Looking for tent camping near Natural Bridge? You can find tent campsites by type, including drive-in, walk-in, and even hike-in for a backpacking adventure. Each tent campsite offers quick access to one or more of Natural Bridge's most popular destinations.
Trail 206 snakes through a variety of terrain and passes by two of the Wilderness' better natural attractions – the rock formations known as Eye of the Needle and Ship Rock. Wildflowers adorn the creek-side portions of the trail during the spring. The low-lying sections along Thompson Creek and adjoining Whiteoak Hollow are popular camping areas.
Cabins Dismals Canyon offers two romantic cabins; "Bringing Up The Moon" and "Bringing Down The Sun" located at the north end of the conservatory. This location ensures maximum privacy. Constructed inside and out of Western Red Cedar, with vaulted ceilings, stone fireplaces and hardwood floors. wine basket The details of hospitality are unsurpassed - comfy throws, Tiffany lamps, books, and magazines, and welcoming refreshments. Everything is furnished from rocking chairs to freshly ironed sheets. A complimentary wine basket (wine, cheese, & grapes) awaits your arrival (for guests that stay 2 or more nights). Primitive Campsites Scattered off the main path and given a wide berth from one another, Dismals Canyon primitive campsites offer the ultimate outdoor experience. The number of campsites is limited by design in order to maintain the splendor of the pristine wilderness. They offer privacy and convenience to the canyon.
Scout
This city campground has many beautiful lakeside campsites along Bear Creek. Sites are first-come, first-served. We camped here in mid-October and had no problems getting a site. The campground staff were friendly and helpful.
The site is gravel with large wooden beams surrounding it. We had to put a couple boards under the passenger side tires to level our rig; the site was pretty level from front to rear. Easy setup.
The campground was quiet during the evenings. Fire rings are not provided, so bring your own fire pit if you'd like a campfire.
The park WiFi worked well for us - strong signal, roughly 40mbps download speeds. Using T-Mobile, we had strong 5G service.
Scout
Clean, quiet and friendly. No actual WIFI but cell signals are strong. Will stay here again
RangerFrom the get go at checking in we noticed how laidback and friendly the staff was. We stayed in #26 which has an incline to park the RV which wasn’t a big deal for us. We liked that on the passenger side are view was woods with the lake. The restrooms could used an updated for sure but still very usable. Fishing off the fishing docks was great! Spacing between sites is decent with trees between at most sites. Very friendly family quiet campgrounds.
Scout
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.
GuideIt's the perfect place to stop while traveling through. There are spacious spots, a short nature trail, a swimming area on the lake, and one good restaurant just down the road.
There are some spots right on the lake.
Traveler
We stayed here with 3 dogs and it could not have been better! The bathhouse was amazing and we practically had the park to ourselves! Dogs loved running around smelling all the smells!
Guide
We love this park but it is about 45 minutes from a town with a good grocery store or restaurants.
ScoutThis place is great if you like peace and quiet. Its in the middle of the country side near Bankhead Forest. The campground is nice.
ScoutHello Iam here to let everyone know that His number has changed and he hasn't been able to change it online yet. His new number is 205- 412-6773 if he doesn't answer leave him a voicemail or you can try to text him. Also if you see this please spread the word so he doesn't miss any business in the future. Thank you so much
Scout
Excellent place for an overnight rest on trip out West. Clean, spacious rv sites, and great views of lake.
RangerStayed on a weekend in March. Campground was about 80% full. Bath and showers were clean. Concrete pad with adjacent gravel area for screen room, tent, etc. Laundry facilities were closed during our stay. Paved bike trail nearby. Limited walking trails within the campground. One dump station and trash collection area near the check-in. Good Verizon signal.
Guide
We had one of the primitive tent sites. It was great and hardly anyone else was at the park. Too cold for the water when we went. Bathrooms could have been nicer but better than nothing.
Legend
Jake from the Dyrt here! We're excited to have this campground on the Dyrt and ready for you to book, check them out and make sure to leave a review!
RangerNice park with 3 loops and a few short trails. Reservation on recreate.gov and my spot was $30 a night which feels a bit steep but seems to be the going rate. The spots are not private at all but there are trees.
RangerThe natural beauty in that area is amazing however the camp ground in firefly loop leaves little to be desired and the camp host/hostess are extremely rude. Electric sites are advertised that they accommodate 2 tents however they do not. There is very little area to set up and the gravel is like concrete. There is grass and they don’t tell you a head of time but you can’t set up on the grass unless you are in the tent camping area. It’s is overpriced and poorly staffed.
GuidePark has huge potential! The refurbished sites are level and nicely laid out with water a sewer. The older sites not so much. Plenty of hiking trails, disc golf, fishing and kayaking available.
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.
Legend
Located in Northwest Alabama, not far from the Sipsey Wilderness, Dismals Canyon offers an unparalleled camping experience that stands out in the state. While it may lean toward the higher end in terms of cost, the memories you create during a special weekend getaway here are absolutely worth it. During our most recent visit, we chose to stay in one of the cozy cabins, but the campgrounds also present an excellent lodging option. These cabins feature a generously sized kitchen, a warm and inviting living room complete with a fireplace, and two comfortable bedrooms. Outside, there are ample spaces perfect for relaxation and al fresco dining. The campgrounds are situated just across the street from the rest of the park and require a short stroll to reach. They offer a variety of camping choices, each with its unique appeal. For more detailed information about these options, you can refer to their website. A standout experience during our stay was embarking on the night hike the first evening we arrived. This adventure allowed us to explore the canyon in the darkness before immersing ourselves in its beauty during daylight hours. 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. While the trails within Dismals Canyon may not be particularly lengthy, you'll find yourself utterly captivated by the allure of the surroundings. Be sure to allocate a full day to fully explore and lose yourself in the canyon's enchantment. In summary, Dismals Canyon delivers a camping experience like no other in Northwest Alabama, close to the Sipsey Wilderness. Whether you opt for the cozy cabins or the campgrounds, you'll be treated to a remarkable getaway. Don't pass up the opportunity to embark on a night hike to witness the canyon's beauty illuminated by the glow worms. With its captivating charm, Dismals Canyon guarantees cherished memories.
GuideReally enjoyed the views. Some of the old spots are tight, but still doable with a smaller rig. We stayed at site 4 (old side) as it was our first time staying there. The site was great as it was looking over the lake and not a far walk to the bathhouse and tank dump if you need them. No sewer hook ups at old sites, but do have them at the new ones. When we left, we went to the new side and it’s a lot nicer with sewer hookups.. even had handicap spots.
TravelerLots to do and amazing trails. Helpful and friendly farmers. Clean washrooms and near campsite. No too far from town.
GuideJust the basic services (worked well), but the setting is well worth the five mile drive off the interstate. And a short journey up a narrow gravel drive. Jr is a great host, personable and helpful. He had me back up in the gravel space until we were very level. We used our own phone connections for streaming.
Legend
We 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.
Traveler
Rickwood Caverns was the first car camping experience I ever had. My husband and I went sans kids to see if we liked tent camping and test out our gear. We are total beginners.
We got there at 5:15 and the shop/office closes at 5pm. There was a sign with a phone number for assistance in late check in. No one answered and our VM was never returned. No big deal. We didn’t have a pass in our car and no one cared or checked.
The campground is small. Each of the primitive campsites has a fire pit and picnic table. Our table had seen better days and was missing one bench. Somewhere in the vicinity, there was a faucet for washing dishes, etc., but it was surrounded by a giant mud puddle. There’s another faucet area in the parking lot near the bathroom/shower building.
We reserved site #17 and there were two other tents pitched nearby. I reserved the site on Alaparks’ website and I think I paid $14/night. The park is gated and locked each evening. It is an old state park and a bit run down. The bathroom/shower building is very old, but it was tidy and I did see someone clean it on Saturday morning.
We toured the caverns on Saturday at 10am with a small group and enjoyed the tour. Tours are discounted for campers. The tour didn’t include so much geological information as it was about rocks shaped as animals, etc. It would have been cool to learn more about the history and sciency stuff. Something really interesting about the history to me was that the caverns were basically blasted out and excavated by Boy Scouts in the 50s. Seriously. With dynamite.
The caverns have steep stairs that can be muddy and wet. Lots and lots of steps, so definitely not an activity for folks with mobility issues. Children might struggle too.
The park is kind of near a highway and I could hear cars in the evening and at night.
Cell phone reception was fine.
Temps were low 50s in overnight and bugs were only an issue around dusk. (This was in late April).
Because the campground is so small, primitive camping area is close to camper parking lot, so there was a little camper community close by but that didn’t bother us.
Rickwood Caverns is a low frills place for tent camping for beginner campers. The caverns might be fun to tour again in December when they have their Christmas lights up.
ScoutIt's very nice and peaceful. Great bath house. With laundry. Has an inn and golf course on property. Close to 65.
LegendWe are full-timers in a 36 ft Class A with a Cherokee Trailhawk tow. We were in site 049 for just one night in mid March. The CG is very clean, quiet, peaceful and well maintained. The pads are all concrete with gravel picnic table areas and most sites have reasonable separation.
AT&T coverage was quite good, with 2-3 bars of 5GE and speeds of ~12 MB/s. We were not able to get DISH coverage on any of the western satellites at our site do to the area being heavily wooded. We were able to get 15 OTA channels with our omni antenna. Our site had an open area next to it so we were able to get decent Starlink coverage, with only intermittent dropouts and speeds of 4+ MB/s, but most of the other sites wouldn’t fair so well.
LegendThe campground(CG) is easy to find. They opened the check-in gate as we arrived a little before 3:00 PM. The very friendly lady at the gate quickly checked us in, and we were off to the first and only loop that was open in early January. We paid$12.50 with America the Beautiful Pass. We proceeded to site 6 with water& electric(50/30/20 AMP) and backed in with no issues. Site 6 is a wide site, so we had no problems parking our F450 after we unhitched. The CG was not very full this time of year and middle of the week though several rigs came in around dusk. The water pressure as is the norm at most COEs, was over 60 psi, so we used a reducer. We got a fair amount of OTA channels and 4 bars on Verizon. Satellite would have been iffy in this site due to the trees. Whitten has really nice trails that weave down through little valleys to and from the river, which were really nice for walking our dogs. We’ve stayed here before, but this time was just an overnighter. This campground is a great base camp to explore the area and especially the Elvis attractions around Tupelo. In addition, Piezons Pizza in Fulton is one of the best pizza places we’ve come across in our travels. We highly recommend this CG.
GuideFull hook ups, much privacy, state park setting with lake & large lots. Some new sites too.
Camping near Natural Bridge, Alabama, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and outdoor activities. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled weekend, there are several campgrounds to choose from.
Camping near Natural Bridge, Alabama, has something for everyone, whether you're a family looking for fun or an RV enthusiast seeking adventure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Natural Bridge, AL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Natural Bridge, AL is Thompson Creek Trail Campsites with a 4.9-star rating from 10 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Natural Bridge, AL?
TheDyrt.com has all 24 tent camping locations near Natural Bridge, AL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
