Walkin #6
Don Carter State Park
5000 North Browning Bridge Road
Gainesville, GA 30506
(678) 450-7726
Don Carter is Georgia’s newest state park, as well as the first state park on 38,000 acre Lake Lanier. Situated on the north end of the reservoir, the park offers outstanding recreation for water lovers. Guests can stay cool at a sandy swimming beach that includes a bath house. Boat ramps provide quick access to the lake, while a multi-use trail system welcomes hikers and bikers to explore the hardwood forest. For overnight accommodations, there are 44 sites for tents, trailers, and RVs (with full hookups). and 14 primitive tent & hammock sites that offer more seclusion at walk-in campsites.
For hiking, the park offers a diverse array of trails suitable for all skill levels, from leisurely lakeside strolls to more challenging forest treks. There are 14.5 miles of multi-use trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. This short hike takes you 0.3 miles in to Walkin Campsite #6 where we camped for the night. Three are 7 walkin campsites on this section of trail and all are within a short 10 minute walk to the beach area on Lake Lanier where there are restrooms. There are also a number of other hiking trails in the park that are worth checking out.
- click for a trip report from this camping trip at Walk-in Campsite #6: May 2, 2020 (password protected)
- click for a trail map of the hiking trails at the Don Carter State Park
- click for another hike at nearby Panther Creek and Campsite #4 in June 2010, June 2011, and October 2015
- click for more hikes at the nearby Panther Creek Recreation Area to Campsite #2 and Campsite #3
- click to access the guidebook Hiking Georgia which has more hikes in this area
- click for other Georgia hiking and backpacking books
- click for more hiking and backpacking trips in the State of Georgia