Looking for the best campgrounds near Rainbow City, AL? There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in, as well as sights to see and explore. Discover great camping spots near Rainbow City, reviewed by campers like you.
"Google maps tries to send you a way that doesn’t exist. Stay on Campbell rd until you are in the park on a gravel / dirt road and then keep driving."
"Ultimately, Rangers may come by and ask you to move to prepared sites nearby. I think they are concerned about fires as always."
"The space is in a really beautiful area near the parking area for Lake Chinnabee and a few minutes down the trail from Devil's Den Falls."
"This campground is located at a point where the trail splits and either goes to the Lake Chinnabee recreation area or turns and continues on the skyway loop south."
"I also have several videos attached that show some of the more confusing trail components so you don’t get lost."
"Not far up the trail from the Turnipseed campground, you reach a giant tree standing in front of a small creek."
"Just up the Chinnabee silent trail from the turnip seed campground heading towards the pinhoti sits this awesome campsite."
"I would suggest starting by reading my review from Cheaha Falls Campground which gives a good synopsis of the backpacking loop."
"The downside to staying this far along the ridge is that even in times with high water levels it is pretty far away and you will be trekking back and forth a good distance if you don’t fill up along the"
"This is a backcountry site right along the trail that you pass a minute or two before you get to the Blue Mountain Shelter."
"This is a nice sized campsite alongside the river right off of the Chinnabee Silent Trail. Check out my video below for my take on this site."
"This campsite in particular is located on a small ridge after passing the Sipsey falls area. It is fairly large with two established firepits and multiple cleared areas for tents."
"In summary, this is a nice backcountry campsite a short walk in from the chinnabee silent parking area. It has a nice large flat area for setting up several tents."
"This is by far my favorite campground to stay at if you are planning on spending the night on the ridge while doing the Skyway loop trail."
GuideIt took us a bit to get here. Google maps tries to send you a way that doesn’t exist. Stay on Campbell rd until you are in the park on a gravel / dirt road and then keep driving. For being a gravel dirt road it’s pretty well maintained. The pull offs for van camping are limited and extremely dispersed off the multiple dirt roads. Some going very deep in the Forrest. We found a great pull through one on the left across from the fire watch tower. Limited to no trash. Beautiful piney woods. Plenty of wood. Completely quiet. Maybe 3 cars pulled past all day. Some cell service. Plenty of trails to hike.
LegendCamping here is a very unique experience and completely different than most other campgrounds so I will try and make sure to include enough details to repeat our trip. This"campsite" is really just a large embankment along the Tennessee River on land owned by the TVA. They have a policy that on certain parts of their land along the Tenessee River you are allowed to camp following leave no trace rules. Make sure to follow the link for the campsite to learn more. Although you can use any of their lands there are limited areas that are flat or large enough to comfortably set up a tent. This particular site(GPS coordinates above) is a great space and was perfect for a night along the river. We parked our car on the southern side of the Guntersville dam and put in our boats at the loading ramp. we then kayaked with our gear in dry bags up the river past the amazing views of the painted bluff. We parked our boats for a quick swim(with life vests, the current was really strong) and hiked around the shore where there is a cave. We continued on upriver and finally found this particular site where we set up for the night. The banks of the river are pretty steep so finding a large enough site can be challenging. Be prepared to have extra time to search for another site if the river level is high. On the whole, this was one of the most amazing camping experiences I have ever had and I highly recommend it.
LegendAs I noted in several of my other reviews check out my review of the Sipsey falls campground for a comprehensive account of my favorite hiking and camping in the area.
This campsite in particular is located on a small ridge after passing the Sipsey falls area. It is fairly large with two established firepits and multiple cleared areas for tents. It also has plenty of trees for setting up hammocks. I like this site in particular since it is one of the less crowded spots. I only give it 4 stars however since if available some of the best sites are right next to Sipsey falls a little further along where you have access to water for pumping and swimming when the weather is right.
As always make sure to leave no trace and make the site cleaner than when you found it.
LegendCheck out my other reviews of this trail to get a better picture of the backpacking options in the area. Talladega national forest has some amazing trails and campsites available.
This particular site is located a short way into the woods from the parking area for the Chinnabee silent trailhead and not far from the Turnipseed campground. It is at the intersection of two trails leading down from the main road. It could work for several tents in the dry season but we somewhat waterlogged when we were there in the spring. Not the worst last-minute place to set up camp but there are much better sites further along the trail.
LegendThis site has been cleaned up and expanded since I last stayed here. The space is in a really beautiful area near the parking area for Lake Chinnabee and a few minutes down the trail from Devil's Den Falls. It has an established fire pit and several clear flat areas for tents. The creek runs right alongside so there is easy access to water and it provides a peaceful background sound during the night. Another nice feature of this campground is that it sits at the intersection of multiple trails.
ScoutWe got here an hour before sun down. It’s a nice ride up on a very steep at times dirt road. It’s private but there’s a ton of houses in the area with people driving up and down the road. Once the sun went down there was too many outside noises for us to feel comfortable so we packed up. Very strange noises. Very buggy as well
LegendThis site is another of the small backcountry sites along the river between Cheaha Falls and Lake Chinnabee. Make sure to check out my review of Cheaha Falls Campground where I discuss the entire loop and the best times of year to visit. Although this campground isn’t as nice as others in the area it has easy access to water and is small and private so you won't have anyone else crowding your space. It is also a great option when the other spots can fill up during busy times such as holiday weekends in the spring or fall. This campground also has easy access to the many waterfalls that are up the trail and is not too far from the parking at Lake Chinnabee. This campground has a level area for either 1 or 2 tents, a fire ring, and access to flowing water. The best time to visit is either late spring or early summer when the flowers are blooming and the weather is warm enough to swim. But be aware it can get pretty hot and muggy late in the summer.
LegendCheck out the video included to get a full review of the site. In summary, this is a nice backcountry campsite a short walk in from the chinnabee silent parking area. It has a nice large flat area for setting up several tents. The only negative is that it doesn't have as easy water access as some of the other sites in the area.
LegendThis is a backcountry site right along the trail that you pass a minute or two before you get to the Blue Mountain Shelter. I have linked to that review and I highly suggest checking it out first since it covers some of the directions for hiking into this area. This specific site is more suited for groups however since it has multiple flat areas for lots of tents and several fire pits if you want to spread out. You can set up camp here and hike further on to get to some of the nearby viewpoints which are well worth the trek. This site isn’t that special but practical if you need the space and want to have a nice jumping off point to see some of the other sites in the area.
Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Rainbow City, Alabama, where nature enthusiasts can enjoy serene landscapes and a variety of outdoor activities. With several well-reviewed spots, you can immerse yourself in the great outdoors while enjoying the freedom of camping without the constraints of traditional campgrounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Rainbow City, AL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Rainbow City, AL is Sky Mtwy Dispersed with a 4-star rating from 3 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 17 dispersed camping locations near Rainbow City, AL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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