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NORTH ALABAMA
Bankhead Lake
A picnic spot with a view of the Bankhead Lock and
Dam. The northernmost Corps of Engineers project on the Black
Warrior-Tombigbee river system, Bankhead Lake stretches for 65
miles over 9,100 surface acres. The only public recreation site
on the lake is a picnic facility on the east side of the river.
This area overlooks the John Hollis Bankhead Lock and Dam, 34
miles from Tuscaloosa. All other facilities on the lake, including
marinas and fish camps, are privately owned. Bass fishing, hunting
and boating are all popular on the lake.
Blowing Wind Cave Wildlife Refuge
Commune with the bats at this northern
refuge. Seven miles west of Scottsboro is a site you will find
listed in that popular travel tome "A Vacationer's Guide
to Bats." Sitting just above the Sauty Creek of Guntersville
Reservoir, Blowing Wind Cave National Wildlife Refuge consists
of 264 acres of hardwoods and a cave which houses the endangered
gray and Indiana bats. This important habitat is home to numerous
other bat species as well. Due to the delicate nature of the
habitat, visitors may not enter the cave, however, they can enjoy
hiking, picnicking, and wildlife photography on the Refuge grounds.
The must-see event of the year at the Refuge is the bat exodus.
One summer evening at dusk, over 500,000 gray bats fly from the
cave in the largest annual emergence in the eastern United States.
Bucks
Pocket State Park
Miles
of trails lead nature lovers through this isolated treasure.
In northeast Alabama, just seven miles from Lake Guntersville,
is a rugged and secluded nature lover's dream. Called by some
the "best kept secret" of Alabama outdoor recreation,
Buck's Pocket State Park is actually a 2,000-acre canyon gouged
into the Appalachian range. The isolated beauty of the natural
environment is complemented by boating, swimming and fishing
activities at nearby Morgan Cove. Rock climbers, horseback riders,
and hikers are treated to spectacular views along the 12 miles
of bridle and hiking trails. The park includes a picnic area
and observation point where one can gaze down into the 400-foot
deep canyon. The camping area sits on the canyon floor and offers
48 sites with both water and electricity.
Catherdral
Caverns
This 461-acre park, in Grant, AL is open 7 days a week 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. $8.00 for adults $5.00 for children ages 5-12. Phone number is 256-728-8193 or contact the Marshall County Convention & Visitor's Bureau at 1-800-582-6282.
Cheaha
State Park
Vacationers
visit for views from the tiptop spot in the state. Perched atop
Mount Cheaha is the highest point in the state, a rustic rock
tower 2,407 feet above sea level. Surrounding this pinnacle is
Cheaha State Park and Resort., a 2,800-acre mountain retreat
known for its wonderful scenery, wilderness and wildlife. Resort
visitors may stay in stone cabins, chalets or hotel rooms while
enjoying the restaurant, lodge and swimming pool facilities.
Seventy-three campsites with full hook-ups, a picnic area, and
a playground offer an alternative to the Resort. Six-acre Coleman
Lake provides non-motorized boating, fishing, and swimming, while
a nature center and the Civilian Conservation Corps sit atop
the mountain. Hiking and backpacking are popular along the 7
miles of hiking trails, and a new mountain bike trail winds through
the park. Since Cheaha is located within the Talladega National
Forest, hikers have access to more than 100 miles of trails that
are part of the Pinhoti National Recreation Trail System.
Cherokee Rock Village
A village of stone tells a story
of old. Located on Shinbone Ridge west of Leesburg, Cherokee
Rock Village is a 200-acre park that features a stone "village"
made of huge boulders 300 million years old. Used by the Cherokees
and other tribes for religious and ceremonial rites, this area
is covered with enormous sandstone and quartz formations as high
as 200 feet. Atop the ridge one sees a beautiful view of the
valley and Weiss Lake. On a clear day it is possible to see sections
of Georgia, Tennessee, and Alabama. The park has miles of trails
for hikers and rock climbers to enjoy.
Cornwall Furnace Park
Views of Weiss Lake and Confederate
history greet picnickers. Sitting on Weiss Lake in Cedar Bluff
is the National Historic Site of Cornwall Furnace. Begun in 1863,
this cold blast furnace churned out charcoal iron for the Confederate
cause. Perhaps the best preserved stack in the southeast, the
furnace is surrounded by a 5.5 acre park, with a 3,000-foot nature
trail, covered picnic tables, barbecue pits, and a scenic view
of Weiss Lake.
DeSoto Caverns
Park
Be dazzled by
this onyx and marble grotto. DeSoto Caverns, located in Talladega County, between Winterboro and Childersburg, were named for the explorer Hernando DeSoto who first
visited the caves in 1540. Containing some of the world's most
amazing stalagmites and stalactites, these prehistoric onyx and
marble caves were home to the Creek Indians. The highlight of
the tour through the caverns is the Great Onyx Cathedral Room,
a space several hundred feet long that houses such formations
as the Onyx Draperies - 30 foot long free hanging rock sheets.
Visitors may also see a prehistoric Indian Burial Ground, the
caverns oldest marker - Trader's Rock 1723 -, and a confederate
gunpowder mining site. The hour-long tour through the caverns
includes a laser light and sound show.
De Soto State Park
A popular destination for family vacations. Nestled
within the Little River Canyon Federal Preserve are the 5,000
acres of DeSoto State Park. Just 8 miles northeast of Fort Payne,
DeSoto Park is known as the "Home of Mother Nature."
Lush forests, abundant wildflowers, magnificent rock formations,
and waterfalls all provide visitors with spectacular views. A
22-mile scenic drive rambles along the edge of the canyon and
eventually leads to the site of DeSoto Falls. Activities at Desoto
Park include picnicking, non-motorized boating, fishing, tennis,
swimming, and nature programs. Hikers have 21 miles of trails
to choose from: some difficult, some merely strolls through the
woods. DeSoto offers resort hotel rooms, modern cabins, rustic
cabins built by the Civilian Conservation Corp in the depression
era, and campsites. In all there are 78 campsites, 21 chalets
and cabins, and 25 motel units. Special events through the year
include Rhododendron, Wildflower and Fall Color festivals.
Dismals Canyon
Glowing worms shed light on the secrets of this natural
wonder. A National Natural Landmark, Dismals Canyon is known
for its mysterious ambiance. A site of secret Indian rituals
and outlaw hideouts, home to the Pablo Indians, and holding cell
for Cherokee and Chickasaw embarking on the Trail of Tears, this
natural wonder contains one of the oldest primeval forests east
of the Mississippi River. Located in the northwest, near the
town of Phil Campbell, Dismals Canyon was originally occupied
nearly 10,000 years ago by native tribes. Its history enhances
the beauty of the canyon's 350 species of exotic plants, trees,
waterfalls, natural bridges, cliffs and boulders. Along with
camping, hiking, canoeing, and swimming, visitors may participate
in guided tours that explore the archeological sites within the
canyon. A 2.5 mile nature trail and 6.5 mile backpacker/mountain
bike trail cross the Canyon. Cabins and canoes can be rented,
camping sites are available, and a Country Store offers supplies
and Indian wares. During the summers, night tours allow one to
view the glow-in-the-dark worms known as Dismalites.
Fern Cave Wildlife Refuge
A small quiet bat house. Another
of north Alabama's bat refuges, Fern Cave is home to over a million
gray bats and several hundred Indiana Bats. Surrounded by 199
acres of hardwood forest, the Cave sits alongside the Paint Rock
River west of Scottsboro. Fern Cave receives its name from the
threatened American hart's tongue fern; the fern's propagation
is part of the mission of the Refuge. Public use opportunities
are limited, but visitors may enjoy parts of the Refuge.
Goose Pond Colony
The famous golf-course is surrounded by lake fun.
A municipally owned recreation facility, Goose Pond Colony is
located on the banks of Lake Guntersville. A full service marina,
boat launching facilities, and boat rentals allow visitors to
take full advantage of the lake. Five miles of biking and walking
tails, a swimming pool, and a playground provide plenty of family
activities. Guests stay in lakefront cottages or the waterfront
campground. Goose Pond is best known for its 18-hole championship
golf course, which draws golfers from across the state. A special
Fourth of July celebration takes place each year at Goose Pond's
amphitheater. This outdoor structure seats 2,000 people and provides
a wonderful view of the lake and surrounding mountains.
Hurricane Creek Park
A natural amusement park nestled in a mountain canyon.
This private day park is the result of the exploration and work
of an independent proprietor. For a small entrance fee, visitors
may explore the 300-foot deep canyon at the base of the McKinley
Mountain Range in Cullman County. Four trails wind through the
138-acre park, giving hikers a chance to trek alongside the creek
meandering through the canyon. A picnic area, swinging bridge,
rock shelters, and other natural formations entertain visitors.
The proprietor has named some of the more unusual rock and cave
formations, giving them moniker's like Satan's Staircase, Hidden
Valley and Twilight Tunnel. A great place for kids to have fun,
the final touch is a mine car that runs from the end of a hiking
trail back to the park entrance. Just ring the bell and the mine
car will whisk you along the rails to the end of your journey!
Joe Wheeler State Park
Spreading along the Tennessee River with everything
from resort accommodations to fishing holes. This 2,550-acre
resort park occupies three separate locations in northwest Alabama.
The main area, 2 miles west of Rogersville on the shores of Wheeler
Lake, houses the resort lodge with its 75 rooms, restaurant and
convention facilities. A full-service marina provides access
to the lake for boaters and fishermen. Tennis courts, a swimming
pool and golf course round out the resort experience. Along the
lakeshore is a campground, picnic areas, play areas, hiking trails,
and a beach. Just up the road is Elk River Lodge, a group lodge
that can accommodate up to 30 people. A great site for family
reunions or work retreats, the Lodge has a recreation area and
access to Wheeler Lake. To the west is Wheeler Dam and a perfect
spot for a fishing expedition. Twenty-three rustic cabins, a
boat launch, tennis courts and a recreation area sit south of
the Dam and offer anglers a secluded stead to bait their hooks.
Key Cave Wildlife Refuge
See the Alabama Cavefish in its only
remaining home. Home to endangered gray bats and the nearly extinct
Alabama cavefish, Key Cave Refuge is actually two caves - Key
and Collier, an aquifer, and 1,000 acres of land. Five miles
southwest of Florence on the shore of Pickwick Lake, Key Cave
houses the only known population of Alabama cavefish. Habitat
is also provided for neotropical migrant birds and upland game
species. Access is limited, but some opportunities exist to enjoy
the refuge.
Lake
Guntersville State Park
A
relaxing resort with activities for the whole family. Lake Guntersville
State Park rolls across nearly 6,000 acres of mountain tops and
meadows overlooking the massive Guntersville Reservoir. Atop
Little Mountain sits the Resort, a large lodge, restaurant and
convention complex that boasts an art gallery, huge rock fireplaces,
and magnificent views of flora and fauna. A sauna and swimming
pool provide resort water activities, while the lake offers fishing,
boating and swimming. Visitors may choose to stay in one of the
94 resort rooms, settle into any of the 34 cottages and chalets,
or rough it in the large campground. An 18-hole golf course,
lighted tennis courts and covered picnic pavilions with playgrounds
entertain the family. The 31-miles of marked trails take you
along routes used 200 years ago by Cherokee Indians. The park's
Nature Center has educational programs, including some provided
by the Southeastern Raptor Rehabilitation Center. The newest
addition to the park is the American Bald Eagle, which has taken
to spending winters in the area. A special Eagle Awareness Program
takes place during the month of January.
Lake Lurleen State Park
Fish in the lake or hike around it. Named for former
Alabama Governor Lurleen B. Wallace, this 1,625-acre state park
is 12 miles northwest of Tuscaloosa. The centerpiece of this
scenic retreat is the 250-acre lake. Non-motorized boat and canoe
rentals are available, with easy access to the lake via several
boat ramps. A bait and tackle shop supplies anglers who fish
from piers for bass, crappie, bream and catfish. A roped-off
swimming area and bath houses are available for visitors who
prefer to float rather than fish. Picnic shelters, a playground,
and a 91-site campground make this a complete recreation facility.
Four hiking trails wind through the park covering a total of
five miles.
Little River Canyon National Preserve
Rafters, rock climbers and sightseers
frequent this mountain-top preserve. Flowing down into the canyon
from atop Lookout Mountain in northeast Alabama is the Little
River, the only river in the U.S. to start and end on top of
a mountain. Surrounding the river are 14,000 acres of forested
lands, waterfalls, canyon rims and bluffs, streams and pools,
and sandstone cliffs set aside as a national preserve. While
outdoor activities abound, whitewater rafting, rock climbing,
and sightseeing are the most popular pastimes in the Preserve.
Wildflowers, roaring waters, and bird songs all accompany climbers
and hikers along the many trails, while gorgeous views dominate
the drive along Canyon Rim. A section of the Lookout Mountain
Parkway, Canyon Rim Drive offers spectacular overlooks and picnic
areas. The Canyon Mouth Park is a day-use area with wading, hiking,
and fishing. Perfect for family outings, the park contains barbecue
grills, picnic tables, a pavilion, and bathrooms. Other activities
in the Preserve include white water paddling, canoeing, mountain
biking, horse back riding, hunting, and trapping. Camping and
lodging are available at the nearby DeSoto State Park.
Monte Sano State Park
Healthy hikes beckon park-goers to the top of the
mountain. Spanish for mountain of health, Monte Sano rises 1,600
feet into the cool, clean air of north Alabama. Located in Huntsville,
the park was once the site of a sanatorium for wealthy residents
wishing to restore their health. Today, the state park offers
camping, lodging, hiking, and picnicking. Visitors view panoramas
of the Tennessee River Valley, diverse wildlife, and interesting
geological formations along the fourteen mile trail system, which
accommodates both hikers and mountain bikers. Primitive and developed
campsites cross the park, while 14 rustic vacation cottages overlook
the valley. Buildings on the 2,100 acres of park land include
many built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, as well as the
Von Braun Planetarium and a 150-seat amphitheater.
Natchez Trace Scenic Trail
Travel this antique route through
the heart of the southeast. Thirty-three miles of the Natchez
Trace scenic highway lie within the northwest corner of the state
of Alabama. Following Native American Indian paths, the entire
parkway runs 450 miles through Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi.
Drivers and cyclists traveling the Trace may stop at 15 locations
along the way which offer camping and picnicking, natural, hiking
and horseback trails, and bridges with scenic vistas. Historical
monuments and visitors' centers offer interpretive information
about the Trace and its long history. Attractions include a tobacco
farm, a 19th-century open pit mine, ancient burial mounds, Confederate
gravesites, and Chickasaw history exhibits. When completed, The
National Scenic Trail will cover 694 miles on and around the
original Natchez Tracer - the name given to the animal tracks
and Indian trails later used by post riders and the military.
Natural Bridge Resort
Stand beneath this soaring monument
to the power of natural phenomena. On the western edge of Winston
County, outside the small town of Natural Bridge, is the natural
wonder that gives the town its name. Natural Bridge is actually
two giant spans of sandstone 60 feet high and 148 feet wide carved
out 200 million years ago. The arch is one of the longest natural
viaducts in the eastern U.S. Beneath the sandstone arches hikers
and picnickers can enjoy the ancient hemlock forest, 27 varieties
of ferns, colorful wildflowers and nature paths.
Noccalula Falls Park & Campground
A beautiful falls with a mournful
history. Originally known as Black Creek Falls, this water attraction
derives its current name from the legend of Princess Noccalula.
Forced by her father to give up the man she loved, and betrothed
against her will to another, the Princess threw herself over
the falls on her wedding day. Her heartbroken and remorseful
father thereafter called the 90-foot cascade by his daughter's
name. A statue of the tragic Princess sits atop the falls as
a reminder of her fate. The surrounding park, near Gadsden, includes
a botanical garden, a pioneer village and museum, miniature train
rides and mini-golf. For those interested in more traditional
outdoor activities there is a playground, campground, picnic
area and hiking trails. The Historic Gorge Trail has caves, Indian
carvings, rare plants and wildlife along its route.
Oak
Mountain State Park
Close
to the city, but truly amidst the wilds. Just 30 minutes south
of Birmingham lies Alabama's largest State Park, Oak Mountain
State Park. Covering nearly 10,000 acres of mountains, lakes,
and forests, the Park sits on Double Oak Mountain, one of the
southernmost points in the Appalachian chain. The park's natural
beauty can be viewed from the scenic drive that winds across
the top of the mountain. Numerous activities take place in the
park including fishing, mountain biking, horseback riding, golfing
and picnicking. Beaver Lake contains catfish, bream, and bass,
and is the scene of an annual water-skiing tournament. Lakeside
picnic pavilions can hold groups of 50 or more, and picnic tables
are found throughout the park. The Alabama Wildlife Center, a
Demonstration Farm, and several nature trails combine education
with recreation. Campers may choose from 10 cabins, 131 developed
campsites or wilderness camping areas.
Palisades Park
A pioneer village surrounded by steep hiking slopes.
Located outside Oneonta on top of 1,300 foot Ebell Mountain,
the day-use Palisades Park has recreational and educational facilities.
Pioneer buildings on the site include an 1820 log cabin, a log
barn, a schoolhouse, a farm museum, and a meditation chapel.
An arboretum, picnic shelters, and an amphitheater allow for
outdoor activities. Nature trails lead to scenic views for hikers,
while climbers enjoy amateur rock climbing on the slopes of Stone
Bluff.
Point Mallard Park
Swim indoors or out at this riverside park. Alongside
the Tennessee River in Decatur, Point Mallard Park provides both
indoor and outdoor recreational opportunities. A Water Park boasts
a wave pool, two giant water slides, two kiddie pools, a diving
well, and a sand beach. Whether playing golf for sport or fun
Point Mallard has it covered - an 18-hole Championship Golf Course
complements a miniature course. An open air ice rink, picnic
areas, and a 210-site campground are also part of the park.
Rickwood
Caverns State Park
Visit
the blind cave fish at this one-of-a-kind park. A mile of underground
caverns offer views of 260 million-year-old limestone formations
in this unique state park. A few miles from Warrior, in north
central Alabama, Rickwood Caverns State Park is maintained as
an official caving park and is a member of the National Caves
Association. The cave tour reveals shell fragments and fossils,
underground pools, and marine life, such as the blind cave fish,
among the colorful natural formations. Divers have found salamanders,
frogs and transparent fish that have adapted to life in the dark
ponds deep within the cave. Travel down the "miracle mile"
of corridors and illuminated chambers with amazing limestone
configurations. The park also features a swimming pool, a picnic
area with tables, grills and shelters, and a campground with
13 campsites. Hiking trails, playgrounds, a miniature train ride
and miniature golf course provide entertainment for park visitors.
Russell Cave National Monument
Learn about Alabama's prehistoric populations by visiting
one of their homes. Russell Cave provided a home to native American
populations for 10,000 years. Evidence of their existence was
first uncovered in 1953 in a limestone chamber 200 feet long
by 100 feet wide, which continues to be a site for archeological
exploration. The Visitor Center of this park, located 7 miles
north of Bridgeport, houses exhibits on prehistoric Indians and
a bookstore with topical selections. A guided cave tour reveals
information on the daily lives of the cave inhabitants, and includes
demonstrations of tool cutting, arrowhead-making and spear throwing.
Hiking trails, horseback trails and an Indian garden are also
available for exploration. Spelunkers may explore the deep interior
of the Cave with a special permit.
Sequoyah Caverns & Campgrounds
Deep within the hill is a marvel
of light, reflection, and natural formation. American Bison,
white fallow deer and peacocks greet visitors as they turn into
the entrance of this north Alabama park. Just up the road from
Mentone, Sequoyah Cavern is named for an illiterate Cherokee
Indian who created an alphabet for his people, and taught them
all to read and write. Sequoyah spent twelve years in the area
of the Cavern before traveling the Trail of Tears with his fellow
Cherokee. While there is a swimming pool, campground, and the
menagerie, the highlight of the park is a tour through the Caverns.
The famous "Looking Glass Lakes," crystal clear pools
that reflect the beauty of the cavern from top to bottom, can
fool the eye completely. The visitor is not sure if they are
gazing into a 20-foot deep gorge or simply looking at a reflection
in a two-foot deep pond. The cave contains thousands of fossils,
fascinating rock formations, and a long twisting trail that allows
visitors to explore all the nooks and crannies of this amazing
subterranean passage.
Talladega National
Forest
A large forest
with hiking, hunting, and camping opportunities throughout. Covering
more than 375,000 acres, the Talladega National Forest is comprised
of three areas. Spread between Piedmont and Sylacauga in the
east are the Talladega & Shoal Creek Districts, and between
Tuscaloosa and Selma in west Alabama is the Oakmulgee District.
There are four official recreation sites within these Districts.
Coleman Lake is north of Heflin and contains 39 campsites, 29
picnic sites and a swimming area. Lake Chinnabee, 7 miles from
Talladega, has campsites, picnic sites and a picnic shelter.
Pine Glen, also near Heflin, has 35 campsites, trailer space,
and fishing and hiking areas. Payne Lake, in the westernmost
portion of the park, has tent and trailer camping, picnicking,
swimming, fishing, boating, and hiking. Primitive camping facilities
are available throughout the rest of the park, except during
hunting season. Hunting is allowed in several areas, including
the Hollins Wildlife Management Area and the Choccolocco Wildlife
Management Area, with deer and turkey the most popular targets.
Three shooting ranges are located in parts of the park: Henry
Creek Shooting Range, Shepherd Branch Shooting Range, and Oakmulgee
Shooting Range. The Talladega National Forest has within its
boundaries Cheaha State Park and the 7,400 acres of the Cheaha
Wilderness. Hiking through these areas and the rest of the park
is on the Pinhoti National Recreation Trail System, which provides
outstanding hiking opportunities. A wonderful overview of the
Forest may be gained by driving the Talladega Scenic Byway, which
travels along the southern Appalachian Mountains from Heflin
to Goodwater.
Pinhoti National Recreation Trail
Once use by the Cherokee and Creek
Indians, the Pinhoti Trail runs for 102 miles, from about 9 miles
northeast of Piedmont to 8 miles southeast of Talladega. Actually
a series of hiking trails ranging from easy to difficult, the
Trail showcases the flora and fauna of the area. Hikers travel
through pine forests where a wide variety of berries grow wild.
Visitors may stumble across muscadines, huckleberries, blueberries,
blackberries, wild cherries, wild strawberries, and gooseberries.
While clambering over rock bluffs and ridges and through hollows
you may spot deer, raccoons, opossums, muskrats, beavers, squirrels,
snakes, and wild turkeys. Camping is allowed anywhere along the
trail, but is especially nice alongside the many lakes and streams.
Trail of Tears National
Historic Trail
Follow
the route of a sad journey in American history. Overseen by the
National Park Service, the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail
crosses through Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina,
Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Alabama. In the late 1830's,
the US Army forcibly moved 16,000 Cherokee Indians from the South
to the West. The 2,052 mile trail they followed became known
as the Trail of Tears for thousands died along the trek. The
Trail follows two principal routes: a water trail through north
Alabama along the Tennessee River and an overland trail from
Chattanooga, Tennessee, to Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Plans are still
being implemented to develop sites along the Trail, but currently
there are interpretive facilities at the Museum of the Cherokee
Indian, Cherokee, North Carolina, the Red Clay and Port Royal
state historic areas in Tennessee, the Trail of Tears Park, Hopkinsville,
Kentucky, the New Echota State Historic Site in Georgia, the
Trail of Tears State Park in Missouri, and the Cherokee National
Museum in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.
Vulcan Park
Towering above Birmingham is a monument to its past.
First viewed by the world as part of the Birmingham District
exhibit at the 1904 St. Louis Exposition, the Vulcan Statue is
the world's largest iron statue. Carved by Italian sculpture
Guiseppe Moretti, the statue now sits atop Red Mountain. Vulcan,
the god of fire and the forge, was chosen to represent Birmingham's
iron ore industry, and continues as a symbol of Birmingham's
past. Located just outside the city, the statue's observation
deck provides a panoramic view of the long valley and the city
from nearly 600 feet up. At the base of the statue are beautiful
formal gardens and a fountain. The park facilities may be reserved
for informal weddings, picnic groups, family reunions, or social
events.
Watercress Darter National Wildlife Refuge
Saving a fragile fish from sure extinction.
This small refuge sits within the city limits of Bessemer. The
seven acres of vegetation and the quarter acre pond were set
aside to protect the endangered watercress darter. The pond is
a vital habitat for this all but extinct fish. Due to the small
size and delicate nature of the Refuge, there are few opportunities
to visit. However, you may call to arrange public access.
Weiss Lake
Huge crappies lure the anglers to this river lake.
Just south of Fort Payne near Centre is Weiss Lake, a 30,000
acre confluence of the Coosa, Chattooga and Little Rivers. Well-known
for its great fishing, Weiss Lake offers 447 miles of shoreline
with shallow flats, deep channels and large coves. Anglers have
been seen leaving Weiss Lake with a car full of two-pound crappies.
Motels and campgrounds surround the lake, and recreation sites
include tennis courts, baseball fields, an 18-hole golf course,
and numerous hiking trails. Boat and motor rentals, bait, and
supplies are all accessible at local marinas.
Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge
Opportunities abound to view a variety
of north Alabama wildlife. The state's largest wildlife refuge,
covering 35,000 acres, is located along the Tennessee River Valley
in north Alabama. Exhibits, trails and environmental education
programs draw many visitors to the Refuge. Established as a wintering
area for geese, ducks, and other migratory birds, Wheeler is
home to Alabama's largest concentration of wintering Canadian
geese. Mallards, wigeons, pintails, black ducks, and sandhill
cranes also stop at the Refuge. Visitors may hike, fish, bike,
hunt, and observe the wildlife throughout the Refuge. The Visitor
Center sports a classroom and lab facilities, a theatre, and
a wildlife interpretive center. The Wildlife Observation building
provides a viewing area for waterfowl and holds a collection
of bird feeders and wood duck boxes.
William B. Bankhead
National Forest
Forest
and wilderness areas welcome hikers, swimmers, picnickers, and
campers. Lawrence and Winston Counties in northwest Alabama are
home to the William Bankhead National Forest. The Forest's 180,000
acres hold five recreation sites and the famed Sipsey Wilderness
area. The Owl Creek Horse Camp and Trail System has 30 miles
of trails for horseback riding, and overnight campsites for trail
riders. The Clear Creek facility is the newest and largest area
with individual and group camping, picnicking, swimming, boat
launching, hiking and biking. A very popular overnight stop,
reservations are recommended for weekends and holidays at Clear
Creek. Lying deeper in the forest is the Corinth Recreation Area,
a picnicking and camping site bringing visitors closer to nature.
Swimming, fishing, boating, and water skiing are available at
this area on Lake Lewis Smith. Another area on Lake Lewis Smith
is the Houston Recreation facility. Offering camping, picnicking,
swimming, and fishing, this area is great for a quick family
getaway. Brushy Lake Area sits in a tranquil spot where visitors
may camp, picnic, relax, or fish in the 33-acre lake.
Sipsey Wilderness Area
Alabama's only Wild and Scenic River,
the Sipsey River, runs through Alabama's first National Wilderness
Area, the Sipsey Wilderness. The 25,986-acre Wilderness lies
in the northwest part of the Forest. Portions of the 61-mile
river are suitable for canoeing, while the Wilderness offers
hiking, camping, hunting and fishing. Hiking trails follow the
river, with waterfalls and lush vegetation along the paths. The
Sipsey River Picnic Area has picnicking; fishing; drinking water;
sanitary facilities and a hiking trail. |
