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12 Paddles in 12 Months: Paddle 8 Don Carter State Park (Lake Lanier)




The Basics:
Event Type:Water
Event Location: Don Carter State Park   Water: 12 Paddles in 12 Months: Paddle 8 Don Carter State Park (Lake Lanier)  National Weather Service Forecast
Date(s) & Time:Sat, Aug 15 2026  9:00 am >> Sat, Aug 15 2026 2:00 pm
Registration Opens: Mon, Jul 13 2026 7:05 pm
Registration Cut Off: Fri, Aug 14 2026 7:05 pm
Event Duration:5 Hours
Difficulty Rating:D3: Moderate (Exploratory)
Distance:10.3 Miles
Pace:Moderate
Trip Leader(s):
Kelly
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Member Cost:None

Participant Info:
Who's Invited: Members Only, 21 And Older Only
Maximum Group Size:10
Minimum Group Size:3
Number Registered So Far: 1 / 0 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)
Are Dogs Permitted: No

Note: This is an "EXPLORATORY" trip. This means that there are parts of this trip, or perhaps the whole trip, that is new to your Trip Leader(s). However, they are confident that this will not be an issue.
This note is here so that you can make an informed decision. When a Trip Leader isn't personally familiar with a trip, there is an increased chance of things not going as planned and you need to be prepared. The Trip Leader may have additional details in the itinerary.

Itinerary:

Paddle 8 is a 10.3 round trip from Don Carter State Park to the Lake Lanier Olympic Park. The Chattahoochee River, flowing from the north Georgia Mountains, meets Lake Lanier at Don Carter State Park. We will start there and travel on this narrower section of Lake Lanier to the Lake Lanier Olympic Park home of the 1996 Olympic games (think rowing not white water). The park has public docks and a park where we will stop and have lunch (bring your own) before return the way we came. This is longer paddle so please be sure you are up for the challenge!

Don Carter State Park rents Kayaks for $10 an hour - please call the park if you need to rent kayak to reserve ahead 678-450-7726

After the paddle there will be an optional stop at the Gainesville Branch of the Atlanta Botanical Garden (cost $8 unless you are a member of the Atlanta Botanical Garden). It is fairly small garden and easy to tour in 1-2 hours. 


More information on the "12 paddles in 12 months in 12 Georgia State Parks" (see GA State park list here https://gastateparks.org/sites/default/files/parks/pdf/clubs/ParkPaddlers_MemberCard_2023_fillable.pdf )

 

I will post the following paddles at least 1 month ahead of the date of the event. The paddles with the * will have boat rentals. I have 1 make-up paddle listed but will likely repeat others over the summer so you wil have several oppurtunities to get 12 paddles. The last paddle is at the Okefenokee, we will rent some cabins and have a celebration for those folks who paddle in 12 parks in 2026. 

Paddle 1: January 17th: Sweetwater Creek State Park

Paddle: 2 February 21: Watson Mill Bridge

Paddle 3: March 14th: Chattahochee Bend

*Paddle 4: April 11th: George L. Smith State Park in Twin City

*Paddle 5: May 23rd Dames Ferry State Park 

*Paddle 6: June 20: Hard Labor Creek State Park

*Paddle 7: July 18: Moccasin Creek State Park (Lake Burton)

*Paddle 8: August 15th Don Carter State Park (Lake Lanier)

*August 22nd (make-up Paddle): Fort Yargo State Park

*Paddle 5: September 5-7 High Falls State Park, Dames Ferry State Park and Indian Springs (we have a primitive campsite rented for people who want to stay overnight at High Falls). RESCHEDULED from MAY. 

*Paddle 9: September 19: Elijah Clark State Park

*Paddle 10: October 31: Halloween Paddle: James H Floyd State Park

Paddle 11: November 7th: Fort Mountain and Hike the Gahuti Trail

*Paddle 12: December 4-6: Stephen C Foster State Park -Okefenokee


Required Items to Bring:

Kayak (unless you rent call first Park 678-450-7726)

Paddle/PDF/Whistle

Water

Lunch

Recommended Items to Bring:
Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.

Hat/Suncreen

Change of clothes

Camera

Towel


How to Get There:
Event Directions:

5000 North Browning Bridge Road
Gainesville, GA 30506
Hall County

Navigate to the Day Use Boat Ramp.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/LisHYhgt6VtLHCEU6


Notes:
* We encourage all members to follow our Etiquette Guidelines while participating in AOC events.

Cost Includes:

The state park will have a $10 fee for a parking pass, unless you have an annual pass. If you choose to go the Botanical Garden afterwards it is $8, unless you are a member of the Atlanta Botanical Garden. 


Cancellation/Partial Attendance:   Please review the AOC cancellation policy.


Registration for this event opens at 7/13/2026 7:05:00 PM