11 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Dismals Canyon Cabins offers unique glamping accommodations near Hackleburg, featuring specialized sites including a waterfall campsite called Sleeping Waters. These elevated camping options provide a balance between nature immersion and comfort with access to modern amenities like showers, toilets, and potable water. According to a camper, "The campsites are beautiful with the waterfall at the site making noise, and we even noticed the glowing dismalites along the Canyon wall behind our tent!" While primitive in some aspects, the glamping spots maintain seclusion and privacy with dedicated fire pits and scenic views. Nearby Sipsey Creek Farm also provides glamping accommodations with only three exclusive sites, featuring toilet facilities, showers, and firewood provision in a more intimate setting.
The natural beauty surrounding these glamping destinations creates unforgettable experiences beyond typical camping. Dismals Canyon's glamping sites offer unique access to rare glowworms called Dismalites, visible during guided night tours. One reviewer highlighted, "When you first get all the lights out, you can see the glowing dismalites along the canyon wall—it was super cool!" Hiking trails wind through the canyon with waterfalls, giant trees, and distinctive rock formations. A swimming reservoir provides additional recreation options during warmer months. While Dismals Canyon has higher fees that include both accommodation costs and canyon access charges, most visitors consider the unique natural setting worth the premium. Reservations are recommended for these eco-friendly glamping options, especially during peak seasons when night tours to view the bioluminescent Dismalites are available.
"It's about a quarter of a mile walk to the campsite, but the site is absolutely gorgeous! Very secluded and very roomy! The waterfall at the campsite is not large, but it still makes noise."
"When you first arrive, you go down to the little general store that now has a cafe."
"It has primitive site, hookups, cabins and wall tents. There are lots of activities to do as well. It was sad to see some of the buildings in disrepair and I wish the bathrooms could get an upgrade."
"They have big porches, a kitchen, bathroom, and two beds which was perfect for two couples to visit. They are quite old, but it adds to the charm of the cabins. "
from $2 - $267 / night
Check Availability"It is a short drive to Bear Creek if you want to kayak or canoe, but the cabins are on lakefront property and you can just jump in! The cabins are clean and quiet. "
"One bathhouse for all campers. The camp sites"
"I arrived without a reservation trying to get one of the first come first serve spots. There is a gate without intercom, so you can’t just drive up."
"Well designed campground in the hills of Northern Alabama. Sites are well spaced. Well maintained. The lake is pretty. Each site has fire pit and table."
from $22 - $58 / night
Check Availability"Very spacious with a huge fire pit. Easy walking distance to bathhouse. Great hiking as well. Day use area was closed due to pandemic."
"We stayed on site 101 on Bear Loop. Clear Creek was a beautiful and quiet facility. Staff was kind and helpful."
from $38 - $85 / night
Check Availability"It was a delight to be able to put in my kayaks right at my campsite and not have to drive to a boat ramp. Each campsite has a ton of trees, which was great for our 7 hammocks."
"Campground staff and other campers are friendly. Park attendant Bobby Owen chatted with us each morning on our walks as he made his rounds. He answered questions and made suggestions."
from $34 - $36 / night
Check Availability"There are no trees or bushes between spots, but the whole campground is situated with forest and creek on one side and the Tuscumbia River on the other."
"There is a marina, RV and tent campsites, a playground near the campground, and on the other side of the marina is another playground. There is the River Bottom Grill at the Marina."
"Popular with the locals and fairly secluded. Pretty woodland all around. There is a bathhouse with toilets, sinks, and cold showers."
"There are picnic tables, trash cans, and portable toilets. All in all a nice spot. I had Verizon and I think I had two bars of service."
"Ended up at this location after a crappy night in Alabama. It was very clean nice location. Very nice Mississippi State Park Campground."
"As I walk through the park, it appears that all spots are full hookup and paved. We are on site 43 and anything longer than 30 ft will be pushing it."
from $2 - $1000 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $25 - $125 / night
Check Availability
GuideEnded up at this location after a crappy night in Alabama. It was very clean nice location. Very nice Mississippi State Park Campground. All the staff were very friendly and Gary was a great guy that we chatted with for a bit after checking in. Restrooms were clean and air conditioned. Family type campgrounds with friendly happy campers. We will be back a lot more in the future.
LegendI’m so glad I’ve finally checked this campsite off the list! It is a beautiful CCC camp that was built in the 1930s. It has primitive site, hookups, cabins and wall tents. There are lots of activities to do as well. It was sad to see some of the buildings in disrepair and I wish the bathrooms could get an upgrade. Be sure to check out the swinging bridge! There’s also disk golf!
GuideThe sites are rather narrow with varying sizes and locations for outdoor living space. Pay close attention to the states website regarding vehicle size maximums. As I walk through the park, it appears that all spots are full hookup and paved. We are on site 43 and anything longer than 30 ft will be pushing it. As it is, our 25ft trailer fits nicely, but the truck is parallel parked across the end of my site in order to be off the road. The picnic table is behind the camper instead of on camp side, which isn’t my favorite setup but we are making due. Some sites have metal fire rings, while others (like ours) have rock circle pits. Some campsites on the hill side have no picnic table OR fire pits. They also have almost no room to walk around the RV without tumbling down the hill. Sites 62 and 64 aren’t terrible, but everything else from 59 and up is pretty bad. 25-34 and 51-54 are short and back up to a a hill. Would be great for Class B or smaller travel trailers. Sites 10-24 are in a separate area from the rest. 35-50 are down on a low flat area near the water and are the best if you like a view of the lake.
Bath house in our loop is clean, not completely out of date, and heated for cold weather camping. There is a small area with 2 set of pay washers/dryers and a few vending machines.
All in all, well worth the State’s $32/night charge.
LegendPROS
We were able to reserve 368 days prior to arrival
Very friendly and helpful check-in clerk
Fantastic view of the lake from site 45
Mostly quiet except for campground party animals until 3am!
Concrete parking pad
BBQ grill
Fire ring constructed of concrete pavers
Coin-operated washers/dryers in shower/toilet facility
Small playground, pool and mini-golf course
Good jumping off point for Shiloh Battlefield
CONS
Campsite 45 was full of litter…cigarettes butts, bones, bottle caps, pieces of chalk, straws, melted soda bottles…just nasty
Fire ring made of concrete pavers full of ash and trash upon arrival…again nasty Pedestal BBQ grill full of trash and ash upon arrival…more nastiness
Campers ignored basic rules/courtesy/respect such as keeping dogs on leash and walking through occupied campsites at anytime. One camper walking through our site complained to us our chairs on our site were in THEIR way.
No senior discount
Narrow site
Site 45 not level
Site 45 mostly fun sun
Basically we didn't experience any of the campground rules being enforced so obviously there is no management oversight at this State Park
Never saw a park ranger drive through the campground (Saturday-Monday)
Never saw a camp host or a campsite for a camp host
Campground quiet hours not enforced
Posted "No Swimming” from campsites along lake, but that didn’t stop a sole and no one enforced it
Concrete picnic table at end of parking pad, so at the bumper of the camper
Sites very close to each other with no vegetation between sites, so no privacy what so ever
Street lights throughout campground, so not dark sky friendly
Small playground, pool and mini-golf course not walkable from campground
Trash dumpsters outside of campground…not walkable
Twisty, steep and narrow roadway into campsite...not for novice rig drivers
Due to short campsites, tow vehicles had to be creative with parking, sometimes blocking most of the campground road, again no enforcement efforts
No WiFi
1 bar Verizon
GuideI have camped here twice so far and it is a nice, basic campground. We tent camped but there were a couple of RV's there, so I know there are places for them. It is on a nice stretch of the Tennessee River, and you can swim, fish, and boat there. Plenty of camp sites and very spacious. Popular with the locals and fairly secluded. Pretty woodland all around. There is a bathhouse with toilets, sinks, and cold showers. The bathhouse is pretty centrally located and there are electric lights around it. Usually not crowded. Plenty of dead wood to collect for firewood. There is a covered area with picnic tables near the bathhouse. Also a few picnic tables around the grounds. There are also plenty of trash cans and fire pits. You can park right next to your site. Very good for family camping. Within a few miles there are a couple of gas stations/convenience stores. Some cell service works out there, some not so much.
TravelerReally 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.
RangerWe stayed in early August for 2 nights in the Sleeping Waters campground.
We got there pretty late (after dark) for setting up camp, and I do not recommend doing that. It's about a quarter of a mile walk to the campsite, but the site is absolutely gorgeous! Very secluded and very roomy! The waterfall at the campsite is not large, but it still makes noise.
After we got everything set up and got all the lights out, we noticed the glowing dismalites along the Canyon wall behind our tent!! It was super cool. We also had a creek flowing with crawdads, minnows, and bull frogs. Plenty of wildlife!!
The canyon was pretty cool! The waterfalls were awesome and I loved all the spur trails. Disclaimer: be prepared to get your feet wet!!
The Canyon and campsite were pet friendly. Dogs were even welcome in the country store!! Just not in the seating area for the Soda Fountain.
I have few, minor complaints.. 1) I booked this campsite earlier in the year (early spring, I believe). I specifically wanted a night tour. They did not tell me that they wouldn't have night tours at that time of year. I wish I would've known, as I would've planned the trip for spring or fall. 2) the gate to get into the Canyon after hours for the bath house was difficult to operate. I'd pinch the code in and it wouldn't open. It would take several tries. The gate for the campsite area worked great! 3) The gate leading to the campsites was not marked. At night, it was challenging to determine where to park. 4) In the Canyon itself, not all of the landmarks were marked!! We had a map, but we had never been there before, so we weren't able to find everything easily.
GuideVery expensive, crowded and noisy but what do you expect. The hot water was out in the bath house so no showers. $10/day to enter if you have more than 2 vehicles. Everyone wants to be outside and camping most in large RV's with all the amenities and a dozen loud kids per. This is typical if you are looking for something else you will have to keep looking. Night time quiet hours are not enforced. Spaces are a little closer and tighter than other campgrounds.
GuideI arrived without a reservation trying to get one of the first come first serve spots. There is a gate without intercom, so you can’t just drive up. I called the phone number listed and the woman on the phone gave me the gate code and told me which sites were available. Worked out pretty well. Stayed in 22. One bathhouse is open. Another one I tried was locked due to Covid. Clean. Yellohammer sites have full hookup. Then there are tent sites. I was contemplating getting a tent site with my van, but they were pretty unlevel and small. There is a public boat ramp and one specifically for the campground. Water level was still very high in the lake after recent rains and storms.
Hackleburg's camping options sit within the William B. Bankhead National Forest region, where limestone bluffs and mixed hardwood forests create distinct camping environments. The area lies at approximately 840 feet elevation with a humid subtropical climate that brings hot summers and mild winters. Campgrounds near Hackleburg typically receive around 59 inches of rainfall annually, creating lush surroundings but requiring weather preparedness.
Night hiking opportunities: Corinth Recreation Area offers structured night activities not found at most campgrounds. A camper shared, "We were fortunate enough to enjoy a private tour on a Friday night and were treated to a mesmerizing display of glow worms, which call this canyon home."
Swimming options: Clear Creek Recreation Area features multiple water recreation spots beyond the standard lake access. According to a reviewer, "There's even a beach nearby for people to swim, if you like lake swimming!"
Disc golf courses: Tishomingo State Park Campground offers recreational diversity with three separate disc golf courses. One visitor noted, "Love this little place. Great for families with many hiking trails and 3 disc golf courses."
Waterfall viewing: At several locations near Hackleburg, waterfall access varies by season. A camper at Tishomingo State Park Campground explained, "Waterfall was beautiful!! Can't wait to go back!"
Kayaking access: For paddlers, many sites offer direct water access without needing boat ramps. As noted at Piney Grove, "It was a delight to be able to put in my kayaks right at my campsite and not have to drive to a boat ramp."
Privacy levels: Campsite spacing varies significantly between campgrounds. At Dismals Canyon Cabins and Primitive Campsites, "The campsite is absolutely gorgeous! Very secluded and very roomy!"
Bathroom facilities: Bathroom quality differs markedly across locations. A camper at Corinth Recreation Area shared, "Showers were very hot and the bathrooms were very clean!"
Value comparison: Price points range from free to premium. Brush Creek Park offers free facilities with unexpected amenities: "Has paved roads in it, 18 padded spots with water hookups. Bathroom's with hot water and shower's."
Wildlife viewing: Several sites offer wildlife encounters beyond the typical forest creatures. At Clear Creek Recreation Area, a visitor mentioned, "You will see deer in the morning and are likely to have a visitor, raccoons, during the night."
Lake views: Many sites feature water views with varying levels of accessibility. At J.P. Coleman State Park, a camper explained, "We stayed on campsite #55. It was back away from the water but we had a clear view to the water."
Site challenges: Tent sites at some locations have specific terrain issues. At Dismals Canyon, "Totally eroded with no level spot for a tent. Not an enjoyable camping experience for a really cool place."
Reservation systems: Booking requirements vary by location. One camper at McFarland Park Campground noted, "No length of stay restrictions in off season."
Fee structures: Some campgrounds have complex fee systems. A visitor explained, "Sites are anywhere from $27/night to $48/night. But then they also charge you a $5 cleaning fee (for a campsite????) and a 'one time admission fee' of $30."
Road conditions: Access roads vary in quality and difficulty. For J.P. Coleman State Park, a visitor warned, "Twisty, steep and narrow roadway into campsite...not for novice rig drivers."
Seasonal availability: Some campgrounds have limited operating seasons. Elliot Branch is only open "mid March to mid October" though "the ramp is open year round."
Multi-activity options: For families wanting various activities without moving the car, Clear Creek Recreation Area offers diverse recreation: "There is a basketball and volleyball area in a nice green space area near the boat launch."
Hammock spots: Groups with hammock campers should consider tree density. At Piney Grove, "Each campsite has a ton of trees, which was great for our 7 hammocks."
Playground access: Some campgrounds include play areas at varying distances from campsites. J.P. Coleman State Park has "small playground at entrance and small area of mini golf."
Beach facilities: For families with children who enjoy swimming, look for designated beach areas. Brush Creek Park offers Tennessee River access where "the Tennessee River was beautiful and had clear water."
Safety considerations: Campground security levels vary. At Brush Creek Park, a recent visitor warned, "This camping area is a special spot for tweakers and some sketchy people. They did keep to themselves which worked out."
Pad dimensions: RV site design varies significantly. At J.P. Coleman State Park Campground, "Campsite 45 was not level" and "Sites very close to each other with no vegetation between sites, so no privacy what so ever."
Technical difficulties: Some campgrounds present specific backing challenges. For Piney Grove, "The loops here are a little tight and there are lots of trees so coming in late on a popular weekend could be challenging with trucks, cars, and boats parked about."
Electrical options: Power connections vary by site. Tishomingo State Park offers "20.00 a night" sites with "all sites are level concrete but narrow. No room for error on either side."
Satellite reception: Tree cover affects connectivity. At Piney Grove, "We had to chuckle when several campers here tried and tried to get their satellite dishes to connect. Unless you are maybe near the main road or boat ramp area, doubtful you would get a signal as there are too many trees."
Pad drop-offs: Some sites have specific design issues. At Tishomingo State Park, "The downfall to this park is the camper pads. There are a few that are perfect. Most of them once you step out of your camper has a huge drop off."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Hackleburg, AL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Hackleburg, AL is Dismals Canyon Cabins and Primitive Campsites with a 3.4-star rating from 7 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Hackleburg, AL?
TheDyrt.com has all 11 glamping camping locations near Hackleburg, AL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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