Don Carter State Park

38,000 acre Lake Lanier, boating, cottages, campsites ... Don Carter State Park is such a fun, beautiful place to explore! 5000 North Browning Bridge Road Gainesville, GA 30506

Please be aware there will be prescribed burning activity at the park sometime in the next few weeks. This will involve closure of all equestrian trails, the Woodland Trail and Dog Creek Trail. We will not know the exact day this will occur as conditions must be right so check our page or give us a call before making the trip. Learn more about prescribed fires here: https://coastalgadnr.org///NCS-PrescribedFireFactSheet.pdf

Hope everyone had a happy and healthy 4th of July.

Beautiful way to end a great weekend with a rainbow and a deer posing for the camera.

A few photos of the wildlife that live here on the park.

Are you a primitive camper at the park? If so, we have a new addition in that area. A Bathroom!!! Next time you are at the park stop by. Here is a video of it getting placed.

Before traveling: Check GaStateParks.org/Alerts for live updates on access restrictions. Don Carter has occasionally experienced large crowds on pretty weekends, causing temporary limited access to ensure social distancing. Please understand that park gates may be restricted by the time you arrive. This applies only to day-use; those with reservations may enter. Thank you for understanding as we keep everyone safe. Read our coronavirus response before visiting because some facilities and activities are limited. GaStateParks.org/Alerts

Update: The park is no longer limiting access. Saturday, May 16, 12:00 p.m. Don Carter has reached capacity and is temporarily closing day-use to allow for proper social distancing. All areas are closed to new visitors, including parking, trails, the beach, the boat ramp and other day-use areas. Visitors already inside the park may stay as long as they are following CDC guidelines. Guests with overnight reservations will be allowed to enter as needed. The park will reopen once there is available capacity. Find nearby sites and read alerts on GaStateParks.org

Sunday, May 3, 2 p.m. -- Don Carter has reached capacity and is temporarily closing day-use to allow for proper social distancing. All areas are closed to new visitors, including parking, trails, the beach, the boat ramp and other day-use areas. Visitors already inside the park may stay as long as they are following CDC guidelines. Guests with overnight reservations will be allowed to enter as needed. The park will reopen once there is available capacity. Find nearby sites and read alerts on GaStateParks.org.

Don Carter has occasionally experienced large crowds on pretty weekends, causing temporary limited access to ensure social distancing. Please understand that park gates may be restricted by the time you arrive. This applies only to day-use; those with reservations may enter. Thank you for understanding as we keep everyone safe. GaStateParks.org/Alerts

Updated: New date for Don Carter Rocks program.

Come and enjoy a nice day at the park! We are open. Lots of trails to hike or playgrounds to play on. Or just sit and enjoy the view.

Don Carter State Park is now accepting applications for summer jobs!! Positions include: maintenance, kiosk workers, concession stand attendants and a park naturalist. Stop by the park's visitor center or click the link for an application: https://gadnr.org/careers. Once completed, turn in job application at the park's visitor center.

A huge thanks to Girls Scout Troop 10878 for planting a tree out at the park yesterday. This is part of an ongoing project that will include these scouts planting a pollinator garden in the coming months. These scouts have already put a lot of hard work into this project and it's great to see it begin to pay off.