Memorial Day Weekend: Sunday Morning Buford Dam Hike & Swim

We will meet at 9:45 am in the Lower Overlook Parking Lot (see Event Directions below), which is small (but it has restrooms). We encourage you to set up custom carpools. If you are interested in carpooling, please contact your Trip Leaders, and they will initiate a group email sign up.

We will start our hike promptly at 10:00 am and hike along the Laurel Ridge Trail in a counterclockwise direction and take a side trip to the bottom of the dam and a pedestrian bridge over the Chattahoochee River. We will stop at a public beach to have lunch, swim and hang out for a while. There is a restroom next to the beach so you can change into/out of your swimsuit there. Our total hiking distance will be a little over 4 miles. The trail offers nice views of the dam, the river, and Lake Lanier, so you may want to bring your camera.

Special thanks to Richard Zalik, who led this event July 2011. This is my photo album from that day. https://picasaweb.google.com/116047776368239884613/BufordDamHikeSwim?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCMi9pfuu7MGDcA&feat=directlink

From Atlanta go north on I-85 and take the I-985 exit. Continue a little under 4 miles on I- 985 until Exit 4. At the top of the ramp take a left onto SR 20. Proceed about 5.5 miles on SR 20 and take a right onto Suwanee Dam Road, which dead ends after 2.2 miles. Take a left onto Buford Dam Road and proceed 1 mile. The Lower Overlook Parking Lot will be on your right. If you reach Buford Dam, you've gone too far.