With the dog
Dog-friendly Lake Allatoona
Dogs are welcome at most parks around the lake on a short leash. The beaches are where the rules bite.
The rules, park by park
| Where | Leash | Not allowed |
|---|---|---|
| Corps parks and campgrounds | 6 ft or shorter, or penned | Swim beaches, playgrounds, restrooms |
| Red Top Mountain State Park | 6 ft or shorter, strictly enforced | The beach; cottages, lodge and yurt |
| Acworth Beach and Cauble Park | 6 ft or shorter in the park | The beach |
Service animals are exempt. Sources: 36 CFR 327.11 (Corps lands); Allatoona campground rules; Georgia State Parks; City of Acworth.
Good places to go
Iron Hill Trail
A 3.9-mile gravel loop at Red Top Mountain through the old iron-mining hills, with lake views. Shared with bikes.
Allatoona Pass Battlefield
Walk your dog through the 1864 railroad cut and up to the forts. Short, shady and full of history.
Pitner Road Dog Park
Acworth’s fenced dog park, with separate large-dog and small-dog areas.
Etowah Indian Mounds
Leashed dogs can walk the nature trail along the river below the mounds.
Can my dog swim in the lake?
Not at the swim beaches: dogs are banned from Corps, state park and Acworth beaches. We haven’t found an official dog-swim area on Allatoona. Away from beaches, playgrounds and swim areas, the Corps rules ask only that your dog stay on a 6 ft leash. Keep it away from swimmers and out of the way at boat ramps.
Know of a good dog spot we’ve missed? Tell us.