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Established Camping

Houston Recreation Area

CAMPER SUMMARY PRESENTED BYFord

Houston Recreation Area, near the Bankhead National Forest in Alabama, is a solid spot for those looking to enjoy the great outdoors. This campground offers a mix of tent and RV sites, surrounded by dense forests that provide a nice sense of privacy.

Visitors have highlighted the area’s natural beauty, with opportunities for hiking, fishing, and boating nearby. The amenities are pretty standard, but you’ll find picnic tables and vault toilets available for day use. As one camper noted, “The host was wonderful and recommended to visit Mize Mill Falls and Caney Creek Falls, both incredible places.”

If you’re up for some adventure, the Sipsey Wilderness is just a short drive away, boasting stunning waterfalls and scenic trails. Just keep in mind that the campground is closed during the winter months, but there are other locations open year-round if you’re itching to camp. Whether you’re here for a weekend or a longer stay, Houston Recreation Area offers a great base for exploring the natural wonders of Alabama.

Fee Info

Boat Ramp or Day use fee is $4.00 per vehicle.

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Location

Houston Recreation Area is located in Alabama

Detail location of campground

Directions

Coordinates

34.1213889 N
87.2855556 W

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Connectivity

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    T-MobileLTE
    Some Coverage
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    Verizon
    No Coverage
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    AT&T5G
    Good Coverage

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Drive Time

Presented byToyota Trucks

Connectivity

Presented byT-Mobile SatelliteT-Mobile is introducing T-Satellite to extend coverage in the outdoorsLearn More
  • signal strength bars
    T-MobileLTE
    Some Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    Verizon
    No Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    AT&T5G
    Good Coverage

Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Boat-In
    Sites accessible by watercraft.

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)

Features

For Campers

  • Picnic Table
  • Drinking Water
  • Toilets
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Sanitary Dump

Contact

General Info


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5 Reviews

Reviewed Jul. 21, 2021

Campground closed

Campground is shut down. Run down. Hasn’t been up kept for some reason. Guessing COVID. Did have boat ramp and a vault toilet for day use only. Looks to have been a nice place when it was opened.

Month of VisitJuly
Reviewed Sep. 30, 2017

Bankhead National Forest camping

There is hiking, swimming, mountain biking, boating, fishing, and swimming here. Incredible scenery including waterfalls, old growth forests, canyons, etc. Close to waterways. The campground is medium sized, dense forests surround the campsites. The amenities are pretty standard. Fairly easy access to Birmingham and Huntsville.

Yay: great wildlife, as this is in the middle of a huge wilderness area.

Nay: closed winters but there are some other places open year-round nearby.

Surprise: The host was wonderful and recommended to visit Mize Mill Falls and Caney Creek Falls, both incredible places.

Reviewed Jul. 1, 2017

Worth it for Bankhead

This is a great area to visit if you want a nicer place to stay but easy access to the nearby Sipsey wilderness. The site is really well kept with hot showers and toilets along with individual well spaced campgrounds. The sites are very private and what is great is that they each have their own picnic benches and areas to hang things. While you are staying here make sure to drive up the road and get some hiking in. There are plenty of entries into the hiking areas and each provides access to waterfalls and rivers galore. You really feel like you are in a different world. Totally worth the drive!

  • Review photo of Houston Recreation Area by Asher K., July 1, 2017
  • Review photo of Houston Recreation Area by Asher K., July 1, 2017
  • Review photo of Houston Recreation Area by Asher K., July 1, 2017
  • (9) View All
Reviewed Sep. 7, 2016

Sipsey Wilderness

During my time in Alabama, I kept hearing wonderful things about Sipsey Wilderness, and its many waterfalls, rocky landscapes, and great hikes. Since it's "wilderness," there are no established campsites, and there is a strict "leave no trace" policy. That being said, the opportunity to pick your own home away from home on your backpacking trip leaves you with a plethora of gorgeous options! Be sure to check the water levels before your trip, because while Sipsey is always beautiful, it isn't abnormal for many of the waterfalls to be dried up after a hot summer. Also, if you park at the Sipsey River Picnic Area Trailhead, be sure to pay the $3/day parking fee. They will give you a steep ticket otherwise! I had read about the fee, but upon arriving didn't see where to pay and figured it must have been an outdated post. Turns out, there was just a car blocking the pay station, which is near the chemical toilet when you turn into the parking lot. It's a dated deposit system, where you put your payment in an envelope, drop it in a dropbox, and put the perforated proof of payment tag on your dashboard. So be sure to bring exact change!! I was expecting something a little more modern, so even if I had seen the deposit box, I wouldn't have had exact change on me.

The trails can get a little complicated, as there aren't really any trail markers, so be sure to buy a map of the area and bring it along with your compass. I found a map at mountain high outfitters at the Summit in Birmingham, AL, and it served us well. The 209 trail follows the river and is known as one of the more scenic routes. Nearby sites within the Sipsey Wilderness include Big Tree (the biggest tree in AL), Eye of the Needle, Ship Rock, numerous waterfalls, and several scattered cemeteries. All of these will be marked on a good map.

The area is very buggy, and the trails can get cramped/overgrown in parts, so I'd recommend wearing long pants and lots of bug spray!

  • Review photo of Houston Recreation Area by Morgan Z., September 7, 2016
  • Review photo of Houston Recreation Area by Morgan Z., September 7, 2016
  • Review photo of Houston Recreation Area by Morgan Z., September 7, 2016
  • (11) View All

Frequently Asked Questions

What recreational activities can I enjoy at Houston Recreation Area?

Houston Recreation Area offers numerous outdoor activities for visitors to enjoy. The area provides access to hiking trails, swimming spots, mountain biking routes, boating opportunities, and fishing. Nearby Sipsey Wilderness features spectacular scenery including waterfalls, old growth forests, and canyons to explore. The recreation area has a boat ramp for water access, making it ideal for anglers and water enthusiasts. For wilderness lovers, the surrounding areas provide opportunities for backcountry exploration with a strict leave-no-trace ethic.

Where is Houston Recreation Area located in Alabama?

Houston Recreation Area is located in Alabama near the Sipsey Wilderness area. It serves as a convenient base camp for those wanting to explore the wilderness while having access to developed facilities. The recreation area provides easy access to the Sipsey Wilderness, known for its waterfalls, rocky landscapes, and hiking trails. Its strategic location offers visitors the dual benefits of established camping facilities alongside proximity to pristine wilderness adventures.

What amenities are available at Houston Recreation Area campground?

Houston Recreation Area campground features well-spaced, private campsites, each with their own picnic area. The facility offers hot showers and toilets when operational. Note that there have been reports of the campground being closed for maintenance in recent times, with only day-use facilities available. The day-use area includes a boat ramp and vault toilets. Before planning your trip, it's advisable to contact the managing agency to confirm the current operational status of the campground and available amenities.