Tent camping near Gaylesville, Alabama offers both rugged dispersed options and established sites nestled around Little River Canyon National Preserve. The terrain features steep sandstone cliffs with elevations ranging from 600 to 1,900 feet above sea level. Area campgrounds maintain natural surroundings while providing varying levels of privacy, from secluded riverside spots to more open communal areas with partial road noise.
What to do
Blue hole swimming: 5-minute drive from Blue Hole Dispersed- Crockford-Pigeon Mountain WMA where campers report "It has a blue hole an caves no electricity or running water but the camp sites are pretty good." This natural swimming area offers cool water even during summer months.
Cave exploration: 2-minute walk from Sawmill Lake Campsite to Petty John Cave. As one visitor notes, "This is a nice primitive camp site just a 2 min walk from Petty John Cave and a 5 min drive to Rock Town Trailhead. Come here to try your hand at rock climbing and spelunking."
Horseback riding: Multiple maintained horse trails at Warden Station Horse Camp where reviewers appreciate the natural experience despite primitive conditions. "Horse trails are usually well maintained and marked which makes up for the super primitive camping. Nevertheless I will always love this place."
Mountain biking: Equipment rentals available at Little River Adventure Company for exploring the parkway along the canyon. One visitor mentioned, "They also rent out pedal and motor bikes for exploring the parkway along the canyon."
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Little River Adventure Company offers true seclusion. "My wife and I love coming to this campground, the host is fantastic and very accommodating. It's completely different than any other campground we've been to in the sense that the campsites are secluded and private."
Riverside access: Many sites offer direct water access for swimming and kayaking. "On top of the campground, they also have access to the river for swimming and kayak launching."
Budget-friendly options: Free dispersed camping available at several locations just across the Georgia border. One camper at Hidden Creek reports, "It's definitely a good place to camp with privacy. The camp sites are a good distance away from each other too!"
Natural setting: Rustic camping with minimal development maintains the wilderness feel. "We were in a mini van and were still able to navigate the grounds and dirt road pretty easily. Our kids were amazed by the water access and walking trails. Our dog was also able to free roam in the spot we picked."
What you should know
Road conditions: Many access roads require careful driving or high clearance vehicles. A visitor to Hidden Creek Campground warns, "GPS wants to take you to where the road dead ends but the actual turn off is before the end of the road on the right where the big wood sign is... LOTS OF DEEP POTHOLES."
Bathhouse locations: Facilities may be far from camping areas. One camper noted, "The bathhouse is at the very front of the property away from the campsites, but the toilet and shower were clean and perfectly adequate."
Seasonal considerations: Summer camping can be hot with insects. A review mentions, "It rained, so no bugs, but that's prob not true for the dry days..."
Land passes: Some areas require permits. For Pigeon Mountain WMA, "Land pass required. No alcohol is permitted. This is a wildlife management area. The camp sites are first come, first serve."
Tips for camping with families
Self-contained bathroom options: Bring portable facilities for comfort. A family at Little River Adventure Company recommends, "I do recommend bringing your own toilet accommodations since you'll probably pick a site further from the bath house."
Kid-friendly water features: Select sites with creek or river access. "Our kids were amazed by the water access and walking trails."
Check noise levels: Some campgrounds have road noise. One camper mentions, "My one quibble would be that, although the site definitely feels secluded, there was a little bit of road noise at night from the main road."
Pet policies vary: Confirm before bringing animals. Yellow Creek Falls Fish Camp allows pets but notes they must be controlled, while some areas prohibit pets entirely.
Tips from RVers
Length restrictions: Most sites accommodate smaller RVs only. A camper with a popup reported, "We stayed 3 days 2 nights here in our 21' pop up camper with our generator. Road is pretty well maintained, spots are good size, some only large enough for tent/car camping."
Access route planning: Approach directions matter. "If you have a trailer or rv I recommend coming in from the west direction, if you can tell from maps. The east way had 180 degree sharp turns up the mountain, so may be difficult."
Power options: No hookups available at most sites. Bring sufficient battery power or generators where permitted, as most campers report no electricity or running water throughout the area.
