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.
What to do
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.
What campers like
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.
What you should know
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.
Tips for camping with families
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.
Tips for RVers
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.
