A person paddles a kayak across a serene lake surrounded by lush green trees under a clear blue sky.

Where To Find Water In Gwinnett

16 awesome places to cast a line, soak up nature, get in a workout, or just beat the heat

Gwinnett County is called “Atlanta’s playground” for a reason. Though landlocked, it’s dotted with lakes, rivers, and parks that offer a bounty of recreation opportunities. Georgia’s most popular bodies of water, Lake Lanier and the Chattahoochee River, are found here. Numerous outdoor destinations and warm weather almost year-round invite visitors and locals to cast a line, take a float, boat, or paddle. And for a quick cool-down, a splash pad or pool is always around the corner.

A River Runs Through It, With Lakes All Around

The Chattahoochee River serves as Gwinnett’s northwest border. Anglers will find plenty of action along this stretch of the river. For the best flyfishing in the area, head to Jones Bridge Park. The bridge that gave the park its name doesn’t exist anymore, but the river shoals it once crossed sure do, and conditions are ripe year-round for wading, casting, and reeling in rainbow and brown trout.

Off the river, a number of lakes inside Gwinnett County parks are amenable to casting a line. Tribble Mill Park has two fishing lakes,40-acre Chandler and 109-acre Ozora. Serene and surrounded by forest, they offer a quick escape into nature just a few miles away from Loganville, Lawrenceville, and Grayson. Expect to reel in largemouth bass, crappie, bream, and even channel catfish.

Just south of Snellville, Lenora Park offers a small fishing lake where you can cast from the shore. In Dacula, 890-acre Little Mulberry Park is home to Lake Miller, where fishing is allowed from two piers near the north entrance.

Of course, the state's largest reservoir, Lake Lanier, is a beloved fishing destination and a cache of striped bass, largemouth bass, crappie, walleye, and plenty more. New to these waters? There are numerous independent fishing guides who can take you out on the lake for the day.

The best times to fish depend on the water releases from Buford Dam upstream. Stay abreast of releases by calling the dam at 770-945-1466.

Make A Splash With The Kids

Gwinnett knows how to keep the little ones happy when it’s time to don swimsuits. Two words: splash pad. Whether to a giant mall or idyllic town greens, you won’t have to drive far to see the delight on your kids’ faces as they frolic in the bounding waters. Be sure to visit these spots:

Pools For Every Reason And Season

The Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation system prides itself on its state-of-the-art aquatic facilities. In various parks, you’ll find leisure pools and lap pools indoors and out, as well as water play features, twisting waterslides, and even lazy rivers. Check out:

Lakes inside the Gwinnett County parks system adhere to the fishing regulations of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, as do sites along the Chattahoochee River and on Lake Lanier. You can find the regulations on their website, georgiawildlife.com/fishing/regulations.

This article, written by Blake Guthrie, originally appeared in Volume V of Explore Gwinnett Magazine and has been condensed for exploregwinnett.org

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