Bald Ridge Creek
- Right now
- Nobody has saidNo season, no closure, no bookings to read
- Sites
- 82All of them booked ahead
The place
the agency’s own description · what’s there · 14 notices
In the agency’s own words
Bald Ridge Creek Campground is on Lake Sidney Lanier, popular for its aqua-blue waters and spectacular scenery. Each year, over 11 million visitors travel to Lake Sidney Lanier for fantastic fishing and boating on the beautiful reservoir in northern Georgia. Keep reading
Recreation
Bald Ridge Creek Campground offers many outdoor recreation opportunities including fishing, swimming, and bike riding. On the lake there are opportunities for wake boarding, kayaking, boating and much more. There's also a swimming beach and boat ramp available for campers.
Facilities
The 82 campsites come with electric and water hookups (no sewer hookups). Additional conveniences in the well-maintained park include a dump station, laundry facilities, and restrooms/bathouses.
Natural Features
Lake Sidney Lanier is nestled in the foothills of the Georgia Blue Ridge Mountains. The lake features 692 miles of shoreline and spans 38,000 surface water acres and 17,000 acres of lush terrain. The reservoir was created in 1956 with the completion of Buford Dam on the Chattahoochee River. Contact Info This location is staffed. Please call (470) 774-7873 to speak with local staff.
Nearby Attractions
By boat, there's plenty of coves and islands to explore on the lake. For land activities, head to the Sawnee Mountain Preserve for hiking, rock climbing and an interactive visitors center for kids. The city of Cumming is nearby and has shopping, restuarants, a fairground and much more.
Charges & Cancellations
Cancellations must be made via the online/phone reservation system or in person at the gatehouse. Cancellation calls to the gatehouse will not be honored.
What the agency tells you
Alcoholic beverages are prohibited.
Check-in is 3:00 p.m., and check out is by 1:00 p.m.
Due to COVID-19, camper registration will take place through the gatehouse window. Upon arrival to the campground, please have your ID, license plate number, camping unit’s license plate number, site number, and discount pass (if applicable) ready to give the Park Attendant. Please approach the gatehouse slowly and bring your vehicle close to the window. At no point should you park and walk to the gatehouse window. Do not attempt to enter the gatehouse.
Everything else this campground posts · 11
Gatehouse open 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Monday - Thursday. Gatehouse open 7 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday - Sunday.
Payments are not accepted at the gatehouse.
For more information on Lake Sidney Lanier, please go to: http://www.sam.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Recreation/Lake-Sidney-Lanier/
The campground does not accept mail or food deliveries for campers in the campground. Campers must coordinate to accept these items at a location outside the campground gate.
Gates lock at 10:30pm and reopen at 7am.
"NO SHOWS" will be charged the full amount for their reservation.
DISCOUNT PASSES must be presented upon arrival and can only be used for ONE site where the cardholder is the REGISTERED camper. Fraudulent use of a discount pass may result in a mandatory appearance in court in accordance with Title 36 CFR 327.23 (d) RECREATION FEES. DISCOUNT PASSES must be applied at the time the reservartion is made.
Gatehouse Attendants have limited or no internet access and are unable to perform actions affecting a reservation.
LENGTH OF STAY for campers is no longer than 14 days during any 30 consecutive day period for any USACE campground on Lake Lanier (Ex. Cannot stay at Bolding Mill Campground 14 days with another reservation immediately following at another USACE operated campground on Lake Lanier). Consecutive reservations under different names that exceed 14 days are not authorized and are subject to eviction and/or the issuance of a citation in accordance with Title 36 CFR 327.7 (b).
Commercial operations are prohibited in USACE operated campgrounds. Rental campers must be operated and set up by the registered camper.
Day using is prohibited. Registered campers must occupy their site overnight.
Tents and rigs
- Sites
- 82
- Hookups
- 82 electric, 82 water
- Longest rig
- 109 ft
- Paved pads
- All
- Accessible sites
- 5
- Pets
- Allowed
- Shade
- Every site
Facilities
- Dump station
- Yes
- recreation.gov lists “Dump Station”
- Boat ramp
- Yes
- Camp host
- On site
- recreation.gov lists “Host”
- Stay limit
- 14 nights
- recreation.gov facility rule maxStay
Around the campground
- On the water
- Reservoir, Lake, River, Creek, Beach
- Biking
- Boating
- Fishing
- Kayaking
- Swimming
- Water access
- Night sky · 94th darkest of 96 in GA
- Bortle 6
- Fall color · reported 4 days ago, 21 km away
- Patchy color
No reading yet, book on recreation.gov
Every site here is reservable, and the record lists none held back for anyone who drives up.
No availability snapshot inside the last 36 hours, so this page draws nothing rather than ageing a reading into fiction.
Watch for a cancellation
Full? Watch it.
One email when a night opens, plus More Than Just Parks dispatches. Unsubscribe any time.
We read recreation.gov once an hour, at 40 minutes past, and write the first time a site in your window is free for the nights you asked for.
Scanners that check every few minutes exist, and most of them charge. This one is free, it reads the same calendar, and it won’t always be first.
We make nothing when you book. The link goes straight to the government.
Every line of the receipt · 10
What you actually pay
“Cancellations must be made via the online/phone reservation system or in person at the gatehouse. Cancellation calls to the gatehouse will not be honored.” · this campground’s own terms
Who keeps the booking fee
The agency’s own policy text says the reservation fee and the cancellation processing fee are “retained by the reservation service contractor”, and that a campground concessionaire will decline to refund them because “they did not receive these fees”. Recreation.gov is run under contract by Booz Allen Hamilton. What share of your booking fee the contractor keeps isn’t published in any federal dataset we can read, so we print no number for it. Our reporting on the contract →
How we know this receipt · 5
rules read Sep 9, 2026 · record Aug 23, 2026 · How we know all this
The sites
82 sites · which ones have room · the site map
The sites, ranked
from 82 mapped sitesAll 82 sites
Toilet distances are OpenStreetMap’s, measured for 82 of the 82 sites listed. A site with no reading is unknown, never far.
Measured shade is NLCD Tree Canopy Cover 2024 (USDA Forest Service / MRLC) read at the site’s own coordinate, 27% canopy or more, and only for the sites the agency gave no Shade value. It never changes the agency’s own shaded count beside it.
| BRIC | 01 | standard electric | 109 ft | 50 amp | 64 ft | 149 ft | 551 ft | |
| BRIC | 02 | standard electric | 57 ft | 50 amp | 64 ft | 111 ft | 507 ft | |
| BRIC | 03 | standard electric | 62 ft | 50 amp | 93 ft | 118 ft | 417 ft | |
| BRIC | 04 | standard electric | 56 ft | 50 amp | 67 ft | 101 ft | 263 ft | |
| BRIC | 05 | standard electric | 58 ft | 50 amp | 61 ft | 88 ft | 201 ft | |
| BRIC | 06 | standard electric | 56 ft | 50 amp | 61 ft | 83 ft | 154 ft | |
| BRIC | 07 | standard electric | 40 ft | 50 amp | 57 ft | 78 ft | 126 ft | |
| BRIC | 08 | standard electric | 48 ft | 50 amp | 57 ft | 87 ft | 137 ft | |
| BRIC | 09 | standard electric | 42 ft | 50 amp | yes | 64 ft | 71 ft | 171 ft |
| BRIC | 10 | standard electric | 43 ft | 50 amp | yes | 84 ft | 87 ft | 236 ft |
| BRIC | 11 | standard electric | 30 ft | 50 amp | 65 ft | 172 ft | 257 ft | |
| BRIC | 12 | standard electric | 50 ft | 50 amp | 61 ft | 179 ft | 207 ft | |
| BRIC | 13 | standard electric | 50 ft | 50 amp | 61 ft | 137 ft | 188 ft | |
| BRIC | 14 | standard electric | 71 ft | 50 amp | 69 ft | 69 ft | 233 ft | |
| BRIC | 15 | standard electric | 88 ft | 50 amp | 70 ft | 123 ft | 163 ft | |
| BRIC | 16 | standard electric | 73 ft | 50 amp | 63 ft | 103 ft | 253 ft | |
| BRIC | 17 | standard electric | 65 ft | 50 amp | 63 ft | 134 ft | 273 ft | |
| BRIC | 18 | standard electric | 43 ft | 50 amp | 55 ft | 207 ft | 280 ft | |
| BRIC | 19 | standard electric | 18 ft | 50 amp | 55 ft | 180 ft | 333 ft | |
| BRIC | 20 | standard electric | 35 ft | 50 amp | 71 ft | 137 ft | 407 ft | |
| BRIC | 21 | standard electric | 60 ft | 50 amp | 74 ft | 134 ft | 328 ft | |
| BRIC | 22 | standard electric | 60 ft | 50 amp | 71 ft | 73 ft | 412 ft | |
| BRIC | 23 | standard electric | 75 ft | 50 amp | 83 ft | 206 ft | 419 ft | |
| BRIC | 24 | standard electric | 28 ft | 50 amp | 67 ft | 227 ft | 336 ft | |
| BRIC | 25 | standard electric | 34 ft | 50 amp | 70 ft | 235 ft | 280 ft | |
| BRIC | 26 | standard electric | 38 ft | 50 amp | 95 ft | 219 ft | 196 ft | |
| BRIC | 27 | standard electric | 45 ft | 50 amp | 77 ft | 263 ft | 164 ft | |
| BRIC | 28 | standard electric | 44 ft | 50 amp | 77 ft | 243 ft | 234 ft | |
| BRIC | 29 | standard electric | 95 ft | 50 amp | 66 ft | 180 ft | 200 ft | |
| BRIC | 30 | standard electric | 50 ft | 50 amp | 63 ft | 129 ft | 171 ft | |
| BRIC | 31 | standard electric | 27 ft | 50 amp | 54 ft | 100 ft | 144 ft | |
| BRIC | 32 | standard electric | 28 ft | 50 amp | 49 ft | 101 ft | 123 ft | |
| BRIC | 33 | standard electric | 30 ft | 50 amp | 49 ft | 108 ft | 118 ft | |
| BRIC | 34 | standard electric | 67 ft | 50 amp | 80 ft | 202 ft | 51 ft | |
| BRIC | 35 | standard electric | 30 ft | 50 amp | 56 ft | 121 ft | 128 ft | |
| BRIC | 36 | standard electric | 30 ft | 50 amp | 61 ft | 132 ft | 131 ft | |
| BRIC | 37 | standard electric | 30 ft | 50 amp | 68 ft | 172 ft | 149 ft | |
| BRIC | 38 | standard electric | 47 ft | 50 amp | 68 ft | 129 ft | 214 ft | |
| BRIC | 39 | standard electric | 38 ft | 50 amp | 73 ft | 29 ft | 431 ft | |
| BRIC | 40 | standard electric | 52 ft | 50 amp | 73 ft | 11 ft | 440 ft | |
| BRIC | 41 | standard electric | 50 ft | 50 amp | 121 ft | 168 ft | 290 ft | |
| BRIC | 42 | standard electric | 52 ft | 50 amp | 76 ft | 16 ft | 456 ft | |
| BRIC | 43 | standard electric | 60 ft | 50 amp | 112 ft | 13 ft | 552 ft | |
| BRIC | 44 | standard electric | 52 ft | 50 amp | 82 ft | 58 ft | 491 ft | |
| BRIC | 45 | standard electric | 42 ft | 50 amp | 82 ft | 85 ft | 409 ft | |
| BRIC | 46 | standard electric | 40 ft | 50 amp | 101 ft | 100 ft | 447 ft | |
| BRIC | 47 | standard electric | 39 ft | 50 amp | 64 ft | 119 ft | 330 ft | |
| BRIC | 48 | standard electric | 30 ft | 50 amp | 53 ft | 128 ft | 279 ft | |
| BRIC | 49 | standard electric | 43 ft | 50 amp | 101 ft | 190 ft | 346 ft | |
| BRIC | 50 | standard electric | 38 ft | 50 amp | 53 ft | 128 ft | 237 ft | |
| BRIC | 51 | standard electric | 37 ft | 50 amp | 55 ft | 113 ft | 200 ft | |
| BRIC | 52 | standard electric | 42 ft | 50 amp | 55 ft | 136 ft | 164 ft | |
| BRIC | 53 | standard electric | 45 ft | 50 amp | 61 ft | 167 ft | 135 ft | |
| BRIC | 54 | standard electric | 50 ft | 50 amp | 81 ft | 173 ft | 147 ft | |
| BRIC | 55 | standard electric | 36 ft | 50 amp | 143 ft | 113 ft | 451 ft | |
| BRIC | 56 | standard electric | 35 ft | 50 amp | 87 ft | 84 ft | 412 ft | |
| BRIC | 57 | standard electric | 44 ft | 50 amp | 87 ft | 49 ft | 326 ft | |
| BRIC | 58 | standard electric | 50 ft | 50 amp | 87 ft | 57 ft | 229 ft | |
| BRIC | 59 | standard electric | 106 ft | 50 amp | 84 ft | 39 ft | 179 ft | |
| BRIC | 60 | standard electric | 51 ft | 50 amp | yes | 68 ft | 94 ft | 118 ft |
| BRIC | 61 | standard electric | 65 ft | 50 amp | 107 ft | 130 ft | 179 ft | |
| BRIC | 62 | standard electric | 38 ft | 50 amp | yes | 60 ft | 35 ft | 184 ft |
| BRIC | 63 | standard electric | 52 ft | 50 amp | 103 ft | 110 ft | 289 ft | |
| BRIC | 64 | standard electric | 46 ft | 50 amp | yes | 60 ft | under 10 ft | 240 ft |
| BRIC | 65 | standard electric | 42 ft | 50 amp | 79 ft | 82 ft | 390 ft | |
| BRIC | 66 | standard electric | 48 ft | 50 amp | 72 ft | under 10 ft | 307 ft | |
| BRIC | 67 | standard electric | 54 ft | 50 amp | 79 ft | 76 ft | 465 ft | |
| BRIC | 68 | standard electric | 68 ft | 50 amp | 88 ft | 72 ft | 546 ft | |
| BRIC | 69 | standard electric | 70 ft | 50 amp | 107 ft | 60 ft | 559 ft | |
| BRIC | 70 | standard electric | 48 ft | 50 amp | 80 ft | 90 ft | 440 ft | |
| BRIC | 71 | standard electric | 50 ft | 50 amp | 80 ft | 87 ft | 372 ft | |
| BRIC | 72 | standard electric | 40 ft | 50 amp | 93 ft | 117 ft | 271 ft | |
| BRIC | 73 | standard electric | 48 ft | 50 amp | 92 ft | 164 ft | 180 ft | |
| BRIC | 74 | standard electric | 36 ft | 50 amp | 92 ft | 169 ft | 151 ft | |
| BRIC | 75 | standard electric | 70 ft | 50 amp | 34 ft | 130 ft | 274 ft | |
| BRIC | 76 | standard electric | 51 ft | 50 amp | 34 ft | 125 ft | 308 ft | |
| BRIC | 77 | standard electric | 49 ft | 50 amp | 97 ft | 103 ft | 403 ft | |
| BRIC | 78 | standard electric | 48 ft | 50 amp | 119 ft | 145 ft | 431 ft | |
| BRIC | 79 | standard electric | 33 ft | 50 amp | 100 ft | 152 ft | 177 ft | |
| BRIC | 80 | standard electric | 51 ft | 50 amp | 94 ft | 136 ft | 288 ft | |
| BRIC | 81 | standard electric | 44 ft | 50 amp | 88 ft | 168 ft | 392 ft | |
| BRIC | 82 | standard electric | 33 ft | 50 amp | 88 ft | 210 ft | 476 ft |
25 of 82 listed
Getting there
the map and the coordinate · the agency’s directions · the phone number
Where it is
Sawnee2.3 mi
Old Federal7.9 mi
Duckett Mill11 mi
Bolding Mill12 mi
Toto Creek Campground14 mi
Sweetwater Campground28 miFrom Atlanta, GA, take SR 400 N to Exit 16, turn right on Pilgrim Mill Rd., turn right on Sinclair Shoals Rd., turn left on Bald Ridge Rd. Follow signs into campground.
The weather
the next four days · the thirty-year normal
Next four days, and the thirty-year normal
Forecast
NWS forecast for Cumming, GA
Typical weather
Typical October night 49°F, day 73°F.
Coldest month of the year: typical January night 31°F, below freezing. Bring a bag rated colder than that, and expect ice in the water bottle.
Daily high and lowDays with 0.10 in or more
A normal is the 1991-2020 average for the month, not a forecast: about half of all Julys are colder than the July line. The seven-day forecast above answers the other question.
The land, and who answers for it
who answers for it
Who answers for this land
Bald Ridge Creek is in Georgia’s 7th congressional district. Its representative, Rich McCormick (R), votes on the laws that decide what happens to this land. Public-lands grade so far: F. See every public-lands vote →