Much like her sister lakes along the Tallulah River, Lake Rabun was dammed up in 1915-1925 in order to produce hydroelectricity primarily for the Atlanta area, but also for much of northern Georgia. At an elevation of 1689 feet, with a surface area of 835 acres and 25 miles of shoreline, Lake Rabun is the second largest lake in the six lake chain. While not as large as Lake Burton, Rabun has many outdoor activities that include water skiing, fishing, and boating.
Much of Rabun County is owned by the federal and state governments. The surrounding Lake Rabun area supports whitetail deer, red and grey fox, raccoon, bobcats, and a large population of black bear. Wild Turkey and ruffled grouse are also seen in the area. Many hiking trails and local waterfalls are also visited frequently by the lake residents.
Lake Rabun is a meandering reservoir and is part of the Tallulah River. Because the lake is one of the most beautiful spots in the North Georgia Mountains, many Georgia movers and shakers have built humongous dream homes along the 25-mile long shoreline. For these people, and hundreds of thousands of short term renters, Lake Rabun is a summer haven. Because it’s only 90 miles from Atlanta, Lake Rabun is the perfect getaway from the heat and traffic of Atlanta summers.
July the 4th is a favorite weekend on Lake Rabun and thousands attend all of the festivities. Activities include barbeque cookouts, mountain dancing, fireworks, a wood boat parade and a 5k/10k road race. The weather is moderate and the water is cold; good reasons to come and enjoy.
Beyond the summer, Lake Rabun is an ideal spot for enjoying all four seasons of the year. Come to this Northern Georgia lake and see just how wonderful it is.