Where to launch a kayak on Lake Allatoona

Most of Lake Allatoona's shoreline is federal land managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, with city, county and state parks mixed in. For a kayak or paddleboard you want three things: easy parking close to the water, a gentle ramp or beach, and calm water nearby.

South side: Acworth

Launch	Run by	Parking	Notes for paddlers
Dallas Landing Park	City of Acworth	$15/day mid-April to mid-September (2026: April 18 to September 2), card only	On Lake Allatoona.
Proctor Landing Park	City of Acworth	$15/day in season, card only	On Lake Allatoona, same season and fee as Dallas Landing.

Middle of the lake: Red Top Mountain

Launch	Run by	Parking	Notes for paddlers
Red Top Mountain State Park	Georgia State Parks	Daily parking fee (annual passes available)	2 boat ramps, 2 docks and a sand swimming beach in a cove. Open 7 a.m. to dark. Full Red Top guide.

Corps parks with beaches

Park	Run by	Notes for paddlers
Galt's Ferry	U.S. Army Corps of Engineers	Beach and day-use area. No alcohol, no pets.
Victoria	U.S. Army Corps of Engineers	Beach, plus a campground with more than 70 sites. Check pet and alcohol rules with the Corps.
Sweetwater	U.S. Army Corps of Engineers	Day-use area and beach. No alcohol, no pets.

Most Corps fee areas went cashless in 2019. When the program changed, Coopers Furnace, Cooper Branch 1 and 2 and the Knox Bridge ramp were listed as no-fee. Day-use fees aren't posted on the Corps' Allatoona page, so call the lake office at (678) 721-6700 before you go.

North side: Woodstock and the Little River

Launch	Run by	Notes for paddlers
Olde Rope Mill Park	City of Woodstock	Boat launch at 690 Olde Rope Mill Park Rd. The start of the Toonigh Falls paddle.
Little River Marina	Private marina	Kayak and paddleboard rentals from Murphs Surf Shop, Friday to Sunday in 2026. See rentals.

Before you launch

• Check the lake level. Low water exposes stumps and mud flats near ramps.
• Bring a card. Most fee areas are cashless.
• Know Georgia's life jacket rules.

Questions

Is there a free place to launch a kayak on Lake Allatoona?

When the Corps changed its fee program in 2019, Coopers Furnace, Cooper Branch 1 and 2 and the Knox Bridge ramp were listed as no-fee. Fees change, so call the lake office at (678) 721-6700 to confirm before you go.

Do Lake Allatoona parks take cash?

Mostly no. Most Corps fee areas went cashless in 2019, and Acworth's Dallas Landing and Proctor Landing take cards only. Bring a card and call (678) 721-6700 to confirm a specific Corps park.

Where should a beginner launch?

Somewhere with a gentle ramp and a protected cove: Red Top Mountain State Park's boat ramps (2 ramps, 2 docks), or Olde Rope Mill Park if you want the short paddle to Toonigh Falls.