Red Top Mountain and Lake Allatoona

Cartersville-Bartow County
Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB)
PO Box 200397
Cartersville GA 30120 USA
Toll free from US and
Canada 1-800-733-2280
Telephone 770-387-1357

The local welcome center is
located in the restored railroad
Depot at One Friendship Plaza in
downtown Cartersville, Georgia
accessible from Interstate 75
Exit 288.

Red Top Mountain State Park and Allatoona Lake

Red Top Mountain State Park

Park information: 770-975-4226
Reservations & Conference Center Sales: 800-573-9658 or 770-975-0055
www.RedTopMountain.com

Located on Allatoona Lake, this Georgia State Park is a natural retreat just minutes from Atlanta. Named for the color of its soil, Red Top Mountain was historically an important mining area for iron. Today, this history is portrayed in many of the interpretive programs offered throughout the year.

The park encompasses 1,562 acres on the shoreline of 12,000-acre Allatoona Lake. Its pine and hardwood forest harbors a wide variety of wildlife and rare plant life. Park visitors may encounter these along 12 miles of hiking trails, including the ADA Accessible Lakeside Trail. An heirloom garden of native plants is a treat found at the Park’s Visitor Center.

The Lodge at Red Top Mountain features a conference center, 33 lodge rooms, 18 fully-equipped cottages with lake views, an outdoor pool, and the Mountain Cove Restaurant. The conference center and two enclosed group shelters provide quiet settings for groups of 250 people. Seven additional picnic shelters are ideal for family reunions. Many shelters are situated with open fields for games and much more.

The park also offers 92 tent and RV sites (accommodating RVs up to 40 feet) including one yurt or permanent tent, plus a swimming beach area, boat ramps and docks, miniature golf course, public fishing areas at Bethany Bridge, and tennis courts. Park Marina is a privately operated full-service marina that offers easy access boat rentals to all park visitors.

Things to remember:

Bicycles – The Iron Hill Trail is now completed and will accommodate bicyclists. Bicycles are welcome in camping areas.
Pets – Allowed on a 6 foot leash in camping and public areas of the park. Two cottages are now pet-friendly, leash laws do apply and pets may not be left unattended. Sorry – pets are not allowed in the lodge.
Park Hours – The park is open daily. A great first stop is the Visitor’s Center – open daily in spring and summer, Wednesday-Sunday in fall and winter, from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Dining – The Mountain Cove Restaurant serves three meals daily (exception: no evening meal on Sunday). During summer months, the restaurant offers a Friday night seafood buffet and Saturday night barbecue buffet.
Parking Fee – The Georgia ParkPass, requires that all visitors in vehicles using state park facilities to pay either a $3 daily fee or an annual $30 fee. With the daily ParkPass, visitors have unlimited use of the park and surrounding parks on that day.
Interpretive Programs and Seasonal Events - Are a highlight of the park. Must Sees: The Mountain Music Series (Saturday summer evenings), Party with The Possums Friday Night Hikes (summer) Spring at the Homestead, Harvest Time at the Homestead and of course the ever-popular Iron Pours – where you can make your own souvenir. For specific dates and information see EVENTS.
To support Red Top Mountain State Park join Friends of Red Top.

Directions: From Atlanta, go north on I-75 to Exit 285. Go right or east on Red Top Mountain Road across Allatoona Lake to State Park. Downtown Cartersville shopping, dining, grocery stores and attractions awaits just 7 miles from Red Top Mountain (I-75 north Exit 288 or US 41 north).

-Our gratitude to photographer David Little, for sharing these photos from the Friends of Red Top.

Allatoona Lake Water Levels and Boat Ramp
Thanks to recent precipitation, Allatoona Lake is at normal Winter lake levels and seasonal boat ramps have reopened. For daily lake levels and Etowah River release schedules call 706-374-7213.

Allatoona Lake
Located only 30 miles from Atlanta, Georgia, Allatoona Lake is situated on the Etowah River, a tributary of the Coosa River. The serene lake and peaceful surroundings offer a respite from the rush of city living, yet Cartersville and all its amenities are just minutes away. Visitors enjoy picnicking and swimming at our parks, camping, hunting, fishing, boating, and observing wildlife along the beautiful shoreline. Allatoona Lake is the largest of 11 public fishing areas including trout streams in Bartow County. The lake offers great fishing for all ages and skill levels.

“Allatoona Lake is a great place to take children and teach them the joys of fishing. I have raised my two sons on the lake and seldom have they been bored on a day out fishing,” said Dale Watkins, Georgia Director, Southern Pro Bass Tournament.

Local Fishing Tips:

Large & Small Mouth Bass - Found in deep water, large minnows proven best bait, locals suggest the Stamp Creek area. Look for spotted bass near rocky points and brush piles.
Striped or Hybrid Bass - Best fishing in late winter and early spring in coves and deep cool water, use large minnows.
Catfish - The all weather, all area fish. Cove points prove best, night crawlers can't be beat.
Crappie - Best fishing during spring bedding season in cove areas, use minnows or shad bait, locals point to the Wilderness Camp and McKaskey Creek areas.
Bream - Spring bedding times are best, use crickets or red wigglers in lake coves.
Carp - Sport fishing only, all areas at all times, use artificial bait.

For daily lake reports and recreational information visit Allatoona Lake online or contact:

For lake levels and temperature call 770-386-0549. For water release/generation schedules call 706-334-7213 (not long distance from Cartersville).

Fishing Licenses
You may obtain a fishing license with Visa or MasterCard by calling 1-888-748-6887. To get a free copy of the current Georgia Sport Fishing Regulations publication, including trout fishing information, contact:

visit online

Both fishing licenses and publications are available in Cartersville at Kmart I-75 Exit 288 (GA 113 south one mile) and Wal-Mart at I-75 Exit 290 (GA 20 west one mile).

Boat Rentals & Marinas

Park Marina - 770-974-2628 or www.ParkMarine.com
Located adjacent to Red Top Mountain State Park at I-75 Exit 285 east, Park Marina is situated on the deepest water of Allatoona Lake year-round at a depth of more than 100 feet inside the marina. It offers a 24-hour gas dock open year-round, a dockside ship store, boat sales, mooring, repairs and more. Boat Rentals – Pontoons, ski boats and personal watercraft rentals hourly, half-day, full day and overnight. Visa, MasterCard and American Express accepted.

Allatoona Landing Marine Resort – 770-974-6089 or online
At I-75 Exit 283 east. All major credit cards accepted. Fishing licenses and boating supplies.

Wilderness Camp Marina – 770-974-BOAT or online
At I-75 Exit 290 east, located off GA 20 East, the marina offers a large fuel dock, ships store and lakeside dining on tranquil waters at Wilderness Grill, open year-round.

Holiday Harbor Marina – 770-974-2575 or www.lakeallatoona.net
At I-75 Exit 278 east, rents pontoons, runabouts and Craig Cats half-day, full day and 24-hour rental. The 24-hour gas dock accommodates large boats and a full-service ships store offers fishing licenses, supplies and live bait. All major credit cards accepted.

Glade Marina – 770-975-7000 Accessible from I-75 Exit 278, east.

Lakeside Cottages and Camping

Love the great outdoors? Then you’ll love the four distinct seasons experienced at Allatoona Lake and Red Top Mountain State Park. In the Cartersville area, the shoreline of Allatoona offers more than 500 secluded RV and tent campsites. Although these sites are surrounded only by the wonders of nature, they are conveniently located within minutes of area attractions, restaurants and shops. Stock up for your week at the lake at one of Cartersville’s grocery stores: Ingles, Kroger, Publix, Super Wal-Mart and Bi-Lo. All have a full-service deli and bakery.
For more camping details see Camping or to make reservations contact your choice of the following:

Allatoona Landing Marine Resort 770-974-6089 online
RV and tent campsites, furnished modular homes.

Red Top Mountain State Park 800-573-9658 or 770-975-0055 www.RedTopMountain.com
Lodge rooms, lakeside cottages, RV and tent campsites,.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Campsites 877-444-6777 or www.ReserveUSA.com

Gatewood Park 770-387-5163
RV and tent campsites, group pavilions by reservation only. Managed by Bartow County.

Day Use Areas

There are nine day use areas in Bartow County maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on Allatoona Lake and the Etowah River. Several areas offer picnic shelters that are ideal for family reunions, birthday parties and corporate or group gatherings. All are handicap accessible. Facility Use Fee of $4 per vehicle is charged at day use areas with swim beaches. A $3 boat launching fee is charged at day use areas with boat ramps. Annual passes may be purchased. For reservations for the following please call 678-721-6700. Visit Allatoona Lake online for shelter photos, maps and more details.

Allatoona Lake Visitors Center – open daily, offers overlook of Allatoona Dam and hiking trails descending to Cooper’s Furnace Day Use Area.
Cooper Branch #1 and #2 – Two picnic shelters with capacity for 75 people, boat ramp, grills and tables, and hiking trails. Cooper Branch #1 open daily; Cooper Branch #2 CLOSED 2006 SEASON.
Upper Stamp Creek – Boat ramp open all year.
Tanyard Creek – Boat ramp open April-Labor Day, dependent upon lake levels.
Old Highway 41 #1 – Boat ramp, grills and tables, and swimming area open mid April-Labor Day.
Old Highway 41 #2 – Grills and tables and swimming area CLOSED 2006 SEASON.
Blockhouse – Boat ramp and fishing jetty open all year.
Riverside Park – Two picnic shelters accommodating 250 and 75 people, boat ramp, playground, grills and tables, and hiking trail open all year on the Etowah River.
Cooper’s Furnace – Two picnic shelters each accommodating 75 people, playground, grills and tables, and hiking trails open mid-March-November 30, on the Etowah River.

Bartow County Managed Lakeside Parks

Bartow Beach/Gatewood Park offers group pavilions, playground areas, boat ramps, swimming beach, and shoreline fishing. For pavilion reservations or information call 770-387-5163.

Bartow Carver Park offers a large group community center, swimming beach, playground areas, three small pavilions, one large group picnic shelter with grill, boat ramp, hiking trails and a ball field. For reservations or information call 770-974-6053.

U.S. Army Recreation Area

This beautiful 85-acre park is open year round on Allatoona Lake for all active duty, retired, reserve component and National Guard military personnel and their families, as well as veterans with 100 percent service-connected disability, Medal of Honor recipients and Department of Defense civilians employed at or retired from the Department of the Army in the metro Atlanta area. The park offers 28 one, two and three bedroom cabins and two efficiency units, all fully furnished; plus 12 RV and 15 tent campsites. Two covered pavilions, and uncovered group picnic areas are also available for reservation. Guests will enjoy lake access, boat rentals, covered boat storage, a “no wake” fishing cove, a swim beach, hiking and nature trails, playgrounds, basketball court, horseshoes, beach volleyball, video game room with pool tables, on-site coin laundry and more. For reservations or information call 770-974-3413 or visit online at www.mcpherson.army.mil.

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