Start with what you want to do, then pick the season. Lake Blue Ridge (TVA’s Blue Ridge Reservoir) is fullest in early summer: TVA’s guide curve peaks around June 1 at about 1,686.8 feet and holds near 1,686 feet through July (TVA). From August it falls toward a winter low, a swing of about 22 feet in a normal year (TVA).
Choose your day
Tell the matcher what you want: a swim, a boat launch, a rental, a campsite, lake fishing, river trout, a paddle, a hike or the dam, or the train. Each choice points to a public place that fits, with its source.
Decision tool
Where on Lake Blue Ridge fits your day?
Pick what you have in mind. We'll point you to the place that fits, with the season, the fee and the source.
I want to…
If you want to swim from a beach
Go to Morganton Point Recreation Area, about a mile south of the town of Morganton. The Forest Service lists it as the lake's designated swimming area, with picnic tables and outdoor showers. Day use is $5 per person 16 and older.
Morganton Point swim beach (USFS)
A designated swimming area with picnic tables, outdoor showers and trash bins inside Morganton Point Recreation Area. Day-use parking is $5 per person 16 and older. No alcohol is allowed in the day-use areas.
Source: USDA Forest Service, checked Oct 18, 2026
Morganton Point Recreation Area (USFS)
The only developed campground on Lake Blue Ridge's shoreline, with tent and RV sites, walk-in tent sites, a swim beach, boat ramp, picnic area and showers. USFS lists it as open yearlong and reservation-only through Recreation.gov (same day to six months ahead). Fees differ between USFS ($30-$50/night) and Recreation.gov ($26-$50), so confirm at booking. Day use is $5 per person 16+, and the boat launch is $5.
Source: USDA Forest Service; Recreation.gov, checked Oct 18, 2026
- Swimming from the dock and ramp at Lakewood Landing is prohibited.
- Children under 13 must wear a life jacket on any moving boat in Georgia.
If you want to launch my own boat
Three Forest Service launches: Lake Blue Ridge Recreation Area on the west side is free; Lakewood Landing on the north side needs a launch pass; Morganton Point, near the town of Morganton, charges $5 to launch a trailer.
Lake Blue Ridge Recreation Area (USFS)
A free, year-round Forest Service site on the west side of the lake, with motorized boating access and day hikes. There is no potable water. USFS lists bass, bream, catfish, perch and crappie in the lake.
Source: USDA Forest Service, checked Oct 18, 2026
Lakewood Landing Boat Launch (USFS)
A Forest Service boat launch on the north side of the lake, open sunrise to sunset with no camping. You need a launch pass: buy an annual pass in advance on Recreation.gov, or a day pass on site with the Recreation.gov scan-and-pay app. Swimming from the dock and ramp is prohibited.
Source: Recreation.gov (USDA Forest Service), checked Oct 18, 2026
Morganton Point Recreation Area (USFS)
The only developed campground on Lake Blue Ridge's shoreline, with tent and RV sites, walk-in tent sites, a swim beach, boat ramp, picnic area and showers. USFS lists it as open yearlong and reservation-only through Recreation.gov (same day to six months ahead). Fees differ between USFS ($30-$50/night) and Recreation.gov ($26-$50), so confirm at booking. Day use is $5 per person 16+, and the boat launch is $5.
Source: USDA Forest Service; Recreation.gov, checked Oct 18, 2026
- Anyone born on or after January 1, 1998 needs an approved boater education course to run a motorboat in Georgia.
- Stay at idle speed within 100 feet of docks, swimmers, moored boats and developed shoreline.
If you want to rent a pontoon or a kayak
Lake Blue Ridge Marina, a private operator, rents Bennington pontoons, kayaks, canoes and paddleboards and sells fuel. As posted in October 2026 it is open Thursday through Monday.
Lake Blue Ridge Marina (private)
A privately run full-service marina with Bennington pontoon rentals (renter must be 21; maximum 8 guests), canoe, kayak and paddleboard rentals, a fuel dock, store, service, a boat showroom and the Boat Dock Bar & Grill. As posted in October 2026 it is open Thursday-Monday and closed Tuesday-Wednesday, and slips have a waiting list.
Source: Lake Blue Ridge Marina (operator website), checked Oct 18, 2026
- Pontoon renters must be 21 with a valid driver's license, and the marina allows at most 8 guests.
- Hours may change by season; the marina's number is (706) 632-2618.
If you want to camp by the water
Morganton Point is the only developed campground on the lake's shore. The Forest Service lists it as open yearlong, reservation only through Recreation.gov, from the same day to six months ahead. Nightly fees run about $26 to $50 depending on the site; confirm at booking.
Morganton Point Recreation Area (USFS)
The only developed campground on Lake Blue Ridge's shoreline, with tent and RV sites, walk-in tent sites, a swim beach, boat ramp, picnic area and showers. USFS lists it as open yearlong and reservation-only through Recreation.gov (same day to six months ahead). Fees differ between USFS ($30-$50/night) and Recreation.gov ($26-$50), so confirm at booking. Day use is $5 per person 16+, and the boat launch is $5.
Source: USDA Forest Service; Recreation.gov, checked Oct 18, 2026
Deep Hole Recreation Area (USFS)
A small Forest Service campground on a big bend of the upper Toccoa River, upstream of the lake, offering camping, canoeing and fishing. Camping is $15 a night by reservation on Recreation.gov, and day use is $5 per vehicle. A Georgia fishing license and trout license are required.
Source: USDA Forest Service, checked Oct 18, 2026
Toccoa River – Sandy Bottoms Recreation Area (USFS)
A small rustic Forest Service campground on the Toccoa River upstream of the lake, south of Blue Ridge off Aska Road. It is the take-out for the 13.8-mile Toccoa River Canoe Trail and sits at the lower end of the Toccoa Delayed Harvest trout section. There is one vault toilet and no running water or hookups.
Source: Recreation.gov (USDA Forest Service), checked Oct 18, 2026
- Upstream on the Toccoa, Deep Hole and Sandy Bottoms are small Forest Service campgrounds on the river, not the lake.
- No alcohol in the Morganton Point campground or day-use areas.
If you want to fish the lake
Georgia DNR's best bets here are Alabama bass, largemouth, smallmouth, walleye and bluegill. Blue Ridge is also the only large Georgia reservoir stocked with rainbow trout, released from the dam upstream to Morganton Point.
Lake Blue Ridge Recreation Area (USFS)
A free, year-round Forest Service site on the west side of the lake, with motorized boating access and day hikes. There is no potable water. USFS lists bass, bream, catfish, perch and crappie in the lake.
Source: USDA Forest Service, checked Oct 18, 2026
Morganton Point Recreation Area (USFS)
The only developed campground on Lake Blue Ridge's shoreline, with tent and RV sites, walk-in tent sites, a swim beach, boat ramp, picnic area and showers. USFS lists it as open yearlong and reservation-only through Recreation.gov (same day to six months ahead). Fees differ between USFS ($30-$50/night) and Recreation.gov ($26-$50), so confirm at booking. Day use is $5 per person 16+, and the boat launch is $5.
Source: USDA Forest Service; Recreation.gov, checked Oct 18, 2026
- From about May to October, DNR expects trout to hold in the 1.5 miles of lake above the dam, where TVA runs an oxygen diffuser.
- Anglers 16 and older need a trout license as well as a fishing license to fish for trout.
If you want to fish for river trout
Two different trout waters. Below the dam, DNR stocks the Toccoa tailwater with rainbow and brown trout every year. Upstream of the lake, the Delayed Harvest section runs from Shallowford Bridge to Sandy Bottoms, and its season starts November 1.
Toccoa River tailwater below Blue Ridge Dam (trout)
Georgia DNR stocks rainbow and brown trout in the Toccoa below the dam every year and calls it an excellent destination because of high catch rates. Most fish are 8-12 inches, with a chance at a fish over 20 inches. Water levels change fast when TVA generates, so heed the dam's siren warning system.
Source: Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division, checked Oct 18, 2026
Toccoa River Delayed Harvest trout section (GA DNR)
Georgia DNR's Delayed Harvest stretch of the Toccoa, upstream of Lake Blue Ridge (not below the dam). The DH season begins Nov. 1. Anglers 16 and older need a Georgia fishing license and a trout license.
Source: Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division, checked Oct 18, 2026
Toccoa River – Sandy Bottoms Recreation Area (USFS)
A small rustic Forest Service campground on the Toccoa River upstream of the lake, south of Blue Ridge off Aska Road. It is the take-out for the 13.8-mile Toccoa River Canoe Trail and sits at the lower end of the Toccoa Delayed Harvest trout section. There is one vault toilet and no running water or hookups.
Source: Recreation.gov (USDA Forest Service), checked Oct 18, 2026
- The Delayed Harvest section is not below the dam.
- Below the dam the water rises fast when TVA generates. If you hear the sirens or see rising water, get off the river to high ground.
If you want to paddle the river
TVA's canoe and kayak launch below the dam opens the Toccoa tailwater, a Class I-II float when the dam is generating. Upstream, Sandy Bottoms is the take-out for the Forest Service's 13.8-mile Toccoa River Canoe Trail.
Toccoa River canoe and kayak launch below Blue Ridge Dam (TVA)
TVA's launch below the dam gives nonmotorized boaters access to the Toccoa River, which becomes a Class I-II float when the dam is generating. The dam has a siren warning system: if you hear sirens or see rapidly rising water, get off the river to high ground.
Source: Tennessee Valley Authority, checked Oct 18, 2026
Toccoa River – Sandy Bottoms Recreation Area (USFS)
A small rustic Forest Service campground on the Toccoa River upstream of the lake, south of Blue Ridge off Aska Road. It is the take-out for the 13.8-mile Toccoa River Canoe Trail and sits at the lower end of the Toccoa Delayed Harvest trout section. There is one vault toilet and no running water or hookups.
Source: Recreation.gov (USDA Forest Service), checked Oct 18, 2026
- Check TVA's release schedule and know the siren warning before you put in below the dam.
If you want to hike or see the dam
TVA has a scenic overlook above Blue Ridge Dam and a shaded picnic area near the powerhouse. For trails, the Forest Service's Aska Trail System has about 17 miles of hiking and mountain-bike trails less than 10 miles from downtown Blue Ridge.
Blue Ridge Dam overlook and powerhouse picnic area (TVA)
TVA lists a scenic overlook above the dam and a shaded picnic area near the powerhouse. Georgia DNR calls the shore access here the Blue Ridge Dam Recreation Area and suggests it for bank fishing for stocked rainbow trout.
Source: Tennessee Valley Authority; Georgia DNR fishing forecast, checked Oct 18, 2026
About 17 miles of Forest Service hiking and mountain-bike trails, 1.0 to 5.1 miles long and easy to strenuous, less than 10 miles from downtown Blue Ridge. It is free and open year-round, with no water available. The Benton MacKaye Trail shares the Stanley Gap Trail.
Source: USDA Forest Service, checked Oct 18, 2026
Toccoa River Swinging Bridge (Benton MacKaye Trail, USFS)
The Benton MacKaye Trail crosses the Toccoa River on a suspension bridge reached from Georgia 60, upstream of the lake. The Forest Service's recreation.gov text gives its length as 260 feet; other sources say 270, so avoid quoting a single number without attribution.
Source: Recreation.gov (USDA Forest Service), checked Oct 18, 2026
- The Benton MacKaye Trail crosses the Toccoa upstream of the lake on a suspension bridge reached from Georgia 60.
If you want to ride the train to the state line
The Blue Ridge Scenic Railway leaves the 1905 depot in downtown Blue Ridge for a 26-mile round trip along the Toccoa to McCaysville, Georgia, and Copperhill, Tennessee. Trips are two hours, or four with a layover.
Blue Ridge Scenic Railway depot
A heritage railway running a 26-mile round trip along the Toccoa River from the 1905 Blue Ridge depot to McCaysville, GA, and Copperhill, TN. Trips are 2-hour express or 4-hour with a layover. The 2026-27 winter season runs Nov. 5, 2026, to Feb. 28, 2027, and the 1-hour Holiday Express runs on select dates Nov. 27 to Dec. 23.
Source: Blue Ridge Scenic Railway, checked Oct 18, 2026
McCaysville (twin town of Copperhill, TN)
A Georgia town on the Toccoa River at the Tennessee line, where the river becomes the Ocoee. The Georgia-Tennessee line runs through its shared downtown with Copperhill, TN. It is the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway's turnaround and layover stop, and TVA lists it among the communities downstream of Blue Ridge Dam.
Source: Blue Ridge Scenic Railway; TVA, checked Oct 18, 2026
- The railway's 2026-27 winter season runs November 5, 2026 through February 28, 2027.
Seasons, fees and hours as each agency or operator publishes them, checked October 18, 2026. Confirm before you go.
Choose your season
The planner below shows, month by month, what’s open, which dated events we’ve confirmed and where TVA’s guide curve sits. A few anchors help. On the guide curve the lake is about 1,677.5 feet on April 1, still filling. The drawdown starts in August, with the curve at 1,684.35 feet by Aug. 15, and it bottoms out at 1,664.8 feet at the turn of the year. Georgia’s Delayed Harvest trout season, on a stretch of the Toccoa upstream of the lake, begins Nov. 1 (GA DNR), and the scenic railway’s winter season runs Nov. 5, 2026, through Feb. 28, 2027 (Blue Ridge Scenic Railway).
Decision tool
Lake Blue Ridge month by month: what's open, what's on and where the water is
Pick a month. You'll see what is open on the lake and the river, what's on in town, and where TVA's guide curve puts the water.
January Low water and winter trains
- Open Morganton Point campground and beach the Forest Service lists the site as open yearlong; reserve campsites on Recreation.gov. (USFS)
- Open Lake Blue Ridge Recreation Area launch free and open year-round. (USFS)
- Open Blue Ridge Scenic Railway 2026-27 winter season, November 5, 2026 to February 28, 2027. (Blue Ridge Scenic Railway)
- On Blue Ridge on Ice November 17, 2026 – January 2, 2027; session times vary by day, Blue Ridge. (Blue Ridge Mountains CVB (Fannin County Chamber))
- Note Lake level TVA's guide curve is at its low point, about 1,664.8 ft at the turn of the year. Check TVA's page for today's reading. (TVA)
- Note TVA dam safety study as of October 2026, TVA says it has no active plans to change the lake's seasonal levels while the study is under way. (TVA)
February The lake starts to fill
- Open Morganton Point campground and beach the Forest Service lists the site as open yearlong; reserve campsites on Recreation.gov. (USFS)
- Open Lake Blue Ridge Recreation Area launch free and open year-round. (USFS)
- Open Blue Ridge Scenic Railway 2026-27 winter season, November 5, 2026 to February 28, 2027. (Blue Ridge Scenic Railway)
- On Fire & Ice Chili Cook Off and Craft Beer Festival Saturday, February 13, 2027, 12-5 pm (gates and ticket sales 11 am), Blue Ridge. (Blue Ridge Mountains CVB (Fannin County Chamber))
- Note Lake level filling from the winter low toward about 1,677.5 ft on TVA's April 1 guide. (TVA)
- Note TVA dam safety study as of October 2026, TVA says it has no active plans to change the lake's seasonal levels while the study is under way. (TVA)
March Upper Toccoa stocking begins
- Open Morganton Point campground and beach the Forest Service lists the site as open yearlong; reserve campsites on Recreation.gov. (USFS)
- Open Lake Blue Ridge Recreation Area launch free and open year-round. (USFS)
- Note Upper Toccoa trout TVA notes the river above the lake is stocked every other week from late March to October. (TVA)
- Note Lake level filling toward about 1,677.5 ft on TVA's April 1 guide, about 9 ft below summer. (TVA)
- Note TVA dam safety study as of October 2026, TVA says it has no active plans to change the lake's seasonal levels while the study is under way. (TVA)
April Trout Festival month
- Open Morganton Point campground and beach the Forest Service lists the site as open yearlong; reserve campsites on Recreation.gov. (USFS)
- Open Lake Blue Ridge Recreation Area launch free and open year-round. (USFS)
- Note Upper Toccoa trout TVA notes the river above the lake is stocked every other week from late March to October. (TVA)
- On Blue Ridge Trout and Outdoor Adventures Festival Saturday, April 24, 2027, 10 am-6 pm, Blue Ridge. (Blue Ridge Mountains CVB (Fannin County Chamber) event listing)
- Note Lake level about 1,677.5 ft on April 1 on TVA's guide curve and still filling. (TVA)
- Note TVA dam safety study as of October 2026, TVA says it has no active plans to change the lake's seasonal levels while the study is under way. (TVA)
May Filling toward summer level
- Open Morganton Point campground and beach the Forest Service lists the site as open yearlong; reserve campsites on Recreation.gov. (USFS)
- Open Lake Blue Ridge Recreation Area launch free and open year-round. (USFS)
- Note Lake trout the lake is stratified; DNR expects trout to hold in the 1.5 miles above the dam, where TVA runs an oxygen diffuser. (GA DNR)
- Note Upper Toccoa trout TVA notes the river above the lake is stocked every other week from late March to October. (TVA)
- On 51st Annual Spring Arts in the Park Memorial Day weekend, Saturday & Sunday from May 29, 2027, 10 am-5 pm, Blue Ridge. (Blue Ridge Mountains CVB (Fannin County Chamber) event listing)
- Note Lake level filling toward the summer peak TVA's guide curve reaches around June 1. (TVA)
- Note TVA dam safety study as of October 2026, TVA says it has no active plans to change the lake's seasonal levels while the study is under way. (TVA)
June Summer level
- Open Morganton Point campground and beach the Forest Service lists the site as open yearlong; reserve campsites on Recreation.gov. (USFS)
- Open Lake Blue Ridge Recreation Area launch free and open year-round. (USFS)
- Note Lake trout the lake is stratified; DNR expects trout to hold in the 1.5 miles above the dam, where TVA runs an oxygen diffuser. (GA DNR)
- Note Upper Toccoa trout TVA notes the river above the lake is stocked every other week from late March to October. (TVA)
- Note Lake level at summer level: TVA's guide curve peaks around June 1 at about 1,686.8 ft. (TVA)
- Note TVA dam safety study as of October 2026, TVA says it has no active plans to change the lake's seasonal levels while the study is under way. (TVA)
July High summer on the lake
- Open Morganton Point campground and beach the Forest Service lists the site as open yearlong; reserve campsites on Recreation.gov. (USFS)
- Open Lake Blue Ridge Recreation Area launch free and open year-round. (USFS)
- Note Lake trout the lake is stratified; DNR expects trout to hold in the 1.5 miles above the dam, where TVA runs an oxygen diffuser. (GA DNR)
- Note Upper Toccoa trout TVA notes the river above the lake is stocked every other week from late March to October. (TVA)
- Note Lake level TVA's guide curve holds near 1,686 ft through July. (TVA)
- Note TVA dam safety study as of October 2026, TVA says it has no active plans to change the lake's seasonal levels while the study is under way. (TVA)
August The drawdown begins
- Open Morganton Point campground and beach the Forest Service lists the site as open yearlong; reserve campsites on Recreation.gov. (USFS)
- Open Lake Blue Ridge Recreation Area launch free and open year-round. (USFS)
- Note Lake trout the lake is stratified; DNR expects trout to hold in the 1.5 miles above the dam, where TVA runs an oxygen diffuser. (GA DNR)
- Note Upper Toccoa trout TVA notes the river above the lake is stocked every other week from late March to October. (TVA)
- Note Lake level the drawdown starts: TVA's guide curve is 1,684.35 ft by August 15. (TVA)
- Note TVA dam safety study as of October 2026, TVA says it has no active plans to change the lake's seasonal levels while the study is under way. (TVA)
September Falling lake, quieter shore
- Open Morganton Point campground and beach the Forest Service lists the site as open yearlong; reserve campsites on Recreation.gov. (USFS)
- Open Lake Blue Ridge Recreation Area launch free and open year-round. (USFS)
- Note Lake trout the lake is stratified; DNR expects trout to hold in the 1.5 miles above the dam, where TVA runs an oxygen diffuser. (GA DNR)
- Note Upper Toccoa trout TVA notes the river above the lake is stocked every other week from late March to October. (TVA)
- Note Lake level falling through the fall on TVA's guide curve. Check TVA's page for today's reading. (TVA)
- Note TVA dam safety study as of October 2026, TVA says it has no active plans to change the lake's seasonal levels while the study is under way. (TVA)
October Fall color and falling water
- Open Morganton Point campground and beach the Forest Service lists the site as open yearlong; reserve campsites on Recreation.gov. (USFS)
- Open Lake Blue Ridge Recreation Area launch free and open year-round. (USFS)
- Note Lake trout the lake is stratified; DNR expects trout to hold in the 1.5 miles above the dam, where TVA runs an oxygen diffuser. (GA DNR)
- Note Upper Toccoa trout TVA notes the river above the lake is stocked every other week from late March to October. (TVA)
- On Ride the Rails (Tri State Model Railroaders) Saturday-Sunday, October 24-25, 2026; rides at 12, 1, 2 and 3 pm (depot opens 11 am), Mineral Bluff. (Blue Ridge Mountains CVB (Fannin County Chamber) event listing)
- On Trick or Treat Train (Blue Ridge Scenic Railway) Saturday, October 31, 2026, 5-9 pm, Blue Ridge. (Blue Ridge Scenic Railway)
- On Halloween Safe Zone Trick or Treat – Blue Ridge Saturday, October 31, 2026, 5:00-7:00 pm (candy 5:00, costume contest 5:30), Blue Ridge. (Blue Ridge Mountains CVB (Fannin County Chamber) event listing)
- Note Lake level still falling toward the winter low; the swing is about 22 feet in a normal year. (TVA)
- Note TVA dam safety study as of October 2026, TVA says it has no active plans to change the lake's seasonal levels while the study is under way. (TVA)
November Delayed Harvest opens; holiday lights
- Open Morganton Point campground and beach the Forest Service lists the site as open yearlong; reserve campsites on Recreation.gov. (USFS)
- Open Lake Blue Ridge Recreation Area launch free and open year-round. (USFS)
- Open Blue Ridge Scenic Railway 2026-27 winter season, November 5, 2026 to February 28, 2027. (Blue Ridge Scenic Railway)
- Open Toccoa Delayed Harvest (upstream of the lake) Georgia's Delayed Harvest season begins November 1. (GA DNR)
- On Annual Christmas Tour of Trees Sundays, November 8 and November 15, 2026, 2-5 pm, Blue Ridge. (Blue Ridge Mountains CVB (Fannin County Chamber) event listing)
- On Holiday Market (Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association) November 15 – December 19, 2026; Tuesday-Sunday 10 am-6 pm, closed Monday, Blue Ridge. (Blue Ridge Mountains CVB (Fannin County Chamber) event listing)
- On Blue Ridge on Ice November 17, 2026 – January 2, 2027; session times vary by day, Blue Ridge. (Blue Ridge Mountains CVB (Fannin County Chamber))
- On Twin Cities Holiday Market Saturdays, November 21 and November 28, 2026 (listing shows 10 am-2 pm; event text says 10 am-3 pm), McCaysville. (Blue Ridge Mountains CVB (Fannin County Chamber) event listing)
- On Blue Ridge Turkey Trot Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26, 2026; registration 7:30 am, race 8 am, Blue Ridge. (Blue Ridge Mountains CVB (Fannin County Chamber))
- On Light Up McCaysville: Tree Lighting Friday, November 27, 2026, 5-7 pm; tree lighting at dusk, McCaysville. (Blue Ridge Mountains CVB (Fannin County Chamber) event listing)
- On Light Up Blue Ridge & Christmas Parade Blue Friday, November 27, 2026 (noon-5 pm downtown) and Light Up, Saturday, November 28, 2026, Blue Ridge. (Light Up Blue Ridge (organizer site); Blue Ridge Mountains CVB listing)
- On 1-Hour Holiday Express Tour (Blue Ridge Scenic Railway) Select dates, November 27 – December 23, 2026, Blue Ridge. (Blue Ridge Scenic Railway)
- Note Lake level low and falling toward the winter low on TVA's guide curve. (TVA)
- Note TVA dam safety study as of October 2026, TVA says it has no active plans to change the lake's seasonal levels while the study is under way. (TVA)
December Holiday trains and markets
- Open Morganton Point campground and beach the Forest Service lists the site as open yearlong; reserve campsites on Recreation.gov. (USFS)
- Open Lake Blue Ridge Recreation Area launch free and open year-round. (USFS)
- Open Blue Ridge Scenic Railway 2026-27 winter season, November 5, 2026 to February 28, 2027. (Blue Ridge Scenic Railway)
- On Holiday Market (Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association) November 15 – December 19, 2026; Tuesday-Sunday 10 am-6 pm, closed Monday, Blue Ridge. (Blue Ridge Mountains CVB (Fannin County Chamber) event listing)
- On Blue Ridge on Ice November 17, 2026 – January 2, 2027; session times vary by day, Blue Ridge. (Blue Ridge Mountains CVB (Fannin County Chamber))
- On 1-Hour Holiday Express Tour (Blue Ridge Scenic Railway) Select dates, November 27 – December 23, 2026, Blue Ridge. (Blue Ridge Scenic Railway)
- On The Nutcracker Ballet (Studio 1 Performing Arts School) Saturday, December 12, 2026, 2:00 pm and 6:00 pm, Blue Ridge. (Blue Ridge Mountains CVB (Fannin County Chamber) event listing)
- Note Lake level near TVA's winter low of about 1,664.8 ft by the turn of the year. (TVA)
- Note TVA dam safety study as of October 2026, TVA says it has no active plans to change the lake's seasonal levels while the study is under way. (TVA)
Seasons from the Forest Service, TVA and Georgia DNR; events from each organizer's own page (past events drop off); levels from TVA's guide curve, not a forecast. Checked October 18, 2026. The bar under each month counts what is open or on.
Where to stay: the campgrounds
We only list places we can check against an official page. For overnight stays, that means the Forest Service campgrounds. We haven’t verified hotels, cabins or other lodging, so we don’t list them.
- Morganton Point (on the lake). The only developed campground on the shoreline, open yearlong per the Forest Service. Reserve through Recreation.gov or 1-877-444-6777, from the same day up to six months ahead (USFS). Recreation.gov lists 41 overnight sites. Expect about $26 to $50 a night depending on the site, and confirm at booking. Stays are limited to 14 days. More on our Morganton page.
- Toccoa River – Sandy Bottoms (upstream). A small rustic Forest Service campground on the Toccoa south of Blue Ridge, with one vault toilet and no running water or hookups. Recreation.gov lists $8 per night per site, checked October 2026 (Recreation.gov).
- Deep Hole (upper Toccoa). A small Forest Service campground on a bend of the upper river, open year round. Camping is $15 a night by reservation on Recreation.gov, and day use is $5 per vehicle, per USFS, checked October 2026.
Camping isn’t allowed at Lakewood Landing. Our camping guide compares the sites.
Campground
Morganton Point Recreation Area (USFS)
The only developed campground on Lake Blue Ridge's shoreline, with tent and RV sites, walk-in tent sites, a swim beach, boat ramp, picnic area and showers. USFS lists it as open yearlong and reservation-only through Recreation.gov (same day to six months ahead). Fees differ between USFS ($30-$50/night) and Recreation.gov ($26-$50), so confirm at booking. Day use is $5 per person 16+, and the boat launch is $5.
- Yearlong (USFS)
- Camping $30-$50/night per USFS ($26-$50 per Recreation.gov); day use $5/person 16+; boat launch $5
- 475 Lake Drive, Morganton, GA 30560 (Fannin County, Georgia)
- 706-374-1645
Source: USDA Forest Service; Recreation.gov, checked Oct 18, 2026
Beach
Morganton Point swim beach (USFS)
A designated swimming area with picnic tables, outdoor showers and trash bins inside Morganton Point Recreation Area. Day-use parking is $5 per person 16 and older. No alcohol is allowed in the day-use areas.
- Yearlong (USFS)
- $5/person/day for 16+
- 475 Lake Drive, Morganton, GA 30560 (Fannin County, Georgia)
- 706-374-1645
Source: USDA Forest Service, checked Oct 18, 2026
Campground
Toccoa River – Sandy Bottoms Recreation Area (USFS)
A small rustic Forest Service campground on the Toccoa River upstream of the lake, south of Blue Ridge off Aska Road. It is the take-out for the 13.8-mile Toccoa River Canoe Trail and sits at the lower end of the Toccoa Delayed Harvest trout section. There is one vault toilet and no running water or hookups.
- $8 per night per site (Recreation.gov)
- 7406 Old Dial Road, Blue Ridge, GA 30513 (Fannin County, Georgia)
Source: Recreation.gov (USDA Forest Service), checked Oct 18, 2026
Campground
Deep Hole Recreation Area (USFS)
A small Forest Service campground on a big bend of the upper Toccoa River, upstream of the lake, offering camping, canoeing and fishing. Camping is $15 a night by reservation on Recreation.gov, and day use is $5 per vehicle. A Georgia fishing license and trout license are required.
- Year round
- Camping $15/site/night; day use $5/vehicle
- Forest Service Road 654 off Georgia 60, north of Suches (Fannin County, Georgia per OSM)
Source: USDA Forest Service, checked Oct 18, 2026
Nearest services
Near Morganton Point, the closest store and gas station are in Morganton, about a mile north of the campground; full groceries are in Blue Ridge, about 15 minutes west on U.S. 76 (Recreation.gov). Blue Ridge is also where the railway depot is; see our Blue Ridge town guide.
The Forest Service’s Blue Ridge Ranger District office is not in Blue Ridge. It is at 2042 Highway 515 West in Blairsville, in neighboring Union County, phone 706-745-6928, open weekdays 8 to 4:30 (USFS).
Georgia boating basics
Lake Blue Ridge is Georgia water, so Georgia’s boating laws apply. Every vessel must carry a Coast Guard-approved life jacket for each person aboard, personal watercraft may not run between sunset and sunrise, and the boating-under-the-influence limits are 0.08% for operators 21 and older and 0.02% for those under 21 (GA DNR LE). The key rules:
- Anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1998, who operates a motorized vessel on Georgia waters must first complete a DNR-approved boater education course. GA DNR LE
- Georgia law requires children under 13 to wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket on any moving vessel, unless they are inside a fully enclosed cabin. GA DNR LE
- In Georgia, children under 12 may not operate a personal watercraft. Ages 12 to 15 may operate one only after passing an approved course or with a competent adult aboard. GA DNR LE
- Georgia's 100-foot rule: boats and PWC must stay at idle speed within 100 feet of docks, piers, bridges, people in the water, moored or anchored boats, and shoreline next to homes, parks, beaches and swimming areas. GA DNR LE
- Since July 1, 2023, wakeboarding and wakesurfing are banned within 200 feet of docks, moored boats and developed shorelines, and are not allowed between sunset and sunrise. GA DNR LE
We don’t print fishing creel or size limits; check Georgia DNR’s current regulations. Our boating guide lists the launches and the marina.
Check the level before you go
TVA posts the daily Blue Ridge level on its lake-level page, and weather can change TVA’s targets. This guide doesn’t publish live readings. The card below shows the guide curve; our lake levels guide explains it.
Lake level
1,665–1,687 ft
TVA's guide curve holds the lake near 1,686 ft from June through July and lets it down from August to a winter low near 1,665 ft, a swing of about 22 feet in a normal year. TVA Today’s reading is posted on TVA’s Blue Ridge lake-levels page.
As of October 2026, TVA says Blue Ridge Dam is safe for normal operations and that it has no active plans to change the lake’s seasonal levels, either temporarily or permanently, while its safety study is under way (TVA).
Questions people ask
When is Lake Blue Ridge at full pool?
On TVA's guide curve the lake peaks around June 1 at about 1,686.8 feet and holds near 1,686 feet through July. The drawdown starts in August.
Source: TVA, checked Oct 18, 2026
Where can you camp on Lake Blue Ridge?
Morganton Point Recreation Area is the only developed campground on the lake's shoreline. Sites must be reserved through Recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777.
Source: USFS, checked Oct 18, 2026
Where is the Forest Service office for Lake Blue Ridge?
The Blue Ridge Ranger District office is at 2042 Highway 515 West in Blairsville, in Union County, phone 706-745-6928. It is open weekdays 8 to 4:30.
Source: USFS, checked Oct 18, 2026
Do you need a boating license to drive a boat on Lake Blue Ridge?
Georgia requires anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1998, who operates a motorized vessel on Georgia waters to first complete a DNR-approved boater education course.
Source: GA DNR LE, checked Oct 18, 2026
Where can I check the Lake Blue Ridge water level today?
On TVA's Blue Ridge lake-level page, which posts the daily level. TVA's guidelines for the lake can change with the weather.
Source: TVA, checked Oct 18, 2026
