Looking for a rustic and comfortable horse camping experience near Gurley? Camping with horses is a beautiful way to experience nature. These scenic and easy-to-reach Gurley campsites are perfect for equestrian campers.
From its humble beginning as a 940-acre park atop Double Oak Mountain established by the Alabama State Lands Act of 1927, Oak Mountain State Park has grown to 9,940 acres making it Alabama’s largest state park. With the largest land-area, one of the widest varieties of outdoor activities of any state park, and its proximity to Birmingham, Oak Mountain is a perfect stop while traveling to and from the state’s largest city. Topping it all off is the park’s stunning physical landscape, which alone makes for an unforgettable experience.
Oak Mountain State Park has once again been awarded the coveted "Certificate of Excellence" from Tripadvisor!
Lake Guntersville State Park offers Town Creek Primitive Campground which provides primitive campsites (boondock camping allowed 7 night maximum) on the water, bathhouses, boat rentals, ethanol-free gas (accessible by water), and the Town Creek Fishing Center.
$10 - $30 / night
Welcome overnight backpackers. Please observe these rules for your safety and to help preserve the natural beauty of Oak Mountain State Park.
Overnight backpackers are entitled to camp at a designated backcountry campsite only. Backpackers are not entitled to use the improved campground facilities.
$6 - $18 / night
Guide
They put a massive amount of money into updating this place. This is the #1 best state park campground I have ever been at. Some of the non-5star reviews are people before the updates or people that really should just be at a KOA resort.
This place has everything, mtn bike, gravel bike, trail running, road running, road biking, golf, equestrian, sailing and fishing.
It has wifi throughout and almost everywhere in the park has cell reception.
TravelerI grew up near oak mountain and it’s always been a decent campground for the price. After we purchased our first camper this summer we decided to go give it a shot at Oak Mountain before we went further out. We were unaware that they had completely revamped the entire place. The bathhouses were awesome and clean as were the laundry rooms. They had plenty of supplies in the store if you forgot something. We will be returning during the fall. Sites are pretty spacious and well maintained.
Traveler
Somewhat crowded, but it was a holiday weekend. Very clean bathrooms and campground. Employees were extremely friendly, inviting, and knowledgeable!
GuideHaving visited 3 times now, twice before the renovations and now once after, I can confidently say I love this park! I have previously primitive camped here and now camper at a full hookup RV site. Tent sites range from "water in vicinity," "water at site," and "water and 20 amp power at site." Rv sites are water and electric or full hook up. I think all RV sites are now 50/30/20 but I'm not certain. There is a dump station near the exit of the campground. Sites are mostly level/slight grade but found that not all drain very well when it rains, including our site a17.
The park has so many different activities including -Hiking -Bmx trails -Swimmimg -Archery range And more I can't even remember.
Flip side watersports operates at 2 locations and paid activities include -wake boarding -Aqua Park And rentals of -Kayaks -stand up paddle boards -paddle boats And -Canoes.
There are things to do year round and the weather was great for mid July.
GuideThis state park has it all. A place to swim, numerous hiking trails, playgrounds, etc. The newly remodeled campground is spectacular. The pads are super level (at least in A16. Small tent spots sprinkled in. Saw security and police several times just passing through to check on folks. Love that. We will be back many more times for sure.
LegendVisited Lake Guntersville State Park, for the day. After taking our granddaughter to Screaming Eagle Zip-line Adventures, located at the gorgeous Lodge, we visited the Campground…and it’s amazing! At the office, we were helped by Rocky, who was friendly and knowledgeable! We received CG info and a map, as well as rates. We are already planning our next trip to visit! The general store was stocked with necessities, as well as souvenirs. Of course we had to get some ice cream! There are several types of sites, monthly, cabins and tent camping. There are boat slips (local rentals) and a Pavilion on the water, basketball and tennis courts, playground, shady dog park, splash pad, and clean bathhouses. Firewood and ice can be purchased at the store. There are also many trails to hike and bike . It is easy to see that this SP is well maintained! The SP Lodge is worth visiting, which has a nice restaurant. LGSP has a golf course, and the quaint town is close by and has shopping and several restaurants.
ScoutWe stayed three nights in primitive camping and it was fantastic. Our site was right on the water and far away from any other campers. The RV camping is not as secluded. Bath houses were very clean and tons of fun things for kids to do around the park.
Traveler
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. There’s an archery station within the park and a petting farm. The campground is easily navigated with multiple bathhouses per campground so you’ll always have one nearby.
Scout
The campground is very nice and woodsy. The campsites have water and electric hookups. They have nice paddocks for your horses. The multiple trails are so beautiful . I have been here many times.
TravelerLots to do and amazing trails. Helpful and friendly farmers. Clean washrooms and near campsite. No too far from town.
TravelerGreat place for the kids our neck of the woods was very quite and right next to where the deer like to graze, nothing like seeing Bambi and friends in the mornings and nights. Come prepared very few items at the camp store
ScoutAt the regular campground, there’s only 30amp connections. Some have sewer and some not. There is no camp wifi. Swimming is quit a distance from campground.
The campground at the stables are pull through and 50 amp and full hookups.
GuideA great beautiful lake. Lots of deer. Also numerous thunderstorms, unfortunately. Avoid area B where we stayed. Had no choice since we were there for our first Oliver Owners Rally and didn’t book soon enough. Those along Lake are best then F. Town of Guntersville has what you need, restaurants, etc.
GuideRv sites were paved, pretty level and well spaced. Bathhouses were pretty rough, dirty in disrepair and dated.
LegendI have camped at the horse campground a few times. Nothing fancy there, they are side by side pull thrus similar to a KOA. And the horse trails are nice. This time I camped at the regular campground in a travel trailer. Site A14. Site was pull thru across from camphosts and bathroom. Site was small but nice - water/elec only and pull thru. Picnic table and fire ring, no grill. Camp hosts (woman) was friendly. Asked for assistance in moving a bench so my son could get his wheelchair along the sidewalk to the men’s bathroom: her husband (assume they are married) never came out despite being asked by his wife a few times and me waiting 20 min. On that note, the bathrooms are old and dingy and not ADA at all. But it would have been nice to get some assistance. Overall, this is a good campground if you have young kids and like a lot of activity around you and don’t need anything ADA. Oh and be aware of poison ivy. It was EVERYWHERE
TravelerBathrooms needed updating. Paid more than it was worth. Our site was nice and could walk down to the lake.
ScoutAlthough weather is extremely cool this time of the year the campground is great very clean and quiet awesome experience
ScoutThe customer service was terrible! There was a bit of confusion while checking in and they ended up over charging my card by 40 dollars. Which would have been fine we chose to extend our reservation. However, they don't want to refund my money. I have had to jump through hoops just to gain consideration on the matter. In the beginning I was completely shut down with one excuse after another as to why my transactions from the bank were not accurate. Then I had to print off a official statement from my bank which is not a option. For security reasons they only mail requested statements physically to the address on file aside from the monthly statement issued at the end of each month and its th 8th! So I had to pay another 39 dollars to extend. I used the same card to show the same type of charge previously because we ended up paying cash upon check in. That wasn't enough! Its 2 days after check out and I still don't have my money back. She said the accountant had to review the alleged charge. I was outraged. Not to mention the fact that it wasn't I who made the mistake why was I having to jump through hoops regardless.
ScoutLove this park!
TravelerWe arrived one day early which was semi planned, but we were not in the spot we were staying for 11 days. Thank goodness because the pic on the site Vs reality was a pretty big difference. We have a big rig and no way we would fit. I figured I would have to finagle something in my own to get us a different site. NOPE! They guy at the gate helped us out and 5 min later we had a site! Store has a few things in it, including some Lake stickers/shirts/etc with Lake Guntersville on them. There is a little library box by the store with books people have put in after reading. There are sites for full hookup, water/electric, or primitive. There are long term sites as well. There is plenty to do! Beach, boat, water pad, basketball and tennis courts. Laundry available. Nice bathrooms and bathhouse. Dog park for bigs and Littles! The power went out once for a couple minutes and then again due to an accident on the mountain. There are neat things within the park to see and do. Hike/trails, golf, fish, zip line, horseback riding. A must stop is to see the donkeys, goats and emus. Towing to get here is interesting, but doable! We have a 42 ft RV with a 16 ft boat behind and we made it. Close enough to town but you have to go over the mountain. There are some neat stores down town and a farmers market.
ScoutThe park itself is beautiful, but the campground was trashy in my opinion. We were just traveling through but I wouldn’t want to stay for longer than a night. The campground by the interstate exit was a lot nicer when driving by.
The spot we had was extremely hard to park in and the hookups didn’t make sense how they were posted. Pavilion looked dumpy and not well kept.
LegendPROS
Senior discount
Reserved 363 days prior to arriving
Very friendly check in staff H
Huge park…very nicely landscaped and neatly mowed
Quiet
Regularly saw ranger driving through campground
A30 level site and nearly full shade coverage
Moveable wooden and metal picnic table
Metal fire pit with cooking grate
Campfire wood for sale at park office
Don’t miss the TREE TOP NATURE TRAIL!
Good food at The Grille at Oak Mountain State Park inside the Pro Shop at The Oaks Golf Course
All major shopping and eateries just beyond the park boundaries in Pelham, Hoover and Birmingham
CONS
$5 reservation fee for making my own on-line reservation
Street lights throughout campground
Toilet/shower facility heavily used which badly needs updating
Campground trash dumpsters are beyond the campground gate…not walkable
Poor signage upon entering Park. We stopped at the first building on the right, as it was marked RANGER OFFICE with a large, rig-friendly parking area, but it was not a check-in for campers. Then we went through another gate on the main roadway and it wasn’t the campground check-in either. Campground directional signs after we got through that gate. Glad we didn’t arrive in the dark!
Limited and very tight rig parking at campground gate check-in
No notice by park on the south entrance roadwork and roundabout construction...horribly tight to maneuver... recommend North entrance/exit until construction is completed…that’s how we departed.
Never saw a camp host
No WiFi
2 bars Verizon
TravelerOverall good campground with very good bathrooms and showers. Camping sites are tight together and somewhat odd shaped. Camp store is convenient and all staff are friendly.
GuideBeautiful large park. One night. Likes the site arrangements - interspersed with tent sites, parking pads at a different angle next to each other. Enjoyed the Peavine Falls Trail on the way out of the park in the morning. Have to buy a trail map. Damp wood from the camp store. TMobile good signal.
GuideI had booked a tent site at Oak Mountain - site unseen.
The tent sites were across from the RV sites (the RV sites in this area were very close together- there were other RV sites with more distance between). My site had power and water. There were two section on my site. One higher (I assume for tent setup) and one lower, surrounded by a wall of cinder blocks . The power and water hookup was just above the cinder blocks so I assume that area was for table/kitchen set up, or canopy/screenroom. I chose to setup my tent below the wall due to the ground being more level and flat (and a bit more privacy). The site was completely shaded so great for camping in warmer months, and the tent sites were spaced a good distance from each other.
My only drawback was that this was a carry-on site. You couldn’t park directly on the site. It wasn’t too terribly far of a walk, but it was up and down a steep hill. So me being unaware, did not bring appropriate way to carry my heavy gear 1000 feet or more , up and down a hill. Not a problem if you have a strong man with you, but for this 60 year old bird-it was a challenge.
All in all the tent sites are fairly spacious (don’t think you could put an 18 person tent tho) have good space between each site, have power and
water and are shaded.
Drawbacks would be the distance from parking to setup area.
TravelerWe stayed for three days in December 2021 and really enjoyed it. Camp was about 1/3 full and it felt like we had the whole state park for ourselves. Bath houses were adequate and very clean, little long in the tooth. Four washers and three dryers on site all worked great. Staff was super nice and helpful. Highly recommend the site we stayed at, it was in the back of the camp near the lake.
ScoutI was not informed upon check-in that car or van camping is not allowed. The ranger was kind enough to let me stay for the rest of the night but said I was required to buy a tent if I wanted to stay the next night. I politely asked why they had this policy and they couldn't even give me a reason.
Horse camping in Alabama offers a unique blend of outdoor adventure and equestrian-friendly amenities, making it a great choice for riders and their horses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Gurley, AL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Gurley, AL is Oak Mountain State Park Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 93 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Gurley, AL?
TheDyrt.com has all 4 equestrian camping locations near Gurley, AL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
