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Houston Recreation Area accommodates pet owners at its campgrounds in the Bankhead National Forest, with primitive campsites where dogs must remain leashed at all times. Tent and RV sites are available in this quiet, well-maintained recreation area along Smith Lake. Nearby Corinth Recreation Area also welcomes pets with spacious, shaded sites ideal for dogs and their owners. The sites at Corinth are well-spaced with plenty of room for pets to explore within site boundaries. Camping facilities include fire rings, picnic tables, and lantern poles at each site. One bathhouse remains open during COVID restrictions, providing hot showers after a day of outdoor activities with pets.
Trails throughout Bankhead National Forest offer excellent hiking opportunities with dogs, with numerous paths leading to waterfalls and rivers. The Thompson Creek Trail provides free primitive camping with pets allowed, making it ideal for backcountry enthusiasts who prefer camping with their dogs in more remote settings. Smith Lake's shoreline offers water access points where dogs can cool off after hiking. Wildlife is abundant throughout the area, so keeping dogs leashed protects both local fauna and pets. The nearby Sipsey Wilderness area features additional hiking options with dogs, though visitors should purchase area maps before venturing out as trail markers are limited and cell service is spotty. For RV campers with pets, Hidden Cove RV Resort and Thousand Trails provide additional pet-friendly options with full hookups.
"**Corinth Recreation Area– USFS ** Corinth Recreation area is located near the town of Double Springs, Alabama."
"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"While many reviews say the lakeside sites are first come, first serve, under the new management they are all booked in advance online."
"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)."
from $38 - $85 / night
Check Availability"No fenced in dog park but plenty of space to have one. Right on the lake but unaware of any kind of rentals available nearby— closest rentals are 40 mins away on the opposite side of the lake."
"We loved this place, a little off the heating path but well worth it. You must check out the nature bridge nearby as well as the Houston jail. Sites were large and bathrooms were very clean."
"During my time in Alabama, I kept hearing wonderful things about Sipsey Wilderness, and its many waterfalls, rocky landscapes, and great hikes."
"Close to waterways. The campground is medium sized, dense forests surround the campsites. The amenities are pretty standard."
"Right away, I noticed how peaceful it felt, tucked a good distance from the main road. Even with the rain coming down, it wasn’t too hard to get to the camping areas."
"Behind the campsite there is a trail over a mound that leads down the hill to a small creek which was nice however there are 2 nice sized caves 1 to either side of this trail."
"Great little campground with awesome access to the lake. Great for Starlink and good AT&T reception."
"This is my favorite place in Alabama. Best hiking in Alabama, possibly the southeast."
"Campground Review: Sipsey is one of the real jewels of Alabama for backpacking and you really feel like you are in another world while wandering though these woods."
"This is a great little campground tucked away on the edge of Bankhead National Forest. The location of the campground makes it an excellent location to enjoy the numerous waterfall hikes in the area."
"Stayed here on an overnight while driving through the state. Great site tucked in the woods, very private area. Huge field with little light pollution to stargaze. Very friendly host. Would Recommend."
from $45 - $79 / night
Check Availability"if you can get there quick enough there are some pretty good spots to camp and it's free not to mention right down the road from some of the best hiking trails I have ever seen open year round"
"Staying on tent site #55 power/ close to water spout. Bathhouse really close by nice shady lot."
"I really enjoy Smith lake campground it has a lot of great sites. There are plenty of shades sites for summer camping."
ScoutNo wifi per office with no known date of repair. Relatively quiet, lots of vehicle traffic and golf carts. Office staff is very helpful and friendly. Majority of park is longterm. Dog friendly, no dog park at location. Close to shopping but far enough away for quiet.
ScoutThere's a fire pit, cornhole, showers are included, two dog parks and half a basketball court. There is a small trail that circles the whole campground.
TravelerThis is a great little campground tucked away on the edge of Bankhead National Forest. The location of the campground makes it an excellent location to enjoy the numerous waterfall hikes in the area. The campground was laid out well with spacious gravel sites and full hookups. Sites 2-4 had good views of the pond/field, sites 10-15 backed up to the tree line to provide a little shade all other sites had full sun. The camp host was super friendly and helpful. They have a general store, laundry, bathhouse, and small dog park. The campground has hiking trails on the property if you don’t have time to visit Bankhead NF. If you’re in the area or wanting to spend time in Bankhead NF I’d recommend checking this campground out.
GuideGreat campground & people! Only reason for 4 instead of 5 stars is the lack of things to do. No fenced in dog park but plenty of space to have one. Right on the lake but unaware of any kind of rentals available nearby— closest rentals are 40 mins away on the opposite side of the lake. Nearest Walmart is Cullman which is 45 mins away. Wouldn’t recommend staying here if you prefer to be closer to the city but perfect if you want to be in the middle of the woods and have no reason to leave. Very hot, humid and rainy time of year! Would be back in the fall perhaps.
ScoutThis is a friendly, clean, campground. Staff is helpful, guide you to site and help you park. Sites provide easy access with ample space for RV and vehicle or trailer. Quiet park, pet friendly with areas to walk you pet with grass and trees.
Legend**Corinth Recreation Area– USFS **
Corinth Recreation area is located near the town of Double Springs, Alabama. The area is operated and maintained by the United State Forest Service (USFS) and can be reserved through www.recreation.gov. There are 52 total sites here and most reserved on line, there are a few sites only available as walk ins. This area is very clean and really quiet at night, the campgrounds are near the lakes edge but not lakeside. The sites are very well maintained, paved and gravel with full services including sewer. There are two RV campgrounds, Firefly and Yellowhammer. We stayed at Yellowhammer as this had more shaded sites than Firefly. There’s also a few tent only sites between the two loops. The bathrooms were clean and the staff was pleasant during our visit, we stayed five days and found so much to see near by the campground. There is very nice boat ramp on the park for easy access to Smith Lake, the beach area is also a great asset. Clean with a well-marked swimming area with bathrooms near the beach area.
The Houston Jail (http://soloso.com/houston/) was a few miles away, this is the only surviving jail constructed from logs in 1818. It’s a historical landmark and worth the short drive to go and see.
Natural Bridge Park (https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/alabama/natural-bridge-al/) is located in Natural Bridge, Alabama is also nearby. This rock formation is the longest sandstone natural rock bridge east of the Rocky Mountains. It’s a good hike through well marked trails and there is a small gift shop that also sells refreshments.
Dismals Canyon (https://www.dismalscanyon.com/) is thirty miles from the campground near the town of Phil Campbell, Alabama. This natural formation will make you question if you are really in Alabama. The hike is a good way to spend the day in a shaded but humid natural wonder. You can also attend a night hike to see the dismalites that only reside in a few places in the world.
The Bankhead National Forest surrounds the entire area. The forest is huge and trying to visit the area waterfalls and trails without a plan is not recommended. Take the time to study the area maps and map the accessible roads before heading out. We actually stopped by the NSFS Office to ask for information, there was also a large map of the area there you can take a picture of that will help you with your planning.
We had a wonderful time here at Corinth, we especially liked the campground and the deer that would come out to graze every evening. This coupled with the fireflies really made this stay memorable, we’ll be back.
LegendWe called ahead the day of arrival and got a reservation for an overnight stay. We received an email with information and bath/laundry code along with instructions to proceed directly to pull-through site 36 with full hookups. There are various ways from I-65 to get to this campground (CG); we came in on I-565E to Mooresville Rd which provided straightforward big-rig friendly access with no tight turns. Our gravel pull-through site was mostly level, and other sites, especially those on the upper level, also appeared level. The park appears newer with functional gravel sites, some with small concrete patio areas, though sites can be somewhat close together and there is little shade. There was no picnic table nor fire pit at our site, which was fine for an overnighter. Water pressure was decent and we got 2 bars on Verizon and 2 bars on T-Mobile. Occupants were mainly full-timers and transient workers, but the park was quiet and decently maintained without appearing overly junky. A nice centrally located bathhouse and small but clean laundry facility are available. Highlights for us were the large fenced dog park, easy self-check-in process, convenient overnight layout for big rigs, and proximity to Buc-ee’s, making this a solid quick stop when traveling through the Athens area.
LegendWe received an email with arrival information, which stated to pick up our site and park information at the shower and laundry facility as you entered the RV Park portion of the golf resort. The information provided a campground(CG) map and our site number. We proceeded to pull through site 25 with FHUs. The site was plenty long enough to situate and disconnect for our two-night stay. Some pull-through reviews stated spacious, and I guess if you rate pad length, that could be accurate, but the sites are close together. The water pressure was excellent, and we really liked the new cedar picnic table. We noticed WiFi transponders throughout the CG. This CG has the most WiFi transponders we’ve ever seen, counting five per row of 20 campsites. The CG WiFi was pretty good, but we put up our Starlink with no problem getting a northern shot. There would not have been a problem with a southern sky shot as well. Soon after we set up, the very nice CG host/manager came by to ensure we didn’t have any issues or questions, which we did not. We got 3 bars on Verizon. The CG is fairly large, with full-time or seasonal leases. They do not have a dog park, but there are plenty of areas to walk your dog. They have dedicated spots for short-term campers. The motel and golf course facilities are adjacent and are located further back on the property. It was nice that there was a separate road to the resort area as the locals drive rapidly to and from the golf course. We played a round of golf and were surprised that the course is not very well maintained, but it does get a lot of play. The CG and the golf course are actually separate entities even though they are co-located. Drove the 15 minutes into Hartselle and were pleasantly surprised by amenities such as the Walmart and especially a very nice, well-stocked Krogers. We enjoyed our stay at this very nice CG.
Tip: Go left at the stop sign on Mt. Zion Rd from Nat Key Rd when departing the CG! When we departed, heading back towards the interstate, you come to a stop sign. Our RV GPS and Waze wanted us to turn right on Mt. Zion Rd instead of going left as we did when we arrived. We took the right turn, and about the time the trailer swung, we saw the drop-off into the ditch, and the driver’s side wheels went into it, knocking off a snap pad. We stopped at the old country store parking lot at the next turn and checked for damage. Thank goodness we only lost a snap pad.
LegendPros: Easy in & out overnight stay. Full 50 amp hookup. Clean site. Pet park, tennis & basketball courts, playground & 2 lakes.
Camping in Bankhead National Forest centers around Smith Lake and provides access to numerous hiking trails with waterfalls. The area maintains a subtropical climate with hot, humid summers (average highs of 90°F) and mild winters (average lows of 35°F). Fall months offer the most comfortable camping weather with lower humidity levels and temperatures between 65-75°F during the day.
Explore secluded trails: Thompson Creek Trail offers primitive camping sites along the creek. "This is a great trail with lots of great spots to camp. Don't expect bathrooms or drinking water to be nearby, but if you're looking to really get away from it all and do some primitive camping, this is a great place to go," notes Trinity W. about Thompson Creek Trail Campsites.
Visit natural landmarks: The Sipsey Wilderness area contains notable features worth hiking to. "If you go hiking, make sure you have AllTrails with a downloadable trail map before you leave the campsite, because there is not great cell service on most trails, and it's easy to get turned around in some places," advises Kristi C. about Corinth Recreation Area.
Water activities: Smith Lake provides swimming and boating opportunities through several access points. "White sand around swimming area. Pavilion is rentable for gatherings," reports Kelly S. about Clear Creek Recreation Area.
Spacious campsites: Many campgrounds in the area provide ample space between sites. "Loved this park! It was our first trip in our new Travel Trailer and it couldn't have gone better. We stayed at Yellow Hammer site #9 easy pull through with plenty of room," shares Thomas H. at Clear Creek Recreation Area.
Stargazing opportunities: Low light pollution allows for excellent night sky viewing. "Huge field with little light pollution to stargaze," notes Chris about Bama Campground & RV Park.
Free camping options: Several dispersed camping sites allow free stays. "Nice little spot out in the forest. Spotted the gravel road and went down a little to the first opening. Pretty decent sized clearing," describes Rae W. about Boondock Dispersed Camping Alabama.
Limited cell service: Many areas have weak or non-existent mobile coverage. "I had no reception with Verizon but my AT&T hotspot had good reception," reports Mara S. about Thousand Trails Hidden Cove.
Seasonal bathroom availability: Some campgrounds restrict bathroom access during certain periods. "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," warns D.W. L. about Clear Creek.
Remote location: Grocery stores and supplies are limited near many campgrounds. "We love this park but it is about 45 minutes from a town with a good grocery store or restaurants," cautions Kelsey B. about Hidden Cove Thousand Trails.
Swimming areas: Several campgrounds offer designated swimming areas with amenities. "Swimming area has shaded picnic areas but is down a steep hill a good way from your car. Also small pebbles in swim area are very painful," notes Kelly S. about Corinth Recreation Area.
Playground access: Some campgrounds feature playgrounds and recreational facilities. "They have a basketball and volleyball area in a nice green space area near the boat launch," mentions M&P M. about Clear Creek Recreation Area.
Hiking difficulty considerations: Trails vary in difficulty throughout the area. "The hike in is not difficult. You do have to cross a stream, which was not as difficult for my 6'2 husband as it was for me at 5'2. The water was clear," shares Miranda C. about Thompson Creek Trail.
Hookup availability: Several campgrounds offer full hookups for RVs. "Full hookups and AT&T cellphone coverage good enough for working from Trailer. Verizon cellphone coverage didn't work here," reports Thomas H. about Corinth Recreation Area.
Site leveling: Site conditions vary across campgrounds. "The sites were beautifully wooded and spacing between each site was adequate, but you can definitely see from one site to the next," observes M&P M. about Clear Creek Recreation Area.
Access considerations: Some areas have challenging road conditions. "GPS took us in a very rural way with lots of twisty roads. Once there we found an open spot on our own since it was a holiday the office was closed," shares Wendy T. about Smith Lake Park.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Houston, AL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Houston, AL is Corinth Recreation Area with a 4.2-star rating from 26 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Houston, AL?
TheDyrt.com has all 84 dog-friendly camping locations near Houston, AL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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