Seek adventure and solitude on the highest point in Alabama at Cheaha State Park.

At 2,407 feet above sea level, Cheaha State Park, located on top of Cheaha Mountain, offers breathtaking views and adventurous recreational activities and is great for camping near Birmingham. This 2,799-acre mountaintop retreat is known for spectacular sunsets and beautiful waterfalls. The park offers overnight guests and day visitors an array of activities as well as opportunities for rest.  Facilities include a restaurant, hotel, cabins, chalets, camping with options that range from improved to primitive, and pavilions.   

In addition to lodge rooms, cabins, and A-frame chalets, we offer improved camping in the park, semi-primitive camping near the highest point, and primitive camping near Cheaha Lake.  There is also primitive camping along mountainside trails, offering campers numerous options for getting close to nature. Groups may want to consider reserving Cheaha's historic CCC Bald Rock Lodge, which has 12 bedrooms/baths with a beautiful grand hall, for retreats, family reunions, meetings and more!

Upper Improved Campground — Cheaha State Park

Been tent camping here since 1997 and it continues to get better every visit! 

I‘ve seen Sasquatch 

Highest point in Alabama...and a beautiful place. Great , well marked trails and maps available at the ranger station. Handicap access all over the park and awesome amenities. The restraunt has a breath-taking view, and a very romantic atmosphere. I have been visiting this park for 16 years! I plan to continue many more years and share this place with my son like my dad shared with me!

Cheaha State Park

Overall a very nice place.  With we'll marked trails and some awesome views.

Bama hikes 

Great park for hiking, there is actually a boardwalk for wheelchair accessibility to Bald Mountain overlook.  Camp sites are pull through & larger than most we've been to.  Highly recommended! 

Cheaha SP, Talladega National Forest 

Cheaha has many designated campgrounds, but my friends and I decided to do primitive camping. We got to the state park around 10am after driving over from Auburn where we were in school. The first thing we did after leaving the car was to hike to the highest lookout point in Alabama only about a quarter mile hike from the parking spot. The view was amazing, and the visibility was amazing we could see for miles. We spent about 2 hours rappelling off of some of the high ledges at the summit, an activity I would highly recommend, provided that all safety precautions are taken. We then began our hike in the back country down the side of the mountain to find a suitable camping spot. There are a lot of trees but the brush is low only about knee height so going off trail is not a problem just watch for snakes! We got to a valley about 3 miles from our parking spot and decided to camp. There was no water or stream that we camped by, but we brought plenty of water. The three of us are all hammock campers and finding spots was not a problem. At the time we went fires were not allowed in any back country so we used a jetboil to eat our freeze dried meals which worked very well. The hike back up the next day was challenging and we spent another hour or so at the summit. Overall this was a great trip and I would highly recommend Cheaha State Park to anyone.

Cheaha: Views from the South 

Cheaha State Park is a absolute must visit if you're living in Alabama or visiting. I finally had the opportunity to explore the highest point in Alabama and the beginning on the Pinhoti Trail, which connects Alabama to the Appalachin Trail. However, I am going to describe my hiking and camping experience on the Rock Garden Trail. The trail can be done at the bottom of the mountain or from the top. I started from the top and enjoyed some beautiful views. There were places were I could repel and places where I can set up my hammock and enjoy the beautiful Alabama sunset. This experience has been one of my best thus far since I have not hiked outside of the south eastern area of the country, it was hot during the day, but very cool during the night which allowed me to sleep spectacular. The hike was difficult in areas because there were parts that were straight incline going up the mountain. I would definitely go back.

Rock Garden Trail 

So this is one of my favorite places in all of Alabama to go camping. We recently did a one night backpacking trip with 2 close friends where we started at the Lake Chinnabee Recreation Area and hiked to join the Pinhoti trail then headed south before looping back around. There are so many amazing campgrounds along the way and the views you get after climbing onto the ridge are just incredible. This area is one of the highest peaks in Alabama so water can be scarce at certain times of year. Check ahead by calling the ranger station if you will be backpacking and they can let you know if there will be water in the streams. This is particularly a problem in the late winter months. The tent and RV campgrounds that are maintained in the park are also a great option to stay and set you up to take awesome day hikes to some of the many peaks in the area. My favorite and one I would highly suggest is McDill's point. Overall if you have the time to spend a few days in this area I would suggest putting it at the top of your list.

Best in the state

Home of Alabama's highest point, this state park offers great camping and hiking. Sitting at 2,407 feet, Cheaha Mountain is a great spot to get some nice views of Dixie Land. As a kid growing up in the state, we used to camp here each fall with our extended family.

The park offers a variety of camping options from campgrounds (primitive and improved), to cabins and chalets and even a hotel. So this park really has something for everyone. Some sites in the improved campground have hookups, but not all of them do so be sure to reserve the appropriate spot for your needs. There are nice bathroom facilities in both improved campgrounds that are well maintained.

The hiking here really is top notch and this location is great for exploring the area. In just under an hour you can Explore DeSoto Caverns as well as Little River Canyon National Preserve. For more info check out: https://www.nps.gov/liri/index.htm

Great spot any time of year!

This is the nicest of all the campsites at Cheaha by far! While it definitely is a bit of a trek to get to, I promise you it is worth it! The views from this campsite are truly incredible, especially if you are lucky enough to have a clear sky for sunrise/sunset. The site is pretty primitive and doesn’t have any hookups but it is fairly large and has plenty of space to cook. There are some premade rock fire pits that are perfect for an evening cook out. A must see! 

Best Campsite at Cheaha!

This campground is located at the highest point in Alabama. You are surrounded by beauty with plenty of opportunities for hiking. The sites are not crowded and very quiet. You can sit and enjoy looking at the stars and listening to the sounds of nature.

Bugspray and a screen tent are a plus because Alabama grows an abundance of mosquitoes. Headlamps or flashlights are a necessity because the ground is not level and has many toe catchers. The area for the camper or tent is fairly level and has well placed water and electricity hookups.

The Mountain Laurel was in bloom and was breathtakingly beautiful. Well worth the trip. The store was well stocked

The campground was well maintained. The sights are large and shaded. 

When they say simi primitive they really mean PRIMITIVE. No running water at the pump, no electicity running, no grIll grate over the stacked rock firepit, and no showers in the bathrooms that were a quarter mile from our site. 


Understated

Great campground. We had a full hookup.  No cell service at campsites.  Was here in Dec/Jan peaceful.  Beautiful! 

Alabama is Beautiful

Super close to hikes and allows you to explore the park. Really great and would definitely recommend

Close to hikes

has clean bathrooms (showers, toilets, water), wonderful hiking trails, RV and tent sites, nice park store, excellent park hotel, beautiful views

Great!

For tents: Sites vary. There is adequate space between them. Some have electric some don’t. Some have rock beds, some have grass beds (but there are hidden big rocks in the grass making it hard to find a good smooth spot). The sites for tents are very close to the road (except for the ones near the bath house! I’m getting one of those next time! 5,6). Decent little slide for kids and some awesome rocks for kids to climb (5 yrs and up or good climbers). Pretty quiet. We drove up (or down?!) to the lake and my oh my was it gorgeous!!!!!!!! Bring soap for hand washing in bathroom.

The lake makes it All worth it!

This was a beautiful campground located up a mountain. It was very quite with large sized lots. Dog friendly with a corner store and restaurant nearby. Awesome mountain views and hiking.

Mountainis and dog friendly

I arrived at this campsite earlier in the day and was a little worried because it was so foggy I couldn't see but a few feet in front of me. It was dismal and being in the primitive loop I was doubtful that getting my site would be pleasurable at all. I was there during the week following Labor Day Weekend so there was NO ONE camping and I was basically told to find the site which suited me best.

I found a place located in the trees a bit and decided to explore a bit before setting up. I first combed the watch tower which was a really neat place, but because it was midweek the interpretive center was not open. The views were limited and again I was discouraged. I decided to go toward one of the trails, the ADA boardwalk toward the bald and everything opened up and changed the face of everything!!

As the fog lifted it was beautiful, one of the highest points in the state and you could see everything for miles and miles around. Every bit of discouragement I had lifted and I soon settled into my site for a great stay.

The camp space I selected was considered semi-primitive which meant it was close to fresh water and bath houses. They are located in the first camping loop and have clear roads which are wide enough to pull and RV but perfect also for tent campers. For only $18 I found this to be a great place to call home for the evening.

TIPS:

*   Try this site on a weekday or an off season. The lodge and restaurant are still open and very close to camp, but you can also enjoy camping with very few others around you.
*   Check out the trails. If you stop at the registration they will provide you with a map, don't just try the hard ones try the easy ones too because they have some very nice features such as information stations along the way.
*   Watch out for deer!! They roam free so make sure you keep your eyes open and drive at a slow pace.

Camping High Amongst The Clouds

This is a great campsite for anyone who wants to check out this amazing peak but doesn’t have an interest in backpacking. They have many options including cabins and villas as well as RV sites and tent only. There are also several trails that leave right from the campground and some easy walks to beautiful views. This is definitely one of the most beautiful places in Alabama and one of my favorite to visit. 

Beautiful views and lots of options

A few weeks back, I had a few days off during the week and decided to make a quick trip up for a few days of camping. After viewing some of the campsites online and reading a few reviews on here, I decided to stay at a semi-primitive site inside the park. My initial concern was the location of the semi-primitive sites, as they were located right off the road. However, I found that this wasn't much of an issue since I was the only one in that entire area for 90% of my trip.

I arrived on a Sunday afternoon and quickly set up my site. Each one features a stone fire ring, a picnic table, and a space to park right next to your campsite. Restrooms are located a short walk up the road and are attached to a large covered pavilion with plenty of picnic tables and a large stone fireplace on each end. The restrooms were clean and well maintained, but do not contain shower facilities on the semi-primitive loop. There are showers available in the RV section of the park, but they would require driving (or a long walk) to reach them. Select sites have outlets or water spigots at the road. 

Unlike Oak Mountain, which is centrally located and a short driving distance from pretty much everything, Cheaha State park is pretty isolated. Unless you plan on eating at the restaurant or getting small items from the park store, you'd need to bring any food or other items you may need.

When making reservations online, you can view each campsite and read a brief description for each one. Some of the semi-primitive sites are really small and close to the road, so I highly recommend viewing each site when making your online reservations to make sure you get something that suits your needs.

Basically, this place is great! There's plenty to do and as always, the online registration process was quick and easy. The views along the Pinhoti are amazing and the waterfalls were quiet and relaxing. In the early morning hours, deer would wander thru the campsites and I saw tons of interesting wildlife while out on the trails. If you're a mountain biker, the Cheaha Express trail head is right up from the semi-primitive area, and the Pinhoti trailhead is only a half mile from the campground. All in all, it's definitely worth the trip.

Cheaha State Park: Absolutely Amazing!

Hiking in the area is amazing!!’ The campground is nice... a lot pull through spots.  No wifi or cell service; but we loved being disconnected.  Recommend starting at Cheaha Trailhead and catch Cave Creek Trail to Pinhoti back to the parking lot... views are amazing.

Beautiful park... camp store a little weak

My husband and I tent camped at Cheaha State Park in February,2019 as part of our quest to hike the highest point in every state. This park is probably much better for those not tent camping. First the store and staff are AWESOME! We had to change our stay to one night vs two due to the upcoming storm, no, problem. The hiking trails are great and the views are awesome. I think we were the only tent campers in the park. The actual site had no level ground to pitch our tent, we even tried a separate site since we were the only ones there, but no luck. The bathrooms had no shower, otherwise nice. The highest point is actually in the park, so it wasn’t much of a hike, but there is a nice tower and a museum that has much of the history of CCC. There are Pavillions and a restaurant on site. We couldn’t decide between 3 and 4 stars,  but for tent campers we chose 3 due to reasons stated. 

Beautiful views/highest point in Alabama 

This area has so many hiking trails. Trails and waterfalls. This park is the highest point in Alabama. We went MLK weekend it was busy but by Monday we had the campground to ourselves for 4 days. Great trails and waterfalls. Trails are easy to difficult. Bathrooms and showers are separate which was kind of nice to have a whole single room for each shower. Camp store was well stocked. Nearest store was 30-45 min away. Park has a lodge, restaurant, cabins, and a motel. We stayed in upper campground but there is a lower campground closer to the small lake. Alabama is finally putting money back into the parks and remodeling and improving areas. Camp sites are open and some are rocky. The views at the park are amazing!!! This is one of my favorite places!!

Super awesome place!!

Cheaha is beautiful and fit perfect for kids and families! We stayed in the Semi-Primitive space and picked a tent. Very clean and water was code by as well as restrooms. Picnic table and fire ring made cooking and dining simple. Parked right next to our tent spot. Walking distance to pool, look-out tower, and one of the picture perfect views at the hotel. Our first excursion was the lake. Very nice! Beach was clean with plenty of space. Park was there too. My kids loved the diving platform. Bathrooms were nice. It was super refreshing and awesome view! We cooked Chili for supper. Canopy of trees was pleasant and shady for Summer. We hit the lake again early the next morning. Hiked 3 trails with excellent views. All easy and enjoyable for all 3 of my kiddos, ages 6, 11 and 12. High Falls was my personal favorite. Also hiked Bold Rock and Pulpit Rock. Great park! We are for sure going back in the Fall!

Lovely & Secluded

We stayed at campsite 117. Water spigot at site. Picknick table and fireplace. Lots of trees for hammocks. A few rocks on the ground and mostly level. The park has 4 separate camping areas, this one has no showers but flush toilets with sink at the picnic pavilion. This area is on an inclined road, just something to keep in mind when walking it up and down to pool area, campstore or bathrooms. Bigfoot trail start at the last campsite. About every 5th site has power, 117 has not.  Sunrise and sunsets are both viewable since this campground area is right on top of the park. Easy access to secured trash cans. Fenced in dog park is located near the top of the road near the bathrooms. Overall very clean sites. Some are more level than others. They allowed us to check in early (11am) since the site was unoccupied. All trails are very short (0.5-1mile). Longer trails are accessible via a short car ride. Pool is available to all campers; clean and cool with restrooms. Staff was very friendly. Fire trucks rolled through in the mornings checking sites.  

Semiprimitive camping 

LOVED  this place will be making this a tradition 

❤️

Great Campgrounds and so much to do in the park. Great hiking trails and amazing views!! I come to Cheaha several times a month just to take pictures and find peace. I always look forward to coming up there.

Amazing 

We  

WWe stayed on one of the cabins and for about a week. This place has amazing views from the park and drive in. It has long, short, easy and difficult trails. A big variety for all. The restaurant has good floor for an affordable price and it also has an amazing view. I would recommend this park to any family.

Family vacation 

The drive in is 12 mile of twists and turns, ups and downs, and worth the drive. We were greeted with a knowing staff and great directions to the lower camp area. We looked over the lodge and it will be a place to visit when we are not camping. The lower camp are is brand new and the bathrooms are clean and large. Our camp site was level and a pull through. Great place.

Lower Camp area Fantastic! Brand New!

We stayed in the recently renovated upper campground loop on site S7. Our friends stayed on site S9. We were basically on a little island and it was perfect for 2 sites camping together. The bath house was a short 2 minute walk. The bathhouse is brand new and very nice. The showers are separate from the toilet area. They (4) showers are all private, which is nice. 

  

All of the parking pads, fire pits and tables have been upgraded and freshened up. A handful of the sites where very small and extremely out in the open. For example, site 14 is basically the bathouse parking lot. All of the sites on the outer loop were the best in my opinion.

  

The campground is more secure than most as you have to have a key code to get through the gate to enter the park. You also have to have another key code to get into the campground. 

  

The camp store had everything that you could possibly need if you forget something, including bundles of wood. The lodge was great for dinner if you want to have someone else do it for you. We always like to eat out the first night we are setting up camp. The buffet was delicious. 

  

We love to hike when we camp. We actually choose our campgrounds based on the level of hiking that is around it. Cheaha and the Talladega National Forrest did not dissapoint. We were able to get in 5 different trails, including 2 waterfalls, during our weekend stay. 

  

The only disappointment was the lack of cell service. We were on top of a mountain with towers all around, but we would only get 1 bar of service every now and then when the wind would blow just right and we were standing in the perfect spot. They are supposed to be offering wifi soon.

Great campground, Amazing hiking!

This park is located on the highest point in Alabama.  It has a great camp store with most basic groceries, hotel, cabins/chalets, group lodge, restaurant with gorgeous views, pool, 6 acre lake ALONG with great hiking trails.  There is also a dog park and in general this is a very pet friendly 🐶state park.  (Bring the groceries you need- closest  grocery store is a 20-30 min drive)and know that the restaurant is decent but it may have varying hours during off seasons.)
.
🚍⛺️campground-  there are two campgrounds with full hookups.  The Upper campground at the top is the mountain near all the major trailheads, restaurant, camp store and pool.  The Lower Campground at the bottom of the mountain is near the small lake with swimming area and walking trail around the lake.  We stayed at the Upper and in February we had the whole campground to ourselves most of our 2 week stay.  All the sites are updated and have water, 30/50 amp electric, sewer, picnic table and fire ring or grill.  Bathrooms at upper level can be an uphill or downhill walk.  *💲this state park has a $4.75 reservation fee and a 3.75% daily “resort fee” on your base campsite rate. Both of those are not deal breakers but good to know. (Especially since the pool is only open for a limited time)

🏡 there are chalets and cabins.  I felt the cabins had the better views than the chalet and more private but these are smaller and more rustic. When you are making reservations for a cabin or chalet be sure to check the occupancy rate for the cabin you choose- some are limited to 2 people and look👀 at the amenities of each cabin/chalet- some are quite rustic but descriptions are given.  Good news is that they do have pet friendly cabins.

🏕there are semi/primitive and backcountry style sites.  ✏️Note that the semi primitive camp sites (the ones on Tower Road) don’t have a shower house  for you to use- there is a bathroom available.  If you plan to hike a lot and don’t want to drive your car- try to get sites on the upper part of park.  (My personal pet peeve is driving  daily to a trailhead when I am camping) 

📌There is also a hotel with motel like rooms (near the pool and restaurant) and you can even rent an entire lodge for groups that was very attractive from the outside (this was located at top of mountain near the overlook trail-not really walking distance to pool and restaurant)

🥾hiking - 10.5 miles of hiking in the boundaries of the park with connectors to the Pinhoti.  The  hiking  trails had spectacular views on both sides of the mountain.  Hiking poles were helpful!  While the   .3 mile wooden boardwalk to Bald Rock is stroller and mobility challenged friendly, most of the other hikes were moderate to strenuous for the average person.  For example- There is a one mile trail straight down the mountain to the lake and lower campground.  That said, we loved the hiking here.  Next time we plan to bring our larger back packs and do an overnight on a section of the Pinhoti.  Did I mention how awesome the views were hiking?

🚵 mountain biking-  there are 5 trails that are multi use... and hikers must yield to bikers on these.   While we were here there was a mountain biking race.
🚴‍♀️road biking- the roads in the park had some incline...but I was glad to have my bike to roam the upper part park where we camped. (We don’t bring a tow vehicle) My husband biked outside of the park and you can decide for yourself if you would have fun road biking here after you drive  UP the mountain roads to the Visitor Center.  *It is 3 miles from the visitor center/park entrance to the lower campground/lake area via non park roads.
🛶-  we didn’t paddle here, it was not near our campground and it is only a 6 acre lake/pond. There is a swimming/wading.

Happy Camping!  Pamela and Keith




Great Hiking and Great views

Lots of trails,a restuarant on an overlook, and nice pool. Good clean rr's and showers. Some sites they say are pull thru are back in

Highest point in Al.

Camped in the upper primitive site while mountain biking at nearby Coldwater Mountain. Good campsite with great views. Good separation between sites, but the are very close to the road. Only complaint, site (#124) was on a decent slope and spots flat enough for tents were almost in the road. However, great spot in Alabama to camp. Very convenient to the great mountain bike trails in Anniston (http://neaba.net/home.html).

Alabama's Highest Point and Mountain Biking

Beautiful scenery. A few different hiking trails, short and long, restaurant, on site store. Easy to spend a few days here. Different types of campsites, not incredibly private but typical for a state park. Can get really crowded but worth it. 

Great place

We just left this morning, booked May 15th-May17th. I did my booking about two weeks early and I know it was sold out when we got there. The majority of the attractions are closed, and half the grounds are due to Covid. The others, including a trail or two are closed due to AT&amp;T tower construction. We got in on the upper semi primitive tent sites, which was absolutely perfect. I booked 107&amp;109 together for a family that was coming up with us, but did want to keep our distance as much as possible as there are still distancing and safety guidelines to live by. I think the ground was perfect and fully shaded spots, I did my research here and we were about 100 ft from the bathrooms (no bathhouse just toilets). They were okay...they did clean them (empty the trash and refilled the soap) by the time we left so maybe once a day. I'd like to see them a bit more sparkling or smell somewhat like cleaning spray to feel comfortable, but I take a cleaning wipe to touch anything that others may touch as well. Then I ensure I'm washing again, with sanitizer after. People don't seem to mind the fact a pandemic is happening but I just want to safely get my family outside the house, and my selfish outdoors experience in. Might not make me much different than the others, but I'd be very careful. The sites were perfect and had trails leading to the Leave no trace trail, which was a good mile for my 3 yr old and 16 month old (we carried both intermittently 16 months obviously was in the ergo baby 99% of the mile). There are shared spigots for water supply and this is no big deal, we put a small hose on ours at 109 &amp; everyone very well enjoyed it. Views make you feel out of Alabama, I am used to 4,000 footers and up but I loved being out there and will go back to plan a hike without my kids (or even husband!) 

Great to getaway

Cheaha State Park is located south of I-20 close to Oxford&amp; Anniston, Alabama. Its in one of the highest areas of the state and the towing incline to get there proves it. If your truck is struggling to tow your camper, this might not be the place for you.

  

We were here over Easter weekend during the COVID-19 shut down. I was surprised by the number of campers over the weekend with some even tent camping. This park has it all. Nice sites with full hook-ups. What looked like a clean, new bath house, although I didn't use it. Lots of hiking trails, some of which are strenuous. And talk about the scenery! You really are rewarded with stunning cliff side panorama views of the area.

  

If you're not into camping, this park also has multiple cottages for rent that looked really nice. There is also a lodge, restaurant, and a swimming pool with a view. Many things were closed due to the virus, but it looks like it is a great place when things are open. Since it's a short drive from the Atlanta area, I know we'll be back.

Cheaha State Park - Camping Above the Clouds

We stayEd in  Lower campground lot # 66 it was a level lot with shade across and from bathhouse. The staff was super friendly and the bathrooms/showers in that area are the nicest, cleanest I’ve ever come across. The pool area was clean and they have a restaurant called cliff side I didn’t get to try but I’ll be back 100% this place is absolutely beautiful. Can’t wait until fall when the leaves change oh.... and the lake/ beach area was nice too!! It was $36 a night had sewer, water, power. It’s so quiet and peaceful there. 

Wow just wow!

We stayed in the Lower Improved Campground - the campground itself has been renovated in the last few years, so the amenities are relatively new and updated. Power, water, and sewer (for those in RV's). The campground was clean and well patrolled by park staff. **Note to tent campers like us: some of the sites are more intended for RV's, and the pads are extremely compacted, making it very difficult to drive stakes.** 

  

The real charm here is the remoteness and the feel of the park - it feels like step back in time to when a summer campout was a step away from civilization. While the park expects to add wifi in the future, you won't find it here (or anywhere close) at the moment. Cell phone coverage is fairly spotty. The park is surrounded on all sides by the Talladega National Forest and the Cheaha Wilderness, with easy access to a multitude of hiking and biking trails. Several waterfalls can also be accessed, making for a fun day on the trail coupled with a nice swim! (Note - NFS sites are closed at the time of this review, so some of the trails have limited access or significantly longer hikes than usual to see the waterfalls).

  

The lake area by the lower campground is perfect for the summer. fishing, swimming, and paddle boating in a mountain setting - just like the summer camps of old!! Makes for a fantastic time. 

  

the main park on top of the mountain includes additional campgrounds as well as a restaurant, deck, pool, and hotel that overlook the mountain. Also are several cabins, chalets and other park structures originally built in the 1930's by the CCC. Most are in remarkable shape and lend a rustic and timeless feel to the place. 

  

Several trails lead to scenic overlooks, with varying degrees of difficulty. Heads up - the topography is STEEP, especially the Lake Trail. Particularly to note here - there is an ADA compliant boardwalk leading to the Bald Rock overlook, so the views are accessible to all. A great addition from my younger years!

  

All in all - a good place to get away in the mountains for a few days!

Long Time Favorite - Great summer and fall getaway

The state park and campground are top notch! The views are amazing!!!  There are trails to hike, a pool, a beach area, fishing, cool gift shop and store, and a restaurant.The campsites are great! They have both powered and primitive sites. There are two sections upper and lower. The lower was awesome close to the beach area and a short drive to the pool and restaurant. The upper is where all the hiking trails are located along with the pool,restaurant, and store. Only stayed one night but was hands down my favorite place I've been so far. Friendly staff, imaculate bathhouses and they have picnic tables and water on the powered sites as well. Will definitely go back when I have more time to stay. 19644 AL-281, Delta, AL 36258

(256)488-5111

Breathtaking 

We camped here one night last month. The park was great, the rain not so much. But we got a few hikes in and did see a little sunshine. Pulpit Rock is great!

Great Views

First of all, We went during the beginning of covid19 and the office/store was mostly closed. You had to check in via a window that was crowded in a tight space. No place to park truck/travel trailer, park  ranger blocked this parking area. Had to pull into gravel parking lot not suited for trailer. Not a big deal but worth mentioning. Campground was clean and newly remodeled sites with modern pedestal. No cable or antenna reception. Not a big deal, Camping. Bath house was new and cleaned multiple times daily. Don't know if the cleaning schedule was normal or due to covid19 precautions. Sites were level and easy to enter as many were pull through. Hiking was average in the park. Not really great. Great was leaving the park and hiking the Pinhoti trail just outside the park. The restaurant at the lodge was closed during our visit and was the pool. All in all we would visit again.

Cheaha State park is great.

Nice campground with full hookups. Short hikes to fantastic views. Also a pool and playground. Top of my list to visit again. 

Beautiful views

I researched the best time to come to see the leaves turning. We were not disappointed. The mountain views have been breathtaking. The campgrounds are awesome too. The sites are nice sized with plenty of space space between. This one will be a repeat for sure. 

Beautiful 

Very well maintained campsites. Stayed in upper improved site 12 which was close to the facilities and has direct access to the trails.

Unfortunately, it was super foggy and wet the entire time we were there. But it doesn’t change the quality of the campground.

Beware, it is a solid 30 minute drive off of the highway. Also, they have a well stocked little shop but wood is expensive up there at $10/bundle (and there are no other options because you are in the middle of nowhere).

We are hoping to go back when it is clear!!

High quality campsite

After seeing so many massive mountains out west this was a little disappointing but still fun!

Hiking with the boys

We camped here May 2020 and it was our first trip in the new trailer.  Arrived in the fog at night and realized we didn’t have cell service around our site but I was proud that we conquered the backing up and hooking up with no issues.  We were impressed by all their new updates to the campground, and it was just a beautiful campsite where we were I believe it was S5 in the #1 campground loop.  We were also impressed by the mountain bike trails.  We heard they were updating the WiFi soon after we stayed, so looking forward to going back.

So nice and renovated

Great memories have been had here. 

They recently renovated the upper loop. 

It has a store, cabins, lodge, pool ,etc 

Down in the valley there is a lake with a playground and day activities areas 

Loved this place as a kid and mine now love it too

This is such a wonderful campground!!!  We love the lower campground!!!  Roomy sites!!!!

Love Cheaha

On our trip to Cheaha State Park we stayed in the lower campground, which features very roomy RV sites, some with really nice views, and all with full hookups including power, water, and sewer.  There is no cable or wifi available however, and cell service is pretty spotty.  There is also an upper campground with RV sites in the park and separate tent and primitive camping sites available.

  

The lower campground is right next to Cheaha Lake, which is a small lake, but large enough for some kayaking and features a sandy beach swimming area and a nice playground (see video).  There are also pavilions and picnic areas around the lake.  There is a nature center by the lake that has some interesting nature exhibits and a few live animals to check out.

  

There are lots of great hiking trails, mostly toward the top of Mount Cheaha in the park itself, and there are several different overlooks with spectacular views.  The main overlook has an easy boardwalk trail that leads to it from the parking area and is wheelchair accessible.  There's also a pool, lodge, cabins, and a restaurant on the mountain in the park.

  

The main road that leads to the park and campgrounds has some pretty steep and long uphill and downhill sections.  Nothing too crazy, but I would suggest that you make sure your tow vehicle can handle it without overheating the engine or transmission, especially in the heat of the summer.

  

Cheaha Lower Campground Tour:

https://youtu.be/iH4gYju0YRE  

  

Cheaha Lake Fly Around:

https://youtu.be/IOGloJ\_Ob6E

Great Campground with Lots of Nature and Things to do

Cheaha is great for year round camping. Some of the states best hiking trails. Best time to hike is Winter (IMO) when the leaves are mostly gone and you have great views all around. Also trails for mtn. biking. Campgrounds are in great shape with clean bath houses. I’ve camped at both lower and upper campgrounds, and love them both. Lower campground is close to lake which is popular swimming spot it summer. Upper is more well suited if you wanna hike. Very friendly staff and great views from the lodge. Lodge also has wonderful meals.!!! Been coming up to cheaha since I was a kid and love it. Give it a try. Swim during summer, hike anytime, or just come up and camp, cook, and hang out in the hammock.!!!

Top of Alabama 

We came for the memorial day weekend and the week afterwards. The park was full but also still peaceful and quiet in the primitive camping area. 



Back again, 3rd time. 

Cheaha was such a pleasant surprise. More like a resort, this park had tent camping, RV camping, a pool, a lake, cabins, a playground, and a restaurant with a view. We had a little trouble with the upper tent sites not being level because we have a roof top tent, but we were able to switch our site to one that was more level without much hassle. The views were just amazing, and it was lovely to have access to a pool.

Camping with amenities 

This park is absolutely gorgeous and feels like you’re on top if the world. There is a diverse range of campsites so make sure to look at the pictures before you reserve to ensure the site will fit your needs. The campground is gated and the staff is helpful and friendly. The views from the top are breathtaking and the hikes are refreshing. We absolutely loved this place and are dreaming about coming back!

Beautiful Park

We stayed the week after Labor Day and the place was mostly empty which was nice. It started filling up on Friday and once we had neighbors all around us, I realized how close some of the sites were. We stayed in site 42 in upper improved campground. It wasn’t the best for our large rig but we made do. My family loves to hike so we enjoyed our stay here but I wouldn’t recommend it to my parents who love to camp but don’t like hiking. My little girl enjoyed the cut through hike to the observation tower/playground on the backside of the loop. We also hiked to devil’s den (trickiest hike we did but our little girl managed pretty good and the view is worth it) pulpit rock (a few slippery spots if it’s rained but overall not bad) and bald rock (boardwalk trail-friendly for all ages and abilities.) We also enjoyed the beach area at the lake. Walking down to the outdoor eating area is worth the view even if you don’t eat there-the cheaha burger was delicious though. It took us a couple days to settle in and figure out where everything was but once we did, we enjoyed Cheaha. 

Overall nice

The camp sites were very spacious and had stunning views. Very quiet and peaceful. We also enjoyed that the park authorities would patrol for security once or twice a night just for added security and piece of mind. 
We stayed at the bottom campground and the bathhouse and rest rooms were clean and well kept. 
Lots of fun activity’s and sites to see at the park and the lake is just walking distance. 

Great views and spacious lots

We had a two day primitive camping trip at site P109.  Nicely shaded site.  Water spigot between out site and P107.   It had stone fire rings.  No picnic grill. Only problem for me was very rocky terrain.  The primitive campgrounds only have toilets, if you want a shower you will have to purchase a shower pass for improved campground bath house. Looking at surrounding sites I believe P108 and P120would have been great sites.   P108 for a great sunset and P120 for a great sunrise.   We stayed in Cabin 3 next two nights.  Cabins 1-4 &amp;16 are in one area and provide the best views.  For a great sunset view from your patio while cooking out or just chilling, choose cabin 1.   There are lots of hiking trails and 3 waterfalls in the park.  There is a rich history with the Civilian Conservation Corps here and if you want to learn more there is a quest that begins at the store and takes you around the park.  The CCC built the observation bunk house, the custodian cabin and garage, the water reservoir, several cabins, Cheaha lake and the bath house at the lake.  All built by hand in the 1930s.  An amazing place with amazing views and an amazing history. 

Great views 

This place is amazing! Beautiful RV sites, Electric water and sewer. The only issue was struggling to get two bars from Verizon. Definitely use the provided gate code and drive up to the top. It’s like you are on top of the world.

Campground by lake limited Verizon signal

The highest point in Alabama, this park has some stunning views, especially from the Pulpit Rock trail
(an easy—except for the first steep decline—and relatively short hike from the road). We stayed in the hotel, which was fine for the cost (but did lose electricity for several hours). The campground was quiet in mid-December, but the sites on the outer ring looked pleasant. Would definitely love to come tent camping here again in the fall or spring. 

Beautiful and quiet in the winter

This was a fantastic campground! We stayed in the Upper Improved Campground and it was absolutely wonderful! The sites were large and well spaced out. We had a large pull-thru site with full hook-ups and a lovely firepit setting above where we parked our trailer. 

  

Be sure and take the trails to the lookouts. The hikes were short but so scenic. We hiked both to Pulpit's Rock and to Bald Rock. The views were magnificent. 

  

I can't wait to return!

Beautiful Campground with Stunning Views

We stayed in the upper campgrounds at site 66, which was just a short walk from the pool and restaurant. Be careful walking back from watching the sunset at the overlook, it's easy to get turned around. The site was on an incline, so we basically tent surfed all night. 

The sunset AND moon rise are unbeatable for Alabama. The pinhoti runs through. The camp store is pretty cute, stocked with the usual camp store fare. The burgers at the restaurant are some of the best we've had. The pool is small, but wasn't crowded, even in July.

Very clean with stunning views

Shower facilities are separate /individual buildings - not all together in one bathhouse. This made it difficult with children who needed help. No paths to bath house or restrooms so you have to walk through other people’s camp sites. Entire area over run with poison Ivy- be careful! 

Okay. Out of the way 

With the gates being open until 9 CST, it allowed us to roll in and register at the Mountain store. Stayed at sight #10, close to bath house. Beautiful park; undid fortunately we did not get to enjoy it.

Quick night stay

Cheaha State Park is about what you'd expect from any other state park, with plenty of trails and foliage. The camp store is a lot bigger than I expected, with lots of firewood available, and snacks, drinks, and gifts/souvenirs for sale. The staff was helpful and knowledgeable, and there were three cashier stations as the store seemed to have a pretty constant flow of customers each time we went. Outside at the parking lot, there was even an EV charging station - I don't know much about those but I can say it's not one of the fast chargers. As far as the trails go, this is on top of a mountain, so be sure to pay attention to the topology on the trail maps to be sure you're not under-prepared for steep climbs.

The campsites were ok. While the wind proved to be the biggest issue we had during our trip (nearly tearing our tent from the ground with us in it during the first night!), the main issue we found was that the ground was really rocky and uneven, making tent tethering rather difficult. There were plenty of trees around to tether to, though, so if you have a larger tent with lots of guy lines, I recommend making use of them as tether points. Out second night was much better in that regard, as we made adjustments specifically to combat the harsh wind and our tent fared much better. Each campsite had some kind of fire pit, though they all appeared to be different: some had your basic stone fire ring, some had like a Home Depot-style metal fire pits, some had big iron stove contraptions. Be wary of all the fallen leaves in the fall and winter, though! Clear out any leaves immediately surrounding your fire pit before starting any campfires.

The bathroom facility (at least for the upper campground) was pretty spartan, but mostly clean with plenty of TP available. No showers or hot water. Some spider webs, but we didn't encounter any bugs or critters holed up inside. The only cleanliness issue we encountered was when other campers left the toilets in bad condition. The bathroom did have an electric heater inside, though, which was rather nice when escaping from the wind chill.

The upper campground is near the highest point of the mountain and is in walking distance for most sites. Don't expect any real views, though, as most of the area is covered in trees. Site 120 actually had a fantastic, unobstructed view and would be ideal for sunrise, so try to get that one if it's available. The fire tower at the top is open to the public for most of the day, but its views are pretty lackluster surprisingly - there is a big antenna with support wires that get in the way, and the glass windows are pretty dirty. The best view is actually down toward the camp store at the event hall and really is quite phenomenal. There is a nice overlook with seating available, and the view is unobstructed by any man-made feature or any foliage overgrowth.

I might recommend visiting in the spring or summer. Not only would it be better considering the park's available water features, but the foliage would be green and keep things cool. We visited in early November, thinking the fall colors would be a big draw. The colors from the overlook were amazing, but inside the campground the views were just dead, brown leaves. Additionally, the combination of the wind and the dry fallen leaves made lots of LOUD noise in the overnight hours.

Park is wonderful, Campgrounds are ok.

**General:** Two improved campgrounds (Upper and Lower), two primitive campgrounds, chalets, cabins, and a motel. We camped in the improved Upper campground, so this review is focused on that. I would recommend you arrive during daylight hours as it was challenging for us to find our site in the dark! There is very limited cell service in the park and none in the campgrounds. 

  

**Site Quality:** Gravel and pavement; most looked level. They are all rated tent/RV and small- medium– large and they mean it! We have an 18-foot campervan, and we were pretty snug in Site 19. Also, it was hilly and the angle to back into the site was somewhat challenging. All of the sites are FHU. We were warned that freezing temperatures were expected during our stay and that we could not stay connected to water or the spigot would break if not drained and that we would be charged a $125 repair fee. Each site has a metal picnic table, a BBQ grill, and a fire ring with a grate. 

  

**Bathhouse/Shower:** Basic but clean. No hooks to hang toiletry bags but it looks like there used to be some. The showers looked a bit sketchy but since it was so cold during our visit, I didn’t feel the need to check them out. Plenty of toilet paper but hubby reported that in the men's room, there always seemed to be toilet paper unraveled all around the restroom! 

  

**Activities/Amenities:** Several short hiking trails and longer forest service ones nearby. Mountain biking, although I read on the All Trails app that the trails are extremely challenging for biking. I agree that with so many leaves covering the roots and rocks, the trails were more challenging (hubby slipped and fell on one hike). There is a small store and a pool for in-season. Rappelling is also popular in this park but requires a permit. There was a small informative CCC museum (there was significant evidence of the work of the CCC in the park). There was also a small “fairy garden” near the entrance that was quite adorable. There was a postcard in the store that showed an impressive waterfall but it was completely dried up in November! There used to be a restaurant/bar but it has been closed indefinitely due to staffing issues. 

  

Cheaha State Park prides itself on being a Leave No Trace Park (one of about a dozen in the US) but while there were two large dumpsters by the campground, there were no recycling bins.

Alabama's highest mountain!

Great mountain experience! Nice facilities and great hiking trails. Site 18 was a little skinny for a 37' fifth wheel but we made it work. 

Fantastic

Good primitive campground. The spot we stayed in is a little rocky and uneven but definitely doable. Some spots are better than others as far as flatness goes. There is a water spicket at every other site. Bathhouse is accessible if nature calls. Regularly patrolled by park services. ￼

Cheaha 

Absolutely beautiful. We went camping in March, and the weather was a little cold, but we survived, lol. If you go on the high falls trail, you must go past the creek there are more falls. This trail isn't for beginners. My only warning is if you stay in the high campgrounds be aware of the weather. We arrived when it rained all day which means very thick fog. We could only see about 10 feet in front of us while driving up the mountain. 

Cheaha State Park 

PROS 

Site 27- pull-thru gravel. Very nice moveable 6 ft metal picnic table; fire ring with cooking grate; pedestal BBQ grill 

  

Campground very quiet Sunday-Tuesday nights 

  

Frequent ranger drive thrus of the campground 

  

T Mobile 3 bars 

  

CONS 

  

Upon arrival, power outage due to storm and lasted until dark. Check-in was not able to be completed so had to return the next day. 

  

Paid a transaction fee for making my own on-line reservation along with a resort fee and sales tax 

  

No senior or Veteran discount 

  

Site 27 greatly unlevel side-to-side 

  

Fire ring full of ash upon arrival 

  

Street light at Site 28 that lights up all of 28 and most of 27 and 27A. 

  

Extremely tight at checkin station. We had to park partially on AL281. There is a very small parking lot at the check-in station with no loop around 

  

No trash receptacle in either men’s or woman’s toilets 

  

Campground noisy Friday and Saturday nights. Lots of loud music. 

  

Bathhouse not serviced over weekend 

  

Large rocks throughout the campground had been painted

(by children) an unsightly vivid paint 

  

Don’t Miss 

Climbing to the top of the CCC Bunker Observation Tower 

Hiking out to Bald Rock 

Berman Museum in Anniston 

Watch—some pull-thru sites have the camper door facing the campground roadway with the picnic table and campfire ring along the campground roadway.

Campground Needs Attention

Very clean, very quiet, and very spacious state park. Bathhouse was nice and clean. Nice roads.. decently level pads. The views are amazing!!