## Overview

 The Clear Creek Recreation Area has become one of Alabama\'s most popular recreation areas and has many repeat visitors. The Bankhead National Forest\_\_\_s largest recreation area, Clear Creek is in Winston County about 13 miles north of Jasper, ALlabama and was constructed on the shore of Lewis Smith Lake giving direct recreational access to the lake via the day use boat launch, to boating, water skiing, personal watercraft use, as well as fishing for largemouth bass, striped bass, and crappie. With many modern conveniences, it offers facilities for individual and group camping, picnicking, swimming, boat launching, hiking, and biking.\_\_\_\_\_\_ Check-out time for Clear Creek is no later than 12:00pm the day of departure. Check-in time is no earlier than 2:00pm. This 2 hour window allows our staff adequate time to clean and maintain each site. The campground itself has four paved loops with paved parking spurs, and offers 102 RV campsites, including 32 double sites; 11 of these are pull-through sites. Each campsite has water and electrical hookups, a fire ring, picnic table, and lantern posts. All campsites have 50-amp and 30-amp electrical service. There is a trailer dump station located within the recreation area. Each of the four loops has a bathhouse with flush toilets and showers. All sites are level and spacious; Single campsites accommodate up to six people and two vehicles; double sites up to twelve people and four vehicles. No garbage dumpsters are in the campground; users are required to pack out trash and deposit it in the dumpsters by the dump station. An entrance station with an electronic gate is available to control access to the campground. Two group camping areas, available by reservation only, accommodate up to 25 tent campers each and share a bathhouse with flushing toilets and showers.\_\_ The day use portion of the recreation area focuses on the swimming beach, served by a bathhouse with flushing toilets and showers. Next to the beach is a 50-person group picnic pavilion, with a flush toilet. On the other side of the beach lies a picnic area with 53 family units, all connected by newly paved paths. On the point, adjacent to the lake, are two more 50-person picnic pavilions, served by a nearby flush toilet. A 1.5-mile paved bicycle trail connects the campground to the day use area. Also, there is the 2.5-mile recently paved Raven Cliffs hiking trail in the day use area. Use of the picnic pavilions is by reservation only; users also pay the day use fee as they park in the facility. A year-round boat launch is available with an SST vault toilet and boat/trailer parking. [Welcome to the Clear Creek Recreation Area...][1]\_\_\_\_ Use the Recreation.gov Mobile App. Visitors on-the-go can use the Recreation.gov mobile app to reserve and pay for upcoming stays, reducing the need for on-site transactions and cash handling. Download the Recreation.gov app through the Apple App Store or on Google Play. [Functionality of the iPhone app available here...][2]\_\_ [Functionality of the Android app available here...][3]\_\_ 
## Recreation

 The campground has a basketball and volleyball court, and horseshoe pit. Interpretive programs are hosted during the summer.\_\_ Day-use visitors and campers have access to a boat ramp and swim beach. The lake provides excellent fishing for Kentucky Spotted Bass and Hybrid Striped Bass.\_\_ There are two trails in the area; the 2.5-mile Raven Interpretive Trail and a 1.5-mile bicycle trail. 
## Facilities

 All facilities are wheelchair accessible.\_\_ Flush toilets, drinking water and showers are offered for both campers and day use visitors.\_\_ The campground offers standard sites with electric and water hook-ups, as well as tent-only non-electric sites for groups.\_\_ Sites contain paved parking spurs, picnic tables, grills and tent pads. 
## Natural Features

 The 180,000+ acre [Bankhead National Forest][4] is in northwestern Alabama, and its prominent feature is the [Sipsey Wilderness][5] . Known as \"The Land of a Thousand Waterfalls,\" the Sipsey is at the juncture of three separate geologic areas: the Appalachian Plateau, the Cumberland Plateau and the Coastal Plain. The vegetation from these three unique environments blend into a remarkable diversity of species, with overlapping ranges creating many unusual plant associations. The Sipsey is a 12,726 acre area of swift streams, waterfalls, sandstone cliffs, undisturbed gorges, majestic hardwood forests, wildflowers, birds, animals and is home to Alabama\'s largest tree, a tulip poplar with a 21-foot circumference at its base.\_\_ Lewis-Smith Lake (or Smith Lake) is located in the counties of Cullman, Walker and Winston. The 300-foot high dam, completed in 1961 by Alabama Power Company, impounds the Sipsey Fork of the Black Warrior River to form the lake. Smith Lake has a surface area of 21,200 acres, 500 miles of shoreline, a watershed area of 944 square miles, a retention time of 435 days, and a maximum depth of 264 feet. [What\'s Happening in Your Alabama National Forest Video][6]\_\_ 
## Nearby Attractions

 Four nearby attractions within Bankhead National Forest are:\_\_ The Little Natural Bridge is the longest rock arch east of the Rockies. It was formed 200 million years ago when the sea washed the sandstone away leaving iron ore veins holding the bridge. In this area thrive 27 varieties of Ferns and a number of Canadian Hemlocks traced to the Ice Age. [Satellite Map of Natural Bridge Park][7]\_\_ The 19th-century Pine Torch Church is one of the oldest churches in Alabama and one of only four surviving log churches. The church is located in the Bankhead Forest in Lawrence County at the intersection of Country Roads 70 and 73 Several online sources say it was built in the 1890s but a sign at the site claims in was built in the 1840s. According to legend, Pine Torch got its name from the pine knots that were set ablaze to light the building after dark. It is made of hand-hewn logs. The original floor, made of hand-hewn poplar planks, was stolen piece-by-piece and was replaced in 1940, according to a historic marker at the site. The original roof was made of hand-split wooden shingles. It was later replaced with tin. Behind the church is a cemetery whose grounds are covered with sand to make maintenance easier. A newer and larger wooden church was built at the back of the property. It is still in use. [Satellite Map of the Pine Torch Church][8]\_\_ The Houston Civil War Jail - Houston, Alabama served as the first county seat for Winston County. The area known today as Winston County was originally established in 1850 as Hancock County, named after John Hancock, signer of the Declaration of Independence. In 1858 the county was renamed Winston after the first native-born governor of Alabama, John Anthony Winston. Old Houston, located a few miles away from present day Houston, was the first county seat. Citizens voted to move the county seat to present day Houston in the late 1850\'s and a log jail was constructed at that time. The jail burned during the Civil War and was rebuilt in 1868. The Houston jail was built of hand-hewn logs filled with nails to prevent prisoners from \"sawing their way to freedom\". The jail held prisoners and provided a site for court. In 1884 the county seat was moved from Houston to present day Double Springs. [Houston Historical Society][9]\_\_ Discover the Incredible Variety of Habitats and Birds in the Bankhead National Forest. [Birding on the Bankhead][10]\_\_ 

[1]: https://www.dropbox.com/s/lhena7yrv163oww/Welcome%20to%20The%20Clear%20Creek%20Recreation%20Area%20with%20QR%20Codes%20%26%20Map.pdf?dl=0
[2]: https://recreationonestopprod.servicenowservices.com/external?id=kb_article&amp;sys_id=e314be5edb5cbf00bbe83a8c7c9619a3&amp;table=&amp;utm_campaign=2020+-5+-+21+Field+Connection+-+May+%232+%28FINAL%29&amp;utm_content=Second+Edition+May+Field+Connection&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=Newsletter
[3]: https://recreationonestopprod.servicenowservices.com/external?id=kb_article&amp;sys_id=05d2f3bbdb93730011ac348c7c9619c9&amp;table=&amp;utm_campaign=2020+-5+-+21+Field+Connection+-+May+%232+%28FINAL%29&amp;utm_content=Second+Edition+May+Field+Connection&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=Newsletter
[4]: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/alabama/about-forest/districts/?cid=fsbdev3_002553
[5]: https://webcam.srs.fs.fed.us/psd/sipsey/
[6]: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MEDIA/fseprd584698.mp4
[7]: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Natural+Bridge+Park/@34.0926803,-87.6315145,10831m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x8887de66f838639f:0xdd606d5ac9735bd!8m2!3d34.0936111!4d-87.6152778
[8]: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Pine+Torch+Church/@34.3223133,-87.2981973,3819m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x888819f502b38463:0x4376d4a459b571a1!8m2!3d34.321575!4d-87.2990988
[9]: http://www.soloso.com/houston/index.html
[10]: https://www.dropbox.com/s/umt2xty3fzzu2mk/Birding%20on%20the%20Bankhead%20National%20Forest%20-%20fsbdev3_002482.pdf?dl=0

Clear Creek Recreation Area

Camped at Clear Creek in Bankhead Forest Aug 11-13, 2017 and it was great!!! The sites are great!!! Lots of space between sites. There is a fun hiking trail and also a paved bike trail. Will definitely camp there again!!!

Clear Creek

I've camped here twice. Once in one of the group tent areas and once in an on the water spot. The group tent area had plenty of room (no power or water) but the bathroom was very close. The only issue I had with that spot was that the staff told visitors to park in our area and we had loud people dropping off and collecting their vehicles all hours of the night and car lights shining in our tents waking us up. The site itself was very nice and the only people nearby would be if the other group spot was rented also. The water camp spots aren't exactly on the water but for $50/night (very high to me) they have water and electric. The sites are a decent size but they are very close together. Same issue with people not respecting quiet time. The swim area is nice with ample shade and lots of room for swimming. The boat docking area is a decent size and perfect for unloading kayaks. I doubt that I'd return to this campground simply for the lack of enforcement of quiet time.

Not a bad place for a weekend

The lots were beautifully wooded and spacing between each site was adequate, but you can definitely see from one site to the next. 

The perimeter lake lots in the Hoot Owl Loop all had steps or path access from the site to the shore. This would be especially nice in the summer. 

Our site didn't have sewer but had water and electricity. There was also a notice that stated only one of the restroom facilities for the entire campground was available so tent families beware and plan your site accordingly. I believe this was due to cleaning for covid-19 but not sure.

Our site was cleaned before we arrived; no coals in the grill or ash in the pit.

There was a basketball and volleyball area in a nice green space area near the boat launch.

We will definitely be back!



Beautiful lakefront campground

Had spots 63 and 64 on Fawn Loop this past weekend. While sites are somewhat spread out, most are within 10-15 yards of another one. Did not make it into the camp store. Get the impression they don’t really have anything there except ice and firewood. While many reviews say the lakeside sites are first come, first serve, under the new management they are all booked in advance online.
Last night we were there, while eating dinner, a raccoon walked right into the site next to the fire and then tried to climb on the picnic table.
Couple of tips:
1) Leave early to miss the line at the dump stations. We left at 11:15 (12 noon checkout) and were #8 in line.
2) Download an app that shows trailer-friendly routes. Our phones took us through neighborhoods, down gravel roads, and under low-hanging trees and power lines.

Wonderful Campground Close To Home

We stayed on site 101 on Bear Loop. Clear Creek was a beautiful and quiet facility. Staff was kind and helpful. CCRA just experienced major storms in the area, but did a great job accommodating individuals who’s sites flooded and needed to move. There was only one of bathhouse open for the property. It did not bother us, but could have been frustrating for others. We will be back soon. 

Great Weekend in the Bankhead National Forest

Really enjoyed the group camp site. Very spacious with a huge fire pit. Easy walking distance to bathhouse. Great hiking as well. Day use area was closed due to pandemic.

Good group camp sites

Due to poor GPS routing that wanted us to take roads not suitable for RVs or Camper towing, that meant we had to stop and map ourselves to a safer route; we arrived just at posted closing time. The staff was very helpful despite our untimely arrival. Our campsite was clean and well maintained. Bank fishing from our spot would be perfect as we had actual beach front to set up chairs. On the other side of the park there is a nice roped off swimming area. No lifeguard but water is shallow and provides good splashing area for youngsters. Plenty of bike riders and those just out for a stroll. It was a very peaceful and relaxing get away that included a wonderful lightning bug show at sunset. We took a trip over to see Little Natural Bridge as it is close by. That too was well worth a viewing. We will be back..next time with the fishing rods. 

Good weekday retreat

This campground became one of my favorite AL camping spots!!! We stayed here for memorial day weekend and I don't believe there were any empty sites! It was packed. 

The sites were close enough to see your neighbors but far enough away to not hear them! At least ours was that way. 

We stayed in site 17 on the Fox loop. It's right on the water and couldn't have been more perfect!!

My only complaint was that, at the time of our visit, the closest bath house was closed "due to Covid", which is silly. Having ALL guests on the loop use ONE bathhouse would make sure everyone caught the germ of anyone brought it. It just made no sense. I hope they opened up the other bath house. One shower for the whole loop was a bit absurd. 

Since it was a holiday weekend, fishing off the site was not fruitful, but there are plenty of places to drive to in the area where you can catch plenty!

There's even a beach nearby for people to swim, if you like lake swimming!

I'll definitely be returning to this place!

Favorite Alabama Lake Camping Spot

They are only keeping open one bathroom at a time, so you have to pick and choose your site when you don't have a built in bathroom(teardrop camper). It is still a nice campground, lots of space, quite, big spots.  The hosts keep the bathrooms very clean, and all of them are very nice. 

Upper loop, away from the water.

Camp grounds are very scenic.   THERE ARE NO SEPTIC HOOKUPS! There are dump stations but they are far from the campsites, recommend you have a portable container that is towable.  Some roads into the campsites have tight turns so be aware of that if you drive a longer rig.

Great views

This was our first trip to Clear Creek and we were blown away. We stayed on Fox Loop and it had great water views and shade! Staff was very nice and kept things clean and family friendly! Can't wait to stay again.

Shaded Oasis

Our site had great access to the lake but not on the busiest part of the lake.  We tried out the paved bike trail which was very nice.  We also like the other trails near the campground.  All the facilities are very nice.

This campground is so nice

I didn’t have a reservation prior to arriving, but the staff was extremely helpful with locating a spot to my specifications (close to bathroom, full shade). There’s a great paved trail for biking or walking. I use Verizon and had no problem getting cell service. 