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Oak Mountain State Park Campground accommodates horses with specialized facilities in Pelham, Alabama. The campground provides both standard and equestrian-specific camping areas with particular amenities for riders. The equestrian camping area offers full hookup sites including 50-amp electrical connections and sewer hookups, arranged in pull-through configurations that accommodate horse trailers. The park maintains designated stabling areas near the equestrian campsites. Camp hosts are available in the main campground area, though service levels may vary based on staff availability. Recent renovations have improved the main campground facilities, while the horse camping area remains functional but less updated.
Trail access provides the primary attraction for equestrian visitors at Oak Mountain. The extensive trail system accommodates riders with varying difficulty levels and connects directly to the equestrian camping area. Water access points for horses are available along several trails. Bathroom facilities with showers are accessible to equestrian campers, though some visitors note these facilities need updating. The park's size allows for extended riding without covering the same ground repeatedly. Riders appreciate the well-maintained bridle paths and the ability to access multiple terrain types, from wooded areas to more open riding spaces. The campground's proximity to Birmingham offers convenience while maintaining a natural setting where riders can enjoy peaceful trail experiences.
"But regular RV campers are allowed at the Equestrian center. We are close to the farm/petting zoo. Also the horses are next to the campground. Very quiet and reasonably priced."
"The one I stayed at was close to a small lake in a good shaded area and plenty of good trees to tie up a hammock."
"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."
from $6 - $18 / night
Check Availability"Its main claim to fame is the off roading trails for bikes or side by sides. They can be heard all over the campground so if you like peace and quiet not the park for you."
"Paved asphalt roads, concrete sites and patios, private baths and showers, scenic walking trail around lake, strong wireless coverage..."
from $30 - $35 / night
Check Availability"They have nice paddocks for your horses. The multiple trails are so beautiful . I have been here many times."
"Lots to do and amazing trails. Helpful and friendly farmers. Clean washrooms and near campsite. No too far from town."
from $10 - $30 / night
GuideVery happy at this campground. But there aren't many campers here. I think they are at the main campground. But regular RV campers are allowed at the Equestrian center. We are close to the farm/petting zoo. Also the horses are next to the campground. Very quiet and reasonably priced.
GuideThis park and campground is one of my favorites for sure. The park is full of things to do such as hiking, horseback riding, a petting zoo, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, swimming, bicycling, etc. The campsites are awesome with both primitive and powered sites. The one I stayed at was close to a small lake in a good shaded area and plenty of good trees to tie up a hammock. Campers beware do not leave any food in totes outside of your camper or tent the squirrels will chew a hole in the lid trying to get to the food lol... The bathhouses are nice and plenty located throughout the campground. Due to covid-19 you may want to check in with the front office and see what activities are available before booking. When I went it was at the early stages and even then some of the activities were closed. 200 Terrace Dr, Pelham, AL 35124
(205)620‐2527
ScoutOak mountain state park has been a favorite of mine since I was a child. There's so much to do; and its always growing. It's the largest state park in Alabama. Theres lakes, waterfalls, nature trails, basket ball court, volley ball, a petting zoo, horses back riding, water sports, dirt bikes trails, BMX course, archery, cabins, primitive camping and rv's , a beach, a wildlife rescue center and so much more. If you're in the area do yourself a favor and check it out.
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
GuideWhat an amazing campground! Alabama knocked this one out of the park. From the first time you enter the park, which isn’t too far from BHam or the interstate, you’re transported to a different place where things move much more slowly just the way we like it. The campground is a 5 mile ride from the main entrance. A beautiful winding road takes you all the way, deep into the property. If you’re lucky, you will see plenty of wildlife (we saw 7 deer and one rabbit). The campsites are very spacious, we stayed in site A30 which was great! But if you want a view, try A26 which overlooks the lake. There is a general store on property that even has propane. If you’re active, they offer bike and hiking trails, horse riding, kayak and paddle boat rentals, and a couple of beaches. Don’t wait, book your stay here ASAP!
ScoutI've been wanting to visit Oak mountain and we booked last minute May 1st-3rd. They were booked completely except for an equestrian pull through site. I had already made plans with my family and another (both first timers with our own young families). I asked about pitching tents on the gravel and they said people do it. We had two tents on complete gravel and had enough tarp and mats that it really didn't bother us. The stables were right in front of our eyes, and we could hear the peacock next door, which was lovely actually. Their horses on their farm were roaming around and it was beautiful! Bathrooms were absolutely perfect and cleaned what seemed twice a day from the cleaning logs. They were maybe 300 feet from us and since the RVs all have hook ups we seemed to be the only ones using them, really. Everything else was basically closed down, but when we went to hike the water fall trail, it seemed so crowded that I wasn't surprised when we saw the ranger show up to send people out of the falls, so we didn't waste our time. I'd go back to enjoy the beach and trails, with a bike definitely!
GuideWe needed a one night stopover Campground. Aesthetics are important, so we chose Oak Mountain State Park for its mountain beauty. We thought we’d reserve the campsite (B36) based on its being at the end of the area and near the shower/restroom. Major pros to the campground would be an apparent lot of things to do: what looked like a zip line water skiing place, lots of major inflatable stuff in the beach swimming area, equestrian trails and stalls for horses, hiking trails... and our site was near one of the playgrounds in the campground. The staff in the office and host folks were wonderful and friendly. But, our site was an asphalt pad ( perfectly level) with no grass around it. While the campground is surrounded by forest, There were some trees, and some shade, but not enough space around us to sit back ( on our asphalt) to enjoy them. The shower was perfectly hot and adequate water pressure, but there is one shower in each shower house/restroom, and it was right inside the restroom door with a bend in the wall and one plastic shower curtain. My daughter felt exposed, but there weren’t so many people using the showerhouse to be problematic. The two toilet stalls were also enough for the number of people that needed to use them. (There are other similarly sized showerhouse/restrooms not too far away.) This campground met our needs well, but we weren’t overwhelmed and didn’t rush to book a return overnight after our trip. There are many reasons to love this place ( and the tent camp spaces looked fantastic!!!) but for what we needed I’d have to say it was just perfectly adequate.
LegendThis state campground in the Birmingham AL metro area is a quick getaway for city and suburban dwellers. We were looking for continued warm fall weather on a slow trip north; this met the warmth and fall criteria in late October. The proximity to the city made it a good choice for exploring Birmingham.
Campground as Hotel
We left in the morning and came back in the evening. Using the campground strictly for accommodations worked out well; it wasn't a place where we would have wanted to hang around the campground all day. The large RVs crammed on sites that weren't very large gave us a closed in feeling. We pulled down the shade in our teardrop to avoid the light pollution from the campers who leave ground lights and other decorative lights on all night. (Do they leave their outdoor holiday lights on all night at home?)
Tent Only Sites
The tent only sites are the best feature of this park. You can pitch your tent among the trees away from the RVs packed together in the rest of the park.
There's no power or water at these sites.
These sites are listed as tent only, but the park office attendant told us there were a few where we could fit our vehicle and teardrop. We declined because we thought we'd be too close to the road although we later saw several that would have been fine
Site 42B is the BEST SITE IN THE PARK! You walk down to the site from the parking area, and then there's a great view of the water. I took a photo looking back at the site from the beach area.
Other Sites
All sites not designated tent only have electricity and water. There are some sites with sewer hookup as well as 50 amp power. See site map photo.
Loop A's sites are more spread out than sites in Loop B.
Loop B: B33 was ok. I recommend sticking to the outside of this loop because there are two roads down the center where you'll have sites on both sides, across the road and behind you. Inside the loop seemed crowded because there were large RVs.
Restrooms
Several restrooms are spread throughout the park. They each have a couple toilets and a shower along with hot and cold water in the sinks. Restrooms are clean and a checklist indicates they're inspected 2 or 3 times per day. Everything works fine, but they could use an update inside. If the usage at the end of October is any indication of overall usage, this park is heavily used. It's close to Birmingham which has over a million people, one-fourth of Alabama's population. The state of Alabama should step up and do some renovation.
Site Taxes are HIGH
Be prepared for a significant jump to the cost when taxes are applied. Our campsite fee was a reasonable $22.65/night which included a 15% senior discount. Regular price is $26.65. Taxes and a $4.50 one-time fee were added for a grand total of $85.62 for 3 nights. If you're counting, that's 20+% in taxes.
Things To Do In The Park: boating, fishing, swimming, hiking. You can purchase a detailed hiking map for $1. If you aren't from the area and want to take in some Birmingham history, there are options.
Red Mountain Park has hiking trails along with old iron ore mines. There's an adventure park with zip lining, climbing, etc.
The base of Vulcan, Alabama's entry in the 1904 World's Fair, is the best place to see Birmingham. The museum next to the statue was well done; it provides a history of this steel city.
The park across from the 16th Street Baptist Church (site of the bombing on 9/15/1963 that killed 4 young girls) is a window into the sad part of Birmingham's history. There's also a civil rights museum nearby.
The craft breweries (Good People and Avondale) were good. And great barbecue at Saw. Pizza was good at Post Office Pies but they need to put more basil on a pizza advertised as a white basil pizza, not 5 little scraps.
GuideWe stayed at the equestrian campground at Oak Mountain. It was very nice and quiet. Once you go through the gate take your first left and keep driving. We only stayed 2 nights and didn't get to see everything they have at the park. We want to go back!
Oak Mountain State Park offers specialized equestrian camping near Pelham, Alabama, approximately 20 miles south of Birmingham. The park spans 9,940 acres of woodland terrain with elevation changes that create varied riding challenges. Winter temperatures average 35-55°F while summer temperatures typically range from 70-90°F, with higher humidity levels making spring and fall the preferred seasons for horse camping.
Trail riding for all levels: Oak Mountain State Park provides extensive trail systems with varying difficulty levels. Riders can access numerous trails directly from the equestrian camping area. As one visitor notes, "The extensive trail system accommodates riders with varying difficulty levels and connects directly to the equestrian camping area" while another mentions "Lots of trails to hit on the dirt bikes or ATVs" at Chilton County Minooka Park, located about 30 miles south of Pelham.
Explore backcountry areas: The Backcountry Site at Oak Mountain State Park offers more remote experiences. "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," shares one regular visitor.
Water activities: The park's lakes provide fishing opportunities throughout the year. Anglers can fish from recently constructed docks at some locations. "Brand new docks to fish from!" reports a visitor to Minooka Park, while Oak Mountain offers larger lakes for more extensive fishing opportunities.
Renovated facilities: Recent investments have significantly improved campground amenities. "They put a massive amount of money into updating this place. This is the #1 best state park campground I have ever been at," reports one camper about Oak Mountain State Park Campground.
Clean, modern bathhouses: Equestrian areas feature recently remodeled bathhouses maintained to high standards. "They are all pull thru with a remodeled bathhouse. It was extremely clean," notes a camper who stayed at the Equestrian campground before moving to Section B.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Faye Whittemore Farms offers additional horse-friendly camping about 60 miles northwest of Pelham. "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," reports a regular visitor.
Reservation recommendations: Secure sites well in advance, especially for equestrian camping during peak seasons. "Reserved 363 days prior to arriving," mentions one organized camper at Oak Mountain State Park.
Navigation challenges: First-time visitors may encounter confusing park signage. "Poor signage upon entering Park... Glad we didn't arrive in the dark!" warns one camper. The equestrian camping area requires specific directions distinct from the main campground.
Variable cell service: While main areas have good coverage, signal strength varies throughout the park. "It has wifi throughout and almost everywhere in the park has cell reception," notes one recent visitor to Bama RV Station, which offers more consistent connectivity as an alternative when needing reliable internet access.
Educational opportunities: Take advantage of the wildlife center for educational experiences. "Don't miss the TREE TOP NATURE TRAIL!" recommends one visitor while another notes the park has a "museum of wildlife, and the wildlife rescue center."
Playground access: Families appreciate the dedicated play areas available at several campgrounds. "The playground is also small but nice," reports a visitor to Chilton County Minooka Park.
Multiple accommodation options: Choose from various camping styles based on your family's experience level. "I love that you can choose what type of camping you want- RV, car camping, or even backcountry!" shares a camper at Oak Mountain Backcountry.
Site selection guidance: Section B of the main campground offers suitable conditions for less experienced drivers. "Remodeled spaces with adequate space for a newbie to back her travel trailer in with no problems. What an Ego booster!" shares one camper.
Setup considerations: Equestrian sites feature pull-through configurations specifically designed to accommodate horse trailers. Most sites include 50-amp service and full hookups, but verify specific site amenities when booking.
Entrance recommendations: Construction near the south entrance may create challenges for larger rigs. "No notice by park on the south entrance roadwork and roundabout construction...horribly tight to maneuver... recommend North entrance/exit until construction is completed," advises a camper.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Pelham, AL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Pelham, AL is Oak Mountain State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 100 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Pelham, AL?
TheDyrt.com has all 5 equestrian camping locations near Pelham, AL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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