Resort (Land Shark Beach and Margaritaville at Lanier Islands)Lanier Islands Resort; water park and lake activities operated by Margaritaville at Lanier Islands · 6 mi | Not published | Yes | Yes | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
Check = the operator says yes. Dash = the operator says no. Question mark = the operator does not say; ask before you go. Miles are straight-line from the historic depot.
Features, fees and seasons come from each operator's own page (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Hall County, the City of Flowery Branch or the marina), checked 2026-10-17. Distances are straight lines from the depot, not driving routes.
Want the lake closer than a drive? Some homes around Flowery Branch sit minutes from these ramps and marinas.
The matcher and its table set every access point side by side, with distances as straight lines from the depot. Below is what the table cannot hold: how you pay, when the parks are open and whom to check with.
Boat ramps
Safe Harbor Hideaway Bay, 6334 Mitchell Street, is next door to Bay Park, about 670 m from the depot. The City’s Bay Park page is the source for its ramps. Safe Harbor’s own page does not list a public launch or a launch fee, so ask the marina office (listed hours 9:00 am to 5:00 pm daily) before you tow. Safe Harbor Aqualand’s page does not mention a public ramp.
The Corps ramps are a short drive. Old Federal Day Use Park, 6175 Jim Crow Road, is about 4.8 km from the depot in a straight line. Van Pugh North, 6838 Gaines Ferry Road, is about 5.1 km; Burton Mill Park, 6555 Yacht Club Road, about 5.3 km; Balus Creek about 7.7 km; and Mountain View about 8.1 km. Van Pugh South, 6749 Gaines Ferry Road, has an accessible boat ramp, but it works by advance reservation through Recreation.gov on weekends, and the gatehouse takes no payment. Old Federal Campground and Shoal Creek Campground have ramps for their registered campers.
Swim beaches
At Van Pugh North, the Corps’ shelter chart marks a beach, a boat ramp and a play area. Pets are prohibited there. Old Federal Campground has a swimming beach for campers. Shoal Creek Campground has a swim area; no pets are allowed on the beach, and every visitor must register at the office. Land Shark Beach at Lanier Islands Resort is a private resort beach that the resort says is open year-round; entry prices were not on the pages we checked.
The sources do not say whether Old Federal Day Use, Burton Mill or Van Pugh South have a swim beach, and the City’s Bay Park page does not mention swimming.
Camping
Old Federal Campground, 6219 Old Federal Road, has about 65 electric and water sites plus primitive tent sites, booked through Hall County camping reservations. Hall County’s facility page says year-round camping, and Recreation.gov says the gates lock at 10:30 pm and reopen at 7 am. Hall County’s camping FAQ still shows an older seasonal closure, so confirm dates when you book. Shoal Creek Campground, 6300 Shadburn Ferry Road in Buford, is open year-round with tent and small-RV sites. Van Pugh South does not allow camping.
Free or fee
At Old Federal Day Use, Van Pugh North and Burton Mill, the published fees read:
- “USACE park user fees: Pedestrians $3.00; Vehicles $8.00; Boat Ramps $8.00. Hall County schedule for the jointly managed parks: Walk-In / Bike-In $3; Vehicle Entry $8; Bus Entry $20; USACE Annual Pass $40. Credit card payments only at entry kiosks; no cash accepted.”
At Balus Creek:
- “USACE park user fees: Pedestrians No Charge; Vehicles No Charge; Boat Ramps $8.00. Hall County lists Balus Creek among the parks where day-use fees are currently required; credit card only at the kiosk.”
At Mountain View:
- “Listed by USACE among the Free Day Use Parks: Restrooms None; Paid Area Within Park None; Boat Ramps Yes.”
At Old Federal Campground, admission is included with the campsite fee. USACE annual passes can be bought at the kiosks at Old Federal Day Use and Burton Mill. Bring a credit card: the kiosks take no cash.
Seasons and hours
For the Corps day-use parks managed with Hall County, the published hours read:
- “USACE: day-use parks are open daily 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.; boat launching only is allowed after closing; some parks are totally or partially closed in winter. Hall County: day-use hours are posted at each park entrance; boat lake access remains open 24 hours daily.”
So the Corps day-use parks are partly seasonal: some close fully or in part in winter. Check before a cold-weather trip. Van Pugh South takes reservations for Saturdays and Sundays, with the gatehouse open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Shoal Creek’s office hours change after Labor Day.
Pets and alcohol
Alcohol is not allowed at the Corps day-use parks listed here. Hall County’s pet table says no pets at Old Federal Day Use, Van Pugh North and Burton Mill. Leashed pets are allowed at Balus Creek and Mountain View.
Who to check with before you go
- Bay Park and its pavilion: City of Flowery Branch, 770-967-6371.
- Hideaway Bay ramps and fuel: Safe Harbor Hideaway Bay.
- Old Federal Day Use, Van Pugh North, Burton Mill, Balus Creek and Mountain View: Hall County’s jointly managed parks page and the Corps day-use page.
- Van Pugh South: Recreation.gov.
- Old Federal Campground: Hall County camping reservations.
Lake size, history and the marinas are on the Lake Lanier page. Parking downtown is on the parking page.
Dates, rules and hours can change. The organisers have the final word: City of Flowery Branch