Owl Creek Horse Camp accommodates tent and RV campers in Cleveland, Alabama with direct access to equestrian trails. The campground provides basic amenities including drinking water and toilets. Trail riders can access the surrounding trail system directly from their campsites. The campground maintains trash facilities for visitors, though fires are not permitted at this location.
Lake Guntersville State Park offers horse-friendly camping options with full hookup sites for RVs and tent camping areas. Riders have access to horse-riding trails throughout the park's extensive network. The park features multiple access types including drive-in, hike-in, boat-in, and walk-in options. Many sites offer water and sewer hookups along with 30-amp electrical service. The park suffered tornado damage that removed many trees, resulting in more open camping areas with less shade. Wildlife viewing opportunities are abundant, with numerous deer visible throughout the grounds. Trails connect to both wooded areas and lake access points, making this location suitable for riders seeking varied terrain.
"But regular RV campers are allowed at the Equestrian center. We are close to the farm/petting zoo. Also the horses are next to the campground. Very quiet and reasonably priced."
"It's the largest state park in Alabama."
"The campground is right on the banks of Lake Guntersville and it has a beach area so it's great if you want to play in the water."
"This is a nice state park in a small town in north Alabama. The lake is really pretty and the campground has a nice view of it."
$0 - $35 / night
"We attended North Alabama trails and recreation’s Rock and Rig event here. The park is beautiful with amazing views."
"the locals) since 2011, starting back when it was still largely undeveloped and free…totally worth paying for these days - they’ve made it such a great place: showers, bathrooms, dumpsters, plenty of walk-in"
$10 - $30 / night
"They have nice paddocks for your horses. The multiple trails are so beautiful . I have been here many times."
"Lots to do and amazing trails. Helpful and friendly farmers. Clean washrooms and near campsite. No too far from town."
"While staying in the area we stopped by and checked out this campground and associated trails. It is in a wonderful part of Bankhead and close to so many trail access points."
$6 - $18 / night
"You’ll never run out of things to do between the endless hiking trails, the museum of wildlife, and the wildlife rescue center. There’s an archery station within the park and a petting farm."
GuideVery happy at this campground. But there aren't many campers here. I think they are at the main campground. But regular RV campers are allowed at the Equestrian center. We are close to the farm/petting zoo. Also the horses are next to the campground. Very quiet and reasonably priced.
ScoutOak mountain state park has been a favorite of mine since I was a child. There's so much to do; and its always growing. It's the largest state park in Alabama. Theres lakes, waterfalls, nature trails, basket ball court, volley ball, a petting zoo, horses back riding, water sports, dirt bikes trails, BMX course, archery, cabins, primitive camping and rv's , a beach, a wildlife rescue center and so much more. If you're in the area do yourself a favor and check it out.
LegendWhile staying in the area we stopped by and checked out this campground and associated trails. It is in a wonderful part of Bankhead and close to so many trail access points. Additionally the campground is located directly on the horse trail so you can stay here with your animals and get up and go trekking the next day. For people like me who are more hikers than riders you just drive 15 min down the road and you are right in the heart of Sipsey wilderness. The campground doesn't have much in terms of amenities but if you prefer a little more you can stay at Brushy lake nearby. The major advantage to this site is its access to the horseback riding trails.
GuideWhat an amazing campground! Alabama knocked this one out of the park. From the first time you enter the park, which isn’t too far from BHam or the interstate, you’re transported to a different place where things move much more slowly just the way we like it. The campground is a 5 mile ride from the main entrance. A beautiful winding road takes you all the way, deep into the property. If you’re lucky, you will see plenty of wildlife (we saw 7 deer and one rabbit). The campsites are very spacious, we stayed in site A30 which was great! But if you want a view, try A26 which overlooks the lake. There is a general store on property that even has propane. If you’re active, they offer bike and hiking trails, horse riding, kayak and paddle boat rentals, and a couple of beaches. Don’t wait, book your stay here ASAP!
ScoutI've been wanting to visit Oak mountain and we booked last minute May 1st-3rd. They were booked completely except for an equestrian pull through site. I had already made plans with my family and another (both first timers with our own young families). I asked about pitching tents on the gravel and they said people do it. We had two tents on complete gravel and had enough tarp and mats that it really didn't bother us. The stables were right in front of our eyes, and we could hear the peacock next door, which was lovely actually. Their horses on their farm were roaming around and it was beautiful! Bathrooms were absolutely perfect and cleaned what seemed twice a day from the cleaning logs. They were maybe 300 feet from us and since the RVs all have hook ups we seemed to be the only ones using them, really. Everything else was basically closed down, but when we went to hike the water fall trail, it seemed so crowded that I wasn't surprised when we saw the ranger show up to send people out of the falls, so we didn't waste our time. I'd go back to enjoy the beach and trails, with a bike definitely!
GuideWe needed a one night stopover Campground. Aesthetics are important, so we chose Oak Mountain State Park for its mountain beauty. We thought we’d reserve the campsite (B36) based on its being at the end of the area and near the shower/restroom. Major pros to the campground would be an apparent lot of things to do: what looked like a zip line water skiing place, lots of major inflatable stuff in the beach swimming area, equestrian trails and stalls for horses, hiking trails... and our site was near one of the playgrounds in the campground. The staff in the office and host folks were wonderful and friendly. But, our site was an asphalt pad ( perfectly level) with no grass around it. While the campground is surrounded by forest, There were some trees, and some shade, but not enough space around us to sit back ( on our asphalt) to enjoy them. The shower was perfectly hot and adequate water pressure, but there is one shower in each shower house/restroom, and it was right inside the restroom door with a bend in the wall and one plastic shower curtain. My daughter felt exposed, but there weren’t so many people using the showerhouse to be problematic. The two toilet stalls were also enough for the number of people that needed to use them. (There are other similarly sized showerhouse/restrooms not too far away.) This campground met our needs well, but we weren’t overwhelmed and didn’t rush to book a return overnight after our trip. There are many reasons to love this place ( and the tent camp spaces looked fantastic!!!) but for what we needed I’d have to say it was just perfectly adequate.
LegendThis state campground in the Birmingham AL metro area is a quick getaway for city and suburban dwellers. We were looking for continued warm fall weather on a slow trip north; this met the warmth and fall criteria in late October. The proximity to the city made it a good choice for exploring Birmingham.
Campground as Hotel
We left in the morning and came back in the evening. Using the campground strictly for accommodations worked out well; it wasn't a place where we would have wanted to hang around the campground all day. The large RVs crammed on sites that weren't very large gave us a closed in feeling. We pulled down the shade in our teardrop to avoid the light pollution from the campers who leave ground lights and other decorative lights on all night. (Do they leave their outdoor holiday lights on all night at home?)
Tent Only Sites
The tent only sites are the best feature of this park. You can pitch your tent among the trees away from the RVs packed together in the rest of the park.
There's no power or water at these sites.
These sites are listed as tent only, but the park office attendant told us there were a few where we could fit our vehicle and teardrop. We declined because we thought we'd be too close to the road although we later saw several that would have been fine
Site 42B is the BEST SITE IN THE PARK! You walk down to the site from the parking area, and then there's a great view of the water. I took a photo looking back at the site from the beach area.
Other Sites
All sites not designated tent only have electricity and water. There are some sites with sewer hookup as well as 50 amp power. See site map photo.
Loop A's sites are more spread out than sites in Loop B.
Loop B: B33 was ok. I recommend sticking to the outside of this loop because there are two roads down the center where you'll have sites on both sides, across the road and behind you. Inside the loop seemed crowded because there were large RVs.
Restrooms
Several restrooms are spread throughout the park. They each have a couple toilets and a shower along with hot and cold water in the sinks. Restrooms are clean and a checklist indicates they're inspected 2 or 3 times per day. Everything works fine, but they could use an update inside. If the usage at the end of October is any indication of overall usage, this park is heavily used. It's close to Birmingham which has over a million people, one-fourth of Alabama's population. The state of Alabama should step up and do some renovation.
Site Taxes are HIGH
Be prepared for a significant jump to the cost when taxes are applied. Our campsite fee was a reasonable $22.65/night which included a 15% senior discount. Regular price is $26.65. Taxes and a $4.50 one-time fee were added for a grand total of $85.62 for 3 nights. If you're counting, that's 20+% in taxes.
Things To Do In The Park: boating, fishing, swimming, hiking. You can purchase a detailed hiking map for $1. If you aren't from the area and want to take in some Birmingham history, there are options.
Red Mountain Park has hiking trails along with old iron ore mines. There's an adventure park with zip lining, climbing, etc.
The base of Vulcan, Alabama's entry in the 1904 World's Fair, is the best place to see Birmingham. The museum next to the statue was well done; it provides a history of this steel city.
The park across from the 16th Street Baptist Church (site of the bombing on 9/15/1963 that killed 4 young girls) is a window into the sad part of Birmingham's history. There's also a civil rights museum nearby.
The craft breweries (Good People and Avondale) were good. And great barbecue at Saw. Pizza was good at Post Office Pies but they need to put more basil on a pizza advertised as a white basil pizza, not 5 little scraps.
RangerThis is off the beaten path a bit, but it has its perks. Here you can find potable water from the spickets all year long. It is essentially a large field with some very large loblolly pines. The nights sky is wonderful. Also, from here you can link together 22 miles worth of trail. We rode our bikes, the trails are more geared for the equestrian rider, but was friendly enough for bikes. We enjoyed staying here after being out of cell service for a few days at brushy lake, so we were able to catch up and coordinate our next destination. As far as campground amenties outside of whats already been covered there are a had full of picnic tables and a pit toilet.
Cost is $5 a night or $3 for day use. 2 bars of Verizon 4G LTE.
GuideWe stayed at the equestrian campground at Oak Mountain. It was very nice and quiet. Once you go through the gate take your first left and keep driving. We only stayed 2 nights and didn't get to see everything they have at the park. We want to go back!
Equestrian camping near Cleveland, Alabama offers multiple trail access points within a 25-mile radius of the Bankhead National Forest. This region sits at the southern edge of the Appalachian Mountains with elevations ranging from 500-1,500 feet, creating varied terrain for horse riding. Weather conditions remain mild through spring and fall with summer temperatures regularly exceeding 90°F.
Horseback riding trails: Owl Creek Horse Camp provides direct access to over 22 miles of interconnected trails. "It is essentially a large field with some very large loblolly pines. The nights sky is wonderful. Also, from here you can link together 22 miles worth of trail," notes camper Gregg G.
Rock climbing: Just 45 minutes from Cleveland, Cherokee Rock Village offers excellent climbing opportunities. "We explored the caves and climbed the rock formations. There are also trails to hike, run or bike," says Dori H. The area features numerous top rope, lead, and bouldering routes.
Mountain biking: The trail systems near Cleveland accommodate various skill levels. "This place has everything, mtn bike, gravel bike, trail running, road running, road biking, golf, equestrian, sailing and fishing," explains Soren B. about Oak Mountain's diverse offerings.
Fishing: Multiple lake access points provide fishing opportunities. "Great camp and fishing," reports Collin D. about Lake Guntersville, which is known for its bass fishing tournaments throughout the year.
Night sky viewing: Areas around Cleveland have minimal light pollution. Gregg G. from Owl Creek Horse Camp reports, "The nights sky is wonderful." Many campsites in the region are situated away from urban centers, creating ideal conditions for stargazing.
Facilities for horses: Faye Whittemore Farms Inc offers specialized horse camping accommodations. "They have nice paddocks for your horses. The multiple trails are so beautiful. I have been here many times," says Belinda H. The farm maintains designated areas for horse care between trail rides.
Flexible camping options: Diverse camping styles are available. "I picked a site away from the bluff near the boulders. Nice and quiet. Of course it's primitive but there is a bathhouse and water within a short walk," explains Dan C. about Cherokee Rock Village.
Easy trail access: Campgrounds connect directly to trail systems. "This campground was awesome! Great trees for hammocking, bathrooms were well-kept and clean, and it's right next to the crag," reports Liz H. about Cherokee Rock Village.
Limited shade in some areas: Several campgrounds lost tree coverage from storm damage. "A few years ago a tornado took out a lot of the big pines so it's a bit hot with very little shade. But it's still the best place to camp around Guntersville!" notes Greg H. about Lake Guntersville State Park Campground.
Varying cell service: Connectivity ranges widely throughout the area. "We enjoyed staying here after being out of cell service for a few days at brushy lake, so we were able to catch up and coordinate our next destination," reports Gregg G. about Owl Creek Horse Camp, noting "2 bars of Verizon 4G LTE."
Fire regulations: Some campgrounds restrict fires. Owl Creek Horse Camp does not permit fires, while Cherokee Rock Village provides fire pits at designated sites. Always check current fire regulations before your visit.
Bathhouse locations: Facility placement varies by campground. "My only complaint would be that the bathrooms are a little far from some sites, but in the grand scheme of things that is not a huge deal," mentions Liz H. about Cherokee Rock Village.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Multiple locations offer wildlife spotting. "I've been going here since I was a kid and it's one of my favorite places in the world. You'll never run out of things to do between the endless hiking trails, the museum of wildlife, and the wildlife rescue center," shares Cat about Backcountry Site — Oak Mountain State Park.
Educational facilities: Some parks maintain nature centers. "Don't miss the TREE TOP NATURE TRAIL!" emphasizes Napunani about Oak Mountain State Park, which features wildlife rehabilitation facilities open to visitors.
Playground access: Family-friendly campgrounds include play areas. "There is also a playground for kids and a covered picnic area that could be used for groups," notes Asher K. about Cherokee Rock Village.
Multiple activities: Diverse recreation options keep children engaged. "Beautiful park with lots to do! Oak Mountain is a big state park with lots to do (golf, biking, archery, lots of trails that are very well marked, petting zoo, very neat trail with rescued owls, turkeys and red hawks, and more)," explains Scott C.
Site selection considerations: Different camping sections offer varying experiences. "We went to the state park for the weekend. Stayed in the A area which we were told had sewer (it does not but it's very close to the dump station)," reports Alanna R. about Lake Guntersville State Park Campground.
Campsite spacing: Some areas provide limited privacy between sites. "Most spots are very close together so you don't eat much privacy. Super crowded on the weekends," mentions Scott M. about Lake Guntersville State Park.
Senior discounts: Age-based rate reductions are available. "It's June as I visit, and the full rate is $19 to camp. They gave me a senior discount," notes Kent H. about Cherokee Rock Village.
Accessibility challenges: Some campgrounds have navigation issues. "I chose the tent area because it seemed a bit better for level parking," explains Kent H. "Note there are lots of signs stating no parallel parking in the tent area, so I guess the way the space is laid out if you are towing a trailer you couldn't park there."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Cleveland, AL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Cleveland, AL is Oak Mountain State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 100 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Cleveland, AL?
TheDyrt.com has all 6 equestrian camping locations near Cleveland, AL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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