Lake Burton Insider Q&A — Answers Travelers Actually Ask

Getting there & around

Logistics

How was Lake Burton created?: Georgia Railway and Electric Company (now Georgia Power) built the dam on the Tallulah River, completing it in December 1919 and reaching full pool in August 1920 — flooding the town of Burton, once Rabun County's largest community. The lake covers 2,775 acres with 62 miles of shoreline and marked its centennial in 2020.
What's the closest airport to Lake Burton?: Asheville Regional (AVL) is the nearest with regular commercial service, about 62 miles from Clayton. Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL) is the larger hub, roughly two and a half hours south.

Groceries, gas, urgent care

Where's the closest grocery store to Lake Burton?: Ingles Markets on Highway 441 in Clayton — the Rabun County seat and the main provisioning stop for the lake.
Where's the closest emergency room to Lake Burton?: Rabun County Hospital's emergency room, on Ridgecrest Circle in Clayton — the county hospital, open 24 hours.

Where to eat

Where can I eat at Lake Burton?: LaPrade's Marina carries three options in one stop — the sit-down Lake Burton Grill, quick-service Bowline Takeaway & Bar, and Billy Goat Island Pizza Bar. Anchorage Boat Dock's Take It On the Lake covers tacos and sandwiches on the lake's north end.

What's worth doing

What was here before Lake Burton was flooded?: The town of Burton — Rabun County's largest community through the early 1800s, with about 200 residents and three general stores before Georgia Railway and Electric Company bought the land in 1917 and completed the dam two years later.
Is Lake Burton connected to other lakes?: Yes — it's the first and largest of six lakes strung along the Tallulah River, each behind its own Georgia Power hydroelectric dam: Burton, Seed, Rabun, Tallulah Falls, Tugalo, and Yonah, in that order downstream.
Is there hiking near Lake Burton?: Hemlock Falls Trail, at Moccasin Creek State Park, is a roughly 3-mile round trip alongside Moccasin Creek to a waterfall — one of the more popular short waterfall hikes in the north Georgia mountains. The adjacent Burton Trout Hatchery offers self-guided tours of its trout-rearing ponds.

On the water & on the trail

Where can I rent a boat at Lake Burton?: LaPrade's Marina, the lake's only full-service marina, has operated since 1925. Anchorage Boat Dock, family-owned since 1967, covers pontoon, ski boat, jet ski, and paddleboard rentals at the head of Timpson Creek on the north end.
Is Lake Burton a public lake?: Yes — Georgia Power owns and administers the lake, but it's open to the public for boating and fishing. About 70% of lakefront homeowners lease their land from Georgia Power; the rest own their lots outright.
Is there a public beach at Lake Burton?: Yes — Timpson Cove Beach, a Georgia Power-operated public beach off Highway 76 near the lake's north end, has shallow, sandy swimming water, picnic tables, and restrooms. Moccasin Creek State Park adds a second, quieter access point on the western shore.

Seasons & weather

When's the best time to visit Lake Burton?: Late spring through Labor Day for both marinas' full restaurant and rental hours. Fall brings Blue Ridge leaf-season crowds to the surrounding mountains even as the lake itself quiets down.