Cumming
Take Georgia 400, exit 14 (GA 20, Buford, Cumming) which comes off the right after passing under GA 20. At the end of the ramp turn right and continue to the Highway 9 traffic light at 0.3 miles. Turn right on Highway 9 and turn right again in 0.9 miles on Buford Dam Road (look for a Shell Station). At 1.2 miles continue through light at Sanders Road. At 2.0 miles continue through light at Nuckolls Road. At 3.2 miles continue through light at Lanier Beach/Samples Rd. At 3.7 miles begin a 30 miles per hour zone in the Corps of Engineers property adjacent to Lake Lanier Dam. At 4.8 miles the road makes a 90 degree turn to the left and crosses Lake Lanier Dam. The Chattahoochee River is on your right. At 5.3 miles you cross the Laurel Ridge Trail, indicated by a brown sign. The next left is Lower Overlook. Turn left and park near the bathrooms immediately on your left.

Sugar Hill
Take I-985 to Exit 8, Friendship Road. Turn west on Friendship Road (GA 347) towards Buford Dam. At 1.3 miles turn left on McEver Road, and travel 1.7 miles to South Waterworks Road. (There is a sign for the Lanier Natural History Museum). In 0.4 miles turn left on Cole Mill. 0.3 miles later turn left on Buford Dam Road and continue for 5.4 miles to the Lower Overlook. Turn right into the parking lot and park near the bathrooms on the left. Return to the building to begin the hike.

Laurel Ridge Trail
Laurel Ridge Trail maps and directions