Rabun County Lakes

The lakes follow the original course of the Tallulah River: Burton at the top, then Seed, Rabun, Tallulah Falls, Tugalo and Yonah. Georgia Power owns and operates them for hydroelectric power. Most of the shoreline is steep, wooded and private, which is why they feel so much quieter than Helen's tourist strip.

Sizes from Georgia State Parks (Burton) and Wikipedia (the others). Drive times are approximate, with no traffic; the smaller lakes have little public access.

Moccasin Creek State Park is the easiest public way onto Lake Burton. The 32-acre park has a boat dock and ramp, 53 tent, trailer and RV campsites, a fishing pier that is wheelchair accessible, a wildlife observation tower and paddle rentals in warmer months. The park is open 7 AM to 10 PM and the office closes at 4:30 PM. Parking requires a Georgia ParkPass at $10 a vehicle (overnight guests pay once per stay). You'll find it at 3655 Highway 197, Clarkesville; the number is 706-947-3194.

The creek beside the park is a trout stream with a catch: it's open only to seniors 65 and older, children 11 and younger, and anyone with a Georgia disability fishing license. Next door, the Lake Burton Fish Hatchery is open weekdays (hours are posted on the park page).

For rentals, LaPrade's Marina at 25 Shoreline Trail, Clarkesville, rents boats on Lake Burton. Its site lists Thursday through Sunday, 9 AM to 5 PM; call 706-947-0010 to confirm hours and prices.

Lake Rabun is a twisty 835-acre reservoir with 25 miles of shoreline. The Forest Service's Lake Rabun Beach Recreation Area (5315 Lake Rabun Road, Lakemont) is open sunrise to sundown with a swim beach, boat launch and picnic area. Day use is $5 per person ages 16 and up, and a boat and trailer launch is $5. The 80-site campground across the road closed October 28 last year and reopened April 1.

Hall's Boathouse (rabunboathouse.com, 1897 Lake Rabun Road, 706-782-4981) has been a Lakemont landmark since the 1930s and lists boat rentals. The Historic Lake Rabun Hotel & Restaurant has welcomed guests since 1922 and sits across the road from the water, with rooms, cottages and a farm-to-table restaurant.

Swimming and boating are fine; jumping from cliffs or structures into any of these lakes is dangerous, and not something we can recommend.