Mary Alice Park
Rate this placeNearby: Lanier Beach Park Cumming City Park
Last Updated: December 5, 2025
Mary Alice Park is a beautiful recreational area situated on the shores of Lake Lanier in the state of Georgia.
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Summary
The park offers several activities for visitors to enjoy, including swimming, fishing, boating, and camping. The park also has picnic areas, playgrounds, and hiking trails for visitors to explore.
One of the main attractions of Mary Alice Park is its proximity to Lake Lanier. Visitors can enjoy swimming and sunbathing on the sandy beach or rent a boat and explore the lake. The lake is also known for its excellent fishing, with several species of fish, including bass, crappie, and catfish, available to catch.
Aside from the lake, there are several other points of interest to see in the park. The park has a nature trail that winds through the forest, offering visitors the chance to see the local flora and fauna up close. There is also a miniature golf course and a playground for children.
Interesting facts about the area include that Mary Alice Park was named after a local resident who donated the land to the county for use as a park. The park is also home to several historic structures, including the Old Federal Road and the former site of Fort Buffington.
The best time of year to visit Mary Alice Park depends on the activities you want to enjoy. The summer months are great for swimming and boating, while the spring and fall offer cooler temperatures for hiking and camping. The park is open year-round, however, and each season has its own unique charm.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Related References
Area Campgrounds
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|---|---|---|
Bald Ridge Creek
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Sawnee
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Shady Grove - Lake Lanier
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Charleston - Lake Lanier
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Shoal Creek - Lake Lanier
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Chestnut Ridge - Lake Lanier
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Lanier Beach Park
Cumming City Park
Lower Overlook Park
Buford Dam Park
Sawnee Mountain