I launched from the Lake Burton Fish Hatchery right next to Moccasin Creek State Park on SR 197, 12 miles east of Clayton. This is another one of Georgia Power's manmade lakes when the choked off the Tallulah River. It's on the edge of the Lake Burton Wild Life Management Area and nestled in the mountains of the Chattahoochee National Forest.
A lot of boathouses stick out from ever shore and I mean a lot. I paddled 1.5 miles along one of the lake's several fingers to the main part of the lake. The boathouses averaged about 150 feet apart. I didn't see the same number of houses along the way.
I was hoping the main body of the lake would have less development but was sadly disappointed. In fact there was considerably more. I don't think 50 consecutive yards existed on the entire lake without a boathouse.
This is a very pretty lake otherwise, with tall pine trees entirely surrounding the lake. Mountain peaks lie behind the hills rising off of the lake. They peaked over each other's shoulders, one behind the other, often 3 and 4 peaks deep. The taller ones and those in back disappeared into haze, mist, fog or whatever, adding a different dimension.
I paddled south for 1.5 hours before I came to the dam. I saw a bridge ahead but heard no noise and saw no current. I also didn't see any water beyond the bridge. What I did see was a steeply forested slope in the background that seemed to continue downwards below the level of the bridge. Eventually I got close enough to make out a sign that said "Danger, Dam". That was close enough for me. I didn't want to be around if someone decided to pull the plug out of the dam.
Lake Burton is about as populated a lake as I've ever been on, mainly because I avoid this type of lake. All the houses and the boathouses seemed to be only a few years old and I saw nothing that was at all run down. Make ya wonder just how old this lake is.