| Bankhead National Forest is Alabama's largest | | | | popular campground and has been voted by |
| national forest, with 180,000 acres located in | | | | Frommers Guide to Best RV & Tent |
| northwestern Alabama named in honor of William | | | | Campgrounds in the U.S.A. as one of the 'best RV |
| B. Bankhead, a longtime U.S. Representative from | | | | camping, best tent camping, most beautiful |
| Alabama. Clear Creek Recreation Area, one of six | | | | campground, most private campsites, quietest |
| recreation areas that are part of Bankhead | | | | campground, most secure campground and most |
| National Forest, is located approximately 15 miles | | | | romantic campground' in Alabama. So campers |
| north of Jasper on Lake Lewis Smith. This area | | | | beware and make reservations if possible. |
| offers excellent camping in spacious and private | | | | Once you're set up in your camp site, you may |
| sites complete with RV electric and water | | | | want to go fishing or boating, popular activities on |
| hook-up and excellent views from many camp | | | | the lake with over 70 species of fish including |
| sites of beautiful Lake Lewis Smith. Other | | | | largemouth bass, spotted bass, striped bass, |
| recreational activities available while camping | | | | crappie and bluegill. Gulf coast striped bass and |
| include fishing, boating, hiking and biking. | | | | Florida-strain largemouth bass have been stocked |
| Lake Lewis Smith is actually a large reservoir | | | | successfully into the lake since the 1980s. |
| which is part of the headwaters of the Black | | | | Hiking and biking opportunities within the |
| Warrior River basin located in Cullman, Walker and | | | | campground include a paved 1.5 mile trail that |
| Winston counties. It was created with the | | | | travels along the lake shore to the beach with lots |
| construction of the Lewis Smith Dam back in | | | | of places for wading and fishing along the way. |
| 1961 and consists of over 21,000 acres. It's a | | | | Take a swim at the beach at the end of this trail. |
| very deep lake and probably holds more water | | | | There are other hiking trails adjacent to the |
| than any other lake in Alabama. The water is | | | | campground but more serious hikers will want to |
| emerald green and reportedly allows you to 'see a | | | | explore the Bankhead National Forest 153 mile trail |
| fish strike a lure 10 feet down'. | | | | system. |
| Clear Creek Campground, located within the | | | | Combine hiking and beautiful views and visit the |
| Recreation Area, is right on the Lake in a mixed | | | | 25-mile Black Warrior Horse Trail. You'll see |
| forest of oak, hickory and pine. Many of the | | | | beautiful waterfalls, sandstone cliffs, deep gorges, |
| campsites at this campground have waterfront | | | | majestic hardwood trees, and an abundance of |
| views and are noted for being spacious and | | | | birds and animals. There are three trails in this |
| private (accommodating RV sizes of up to 40 | | | | system all of which allow mountain biking. They |
| feet). Some camp sites adjacent to the lake | | | | include the Key Mill Loop, Brushy Loop, and the |
| include sites 39, 42, 43, 45, 46, 47, 49, 51, and 52 | | | | Pine Torch Loop. The most popular with bicycle |
| among others - useful information when it comes | | | | riders is the Pine Torch Loop and is eleven miles |
| time to make reservations. | | | | long. |
| The campground offers 102 camp sites located in | | | | Hiking, biking, fishing, boating, camping at Bankhead |
| four campground loops - Hoot Owl, Fox Loop, | | | | National Forest - all with beautiful views of Lake |
| Bear Loop and Fawn Loop. Amenities include | | | | Lewis Smith. You won't go wrong by visiting Clear |
| water and electric hookups, an RV waste station, | | | | Creek Recreation Area or any of the recreation |
| hot showers, and flush toilets. This is a very | | | | areas of Bankhead National Forest. |