Forsyth County keeps Lake Lanier access open as Corps sites close
Lake Lanier access stayed open in Forsyth County, but closed Corps ramps are likely to push Memorial Day crowds toward county parks, including Mary Alice, Bald Ridge and Six Mile Creek.
Forsyth County is keeping its Lake Lanier parks and campgrounds open just as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began closing some nearby recreation sites, a split that could shift Memorial Day traffic toward county-run ramps, beaches and campgrounds across the lake.
The county said Charleston Park, Mary Alice Park, Six Mile Creek Park, Young Deer Creek Park, Bald Ridge Campground, Sawnee Campground and Shady Grove Campground remained open. At the same time, the Corps announced immediate closures at Two Mile Creek Park, Long Hollow Park and Keith Bridge Park. Other Corps-run sites in Forsyth County stayed open, including Tidwell Park, Little Ridge Park, Vanns Tavern Park, West Bank Park and Lower Pool West Park, making operator-by-operator status the deciding factor for anyone heading to the water.
That distinction matters because the county warned the open parks and ramps could draw higher-than-usual attendance over the holiday weekend. For families planning a boat launch, a swim or a camping trip, the practical problem is not just whether a site sits on Lake Lanier, but whether Forsyth County or the Corps runs it. The county also said Army Corps park passes are not accepted at county-operated campgrounds and other facilities that require paid access, a detail that could catch visitors off guard at the gate.
Mary Alice Park carries the clearest local change. Forsyth County said the beach and picnic areas were set to open Friday, May 26, after the county acquired the park in April through an intergovernmental agreement with the City of Cumming. The boat launch area was already open. For parking, the county set the annual pass at $60 for adults and $54 for seniors, with daily parking at $10. County officials also said staff would be on site during limited weekend hours once full park access opened.
The broader Lake Lanier picture remains fragmented. The Corps manages recreation staffing across nearly 2,600 recreation areas at 400 lakes and waterways, and it launched a nationwide Recreation Operational Status website in May 2025 to show whether access is fully open, partially open or closed. On Lanier, the Corps said campgrounds were open and were not planned to close, even as temporary closures remained in place until staffing shortages could be addressed.
Lake Lanier has 76 recreational areas, and its patchwork of federal, county and leased sites has become more confusing as closures have moved around. In 2025, the Corps cut back an initial closure plan from more than 20 sites to 11 after public reaction and political pressure from officials including U.S. Rep. Rich McCormick and state Sen. Greg Dolezal. For Forsyth residents heading out this weekend, the message is simple: check the exact park name before you leave, because on Lanier, access now depends on who operates the gate.
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