Moccasin Creek State Park

Most Lake Burton shoreline is private. Moccasin Creek State Park is the spot where the public gets a foot in the door: a small, flat park on the water, with a trout creek running through it and a state trout hatchery right next door.

It's a good fit for families with little kids, for anyone who wants to camp beside a big mountain lake, and for older anglers, because the best-stocked stretch of the creek is reserved for them.

Check the state park page before you go. Hours and rules can change.

The park's mailing address is Clarkesville, but it sits on Georgia 197 on the western shore of Lake Burton. From downtown Helen it's about 20 miles and 35 minutes without traffic, so treat it as a half-day outing rather than a quick stop. If you're pairing it with other stops, our Lake Burton recreation guide and Lake Rabun guide cover the neighboring lakes.

Moccasin Creek runs cold and clear from the hills into Lake Burton, and the state park has a heavily stocked section of it set aside for seniors 65 and older, children 11 and younger, and anglers with a Georgia disability fishing license. An ADA-accessible fishing pier serves that stretch. Georgia says the hatchery stocks catchable trout in the creek from spring through fall.

Everyone else can fish Lake Burton from the shore or launch a boat from the park's ramp. More than a dozen species live in the lake, including largemouth and spotted bass, perch, bluegill, crappie and catfish, and brown trout are stocked every year for trophy fishing. You'll need a Georgia freshwater license and a trout stamp. Details are on the park's fishing page, and our trout fishing guide explains the regulations.

The Lake Burton Trout Hatchery shares a fence line with the park. It raises trout that the state stocks in streams and lakes across North Georgia, and the park's visitor information describes it as open to visitors.

Hatchery work can close parts of the grounds, so call the park at 706-947-3194 if the visit is the whole point of your trip.

The park lists about 4 miles of trails across two routes. The Wildlife Loop Trail is a 1-mile walk, and the Hemlock Falls Trail is a 3-mile round trip into the hemlocks along the creek. There's also a wildlife observation tower, a playground, and a picnic shelter. The lot is flat and the park is small, which makes the grounds easy for kids and for visitors who can't manage steep grades.

There are 53 tent, trailer and RV sites with electric hookups, and Wi-Fi in the office and campground. Book through Georgia State Parks at 800-864-7275 or on the park page. The park advertises canoe and kayak rentals in warmer months, but doesn't publish prices, so ask at the office. Swimming isn't a feature of this park, and it doesn't advertise a swim beach. Other Georgia Power recreation areas around the lake are covered in our Lake Burton guide.