Clayton - Lake Burton Ga

Lake Burton is the first of five lakes that make up the Tallulah River Watershed and is located in Rabun County in northern Georgia. Lake Burton was started dammed up in December 1919 as part of the North Georgia Hydro Project - one of the first large, integrated hydroelectric systems to be built in North America.

Please scroll down for the top 3 things to do, best places to eat, history, videos, maps, weather and more!  We even have an interview with Alabama Coach Nick Saban on Lake Burton!

Be sure  to check out our Featured Vacation Rental at the bottom! 

History of Lake Burton

Lake Burton is a man-made lake in the North Georgia near Clayton. It was built in 1919 by the Georgia Power Company for hydroelectric power generation purposes. The lake was named after the city of Burton, which was flooded during the construction of the lake. Today, Lake Burton is a popular recreational destination for boating, fishing, and other water sports. It is also a popular location for vacation homes and second homes.

Clayton - Lake Burton Ga

Waterfalls, Swimming, Boating, Fishing, Hiking, Biking.... it's here!

Lake Burton Clayton Ga

Top Three Things to Do!

Clayton - Lake Burton is an outdoor wonderland -  but is also full of history! 

Clayton Ga Places to Eat

The Best Places to Eat!

From American, Pizza, Cafes, Latin and more, here are the top 4 restaurants in Clayton, Ga!

Rafting the Chattooga River

Special To Do: Wild & Scenic Chattooga

The Chattooga River is one of the most iconic rafting trips in the Southeast!

The Top Three Things To Do in and around Clayton Ga!

Vacation Rentals! Looking for a vacation rental? Our sister site, HighSouthRentals.com has many rentals, on the lake and all around the area at great prices! Use this link: [Lake Burton - Clayton GA Vacation Rentals]

1> Explore Lake Burton!

Lake Burton was constructed in a deep valley located along a 10-mile section of the Tallulah River.

Timpson Cove Park at Lake Burton:

This park offers a beach with swimming area, picnic tables, rest rooms and parking. It is located just off Highway 76 on Charlie Mountain Road. [Click Here] for a Google Map to this park. This is a smaller park and is day use only. This park is located on the north-eastern part of the lake near Clayton.

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Moccasin Creek State Park

"At 2,800 acres, Lake Burton is a prime spot for skiing, boating and fishing. Kayaks, stand-up paddleboards and canoes can be rented during warmer months. Park visitors can tour an adjacent trout rearing station, hike on several nearby trails in the Blue Ridge Mountains or simply relax in this peaceful setting. The park’s central location makes it a perfect jumping off spot for exploring area waterfalls, mountain bike trails, shops and restaurants." GaStateParks

This park has tent, trailer and RV sites, boat dock and ramp, observation tower, and playground.  [Click Here] for a Google Map to this park! This park is located on the  western side of the lake 

2> Foxfire  Museum & Heritage Center

Hike through history at our Appalachian Village made up of over 20 historic log structures, each home to various artifacts representative of life in the mountains. Discover all that the spacious outdoor museum offers, including a half-mile walking trail and ample space to social distance. Put on your walking shoes and come for a visit!

Content and image courtesy Foxfire.org. Please visit: https://www.foxfire.org/  for complete information on this picture into history! 

(Foxfire, also called fairy fire is the bioluminescence created by some species of fungi present in decaying wood.)  

Foxfire is located just off Highway 441 in Mountain City. [Click Here] for a Google Map to this facility. 

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3> Black Rock Mountain State Park

Black Rock Mountain State Park is a 1,743-acre state park west of Mountain City in Rabun County, in the Blue Ridge Mountains.  Astride the Eastern Continental Divide at an elevation of 3,640 feet, the park provides many scenic overlooks and 80-mile vistas of the southern Appalachian Mountains. On a clear day, four states are visible: Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. 

This is a proper park with a 17 acre lake, cottages, tent, trailer and RV campsites, picnic shelters, a playground, visitors center and gift shop.

For complete details about this park, camping, cabins and reservations - Visit: https://gastateparks.org/BlackRockMountain
Content and Image Courtesy: GaStateParks.org



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Dining in Lake Burton / Clayton

Here are the top 5 restaurants in or near Lake Burton and Clayton, Georgia according to TripAdvisor.

For more dining options, visit this page [TripAdvisor].

Top Lake Burton area Restaurants

Lake Burton - Clayton GA Restaurants
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Fortify Kitchen and Bar
69 N Main St, Clayton, GA 30525-4263
706-782-0050
Closed Mon,Tues
 
Sun Brunch
X
Fortify Pi
69 N Main St Suite A, Clayton, GA 30525-4263
706-782-0079
Closed Mon,Tues

X
X
The Rusty Bike Cafe
677 Hwy441s, Clayton, GA 30525
706-212-2020
X
X

The Clayton Market
48 North Main Street, Clayton, GA 30525-4288
tel:+1 706-960-9245
Closes 5PM Tue,Wed
X
X
X
White Birch Provisions
60 E Savannah St, Clayton, GA 30525-7037
706-782-2263
X
X
Fri/Sat

Life on Lake Burton

... with Nick Saban!

Life on Lake Burton...

... Alabama Head Football Coach Nick Saban and Tim Tebow discuss football, family and relaxing on Lake Burton - just outside Clayton Ga. 

More about Lake Burton - Clayton - Rabun County Georgia

The Upper Tallulah Valley was inhabited by the Cherokee Indians until the land was ceded to the State of Georgia in 1817. The first land lot for settlement was issued in 1821. The discovery of gold in 1828 on Dick's Creek drew more settlers to the remote valley. Lake Burton's name was derived from the town of Burton, which was the second largest town in Rabun County with a population of approximately 200. The former town now lies below the lake's surface. The town (and the lake) was named after local prominent citizen Jeremiah Burton, the first postmaster, and was situated along the road from Clayton, Georgia, to the Nacoochee Valley. As a young man, Andrew Jackson Richie, founder of Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School, carried the daily mail to Burton by mule.

With the introduction of hydroelectric power to America in the 1880s and due to the fact that the Tallulah River has the greatest verticality of any river in the east, a series of six stair step dams was constructed in the period 1914–1927 over a distance of 28 miles. Lake Burton, being the largest and highest of the lakes, was intended to be the primary reservoir for the water needed to power the turbines downstream. This North Georgia Hydro Project was one of the first large, integrated hydroelectric systems to be built in North America. The electricity it provided would begin Atlanta's growth into the economic metropolis it is today.

To construct the dam, the Georgia Railway and Power Company (now the Georgia Power/Southern Company) bought out the 65 families in the town of Burton, and demolished the town. It is said once the dam was closed, the water rose so rapidly that the ruins of the town could not be totally removed. Thus, the steeple of the Baptist Church in the town floated in the lake for three years before it sank. No traces of the town remain other than a handful of cemeteries. 

Special To Do: Wild & Scenic Chattooga

The Chattooga River is one of the most iconic rafting trips in the Southeast!

Rafting the Chattooga! 

The headwaters of the Chattooga River start near our North Carolina base in Cashiers, NC! Starting as a small lake, the Chattooga River flows 57 miles to meet up with the Tallulah River at Lake Tugalo near Clayton, GA.

Since May 10, 1974, the Chattooga River has been protected along a 15,432-acre corridor as a national Wild and Scenic River. 39.8 miles of the river have been designated “wild”, about 2.5 miles “scenic”, and 14.6 miles “recreational” for a total of about 57 miles (92 km). On the commercially rafted sections (III and IV) there is a 1/4 mile protected corridor of National Forest on both sides of the river, allowing no roads to the river or development of any kind.

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Rafting Companies

Although there are several rafting companies serving the Chattooga River, there is only in in Georgia!  (The Chattooga River creates the border between Georgia and South Carolina and thus, you have rafting companies in SC)   Southeastern Expeditions is a full service river outfitter and will give you a thrill of a lifetime on Section III (wild) or Section IV (wilder) of the river. They also offer Canoe, Kayak Clinics for Every Skill Level! 

View this map on Google Maps! [Click Here]

Chattooga River, blue ridge mountain cabin rentals

Rafting Fun on the Chattooga River

A fun day on the river includes rafting, swimming, jumping, dunking and the rapids! 

Southeastern Expeditions:
We are located at
7350 Hwy 76 E, Clayton, GA 30525
Phone: 1-800-868-7238

Lake Burton Weather

Clayton Georgia's average summer high temperature is a comfortable 84 degrees making it a highly desirable retreat for those low landers just a bit further south. With a downtown hosting fine shops and dining and an area that includes fresh mountain streams, waterfalls, whitewater rafting and more - Clatyon, Lake Burton and Rabun County are a family experience must!

Lake Burton Weather

Today's weather in Lake Burton

Featured Rental! 

Welcome to the Lake Burton Highlands Hideaway featuring beautiful Blue Ridge Mountain Views and sunsets from the porch. Our cabin is less than .05 miles from Murray Cove at Lake Burton, 10 minutes to Stonewall Creek Winery and other great dining options and 12 minutes to downtown Clayton via paved roads and highway.

This is our personal vacation home located in a residential area and as such we are best suited for relaxing mountain getaways and small family vacations.

The cabin has 3 bedrooms and 3 full baths with an additional loft and two porches. We can accommodate 6 adults and up to four additional children for a max capacity of 10. The porches are high and there is a steep drop, please keep that in mind if you’re traveling with toddlers.

House
1476 sq. ft
3 bedrooms
3 beds Sleeps 10
3 bathrooms
3 full baths
Spaces
Kitchen Living Room Balcony

[Check Dates/Book Online!]

Visit [HighSouthRentals.com] for many more vacation rental options!

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