U.S. Forest Service · National Forests in Alabama · Jasper, AL

Clear Creek

The Clear Creek Recreation Area has become one of Alabama's most popular recreation areas and has many repeat visitors. The Bankhead National Forest’s largest recreation area, Clear Creek is in Winston County about 13 miles north of Jasper, ALlabama and was constructed on the shore of Lewis Smith Lake giving direct recreational access to the lake via the day use boat launch, to boating, water skiing, personal watercraft use, as well as fishing for largemouth bass, striped bass, and crappie. With many modern conveniences, it offers facilities for individual and group camping, picnicking, swimming, boat launching, hiking, and biking.

More like this: electric hookups in Alabama · full hookups in Alabama · reservable in Alabama · big rigs in Alabama · pets allowed in Alabama · group sites in Alabama

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Welcome to Clear CreekClear Creek Public Boat Ramp - A man with his 2 best friends, his dog and his fishing boat, gone fishingClear Creek Day Use Area Beach ParkingClear Creek Day Use Area Oak Leaf Shelter3
Photos courtesy of American Land & Leisure/Chris Richardson, Andrew J. Dalton | BA Services, Inc · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard with electric100
group picnic area3
Group tent areas2
Host/management63
Most sites here open on Recreation.gov six months ahead, at 10 a.m. Eastern. Sold out is not final: cancellations come back into the pool, most of them two to three days out. How to catch one

Site guide

Will my RV fit

The longest site here provides 53 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

105 sites in 9 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteLoopTypeEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadePowerWater / sewerPeople / vehiclesFiresPetsAccessible
Acorn CampAcornGroup tentBack-inPavedNoYes / –25 / 5YesYes
Bayleaf Pavillion Group Picnic AreaBayleaf LoopGroup Picnic AreaPavedNoYes / –50 / 10NoYesYes
84BearElectricBack-in46PavedPartial50 ampYes / –6 / 2YesYes
85BearElectricBack-in49Paved50 ampYes / –6 / 2YesYes
87BearElectricBack-in48PavedFull50 ampYes / –6 / 2YesYes
88BearElectricBack-in52PavedFull50 ampYes / –6 / 2YesYes
89BearElectricBack-in45PavedFull50 ampYes / –6 / 2YesYes
90BearElectricPavedFull50 ampYes / Yes6 / 2YesYes
92BearElectricBack-in51PavedFull50 ampYes / –6 / 2YesYes
96BearElectricBack-in40Paved50 ampYes / –6 / 2YesYes

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Amenities & rules

HookupsElectric, water, sewer
Max vehicle length49 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
Tent padsYes
AccessibilitySites Bayleaf Pavillion Group Picnic Area, Elm Pavillion Group Picnic Area, 19, Oak Pavillion Group Picnic Area are listed accessible
  • All facilities are wheelchair accessible.
  • Flush toilets, drinking water and showers are offered for both campers and day use visitors.
  • The campground offers standard sites with electric and water hook-ups, as well as tent-only non-electric sites for groups.
  • Sites contain paved parking spurs, picnic tables, grills and tent pads.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Season & status

StatusOpen
SeasonMarch 8th to October 31st
ForestNational Forests in Alabama
BookingSingle/Tent = $30.00 - $52.00 per night. Day use fee $10 per vehicle.

National Forests in Alabama recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Clear Creek40°50°60°70°80°January: 6.05 inches of precipitationFebruary: 6.01 inches of precipitationMarch: 5.77 inches of precipitationApril: 5.95 inches of precipitationMay: 5.31 inches of precipitationJune: 4.70 inches of precipitationJuly: 4.92 inches of precipitationAugust: 4.00 inches of precipitationSeptember: 4.24 inches of precipitationOctober: 3.84 inches of precipitationNovember: 4.99 inches of precipitationDecember: 5.98 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 41.3°F averageFebruary: 44.9°F averageMarch: 52.7°F averageApril: 60.6°F averageMay: 68.9°F averageJune: 76.0°F averageJuly: 79.7°F averageAugust: 79.1°F averageSeptember: 73.3°F averageOctober: 61.9°F averageNovember: 51.3°F averageDecember: 44.0°F average0 in2 in4 in6 in8 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Jasper, 8 miles from the campground at 486 feet, station USC00014226 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 62 inches a year. The shaded span is the published season, March 8 to October 31.

Getting there

From Jasper travel approx. 5 miles north on State Road 195 to Manchester, 8.5 miles north on County Road 27 to entrance. From Double Springs travel approx. 12 miles south on State Road 195 to Lamon Chapel Road go to the end and turn left on County Road 27 for 2 miles to entrance.

Nearest townJasper, Alabama
Coordinates34.0214° N, 87.2692° W · Directions ↗

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗23.5 mi
Outdoor gearWerners Trading Company ↗26.1 mi
RV sales & serviceParadise RV Sales ↗30 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

Clear Creek Campgrounds Alabama

Worth a stop

  • Four nearby attractions within Bankhead National Forest are:
  • The Little Natural Bridge is the longest rock arch east of the Rockies. It was formed 200 million years ago when the sea washed the sandstone away leaving iron ore veins holding the bridge. In this area thrive 27 varieties of Ferns and a number of Canadian Hemlocks traced to the Ice Age.
  • The 19th-century Pine Torch Church is one of the oldest churches in Alabama and one of only four surviving log churches. The church is located in the Bankhead Forest in Lawrence County at the intersection of Country Roads 70 and 73 Several online sources say it was built in the 1890s but a sign at the site claims in was built in the 1840s. According to legend, Pine Torch got its name from the pine
  • The Houston Civil War Jail - Houston, Alabama served as the first county seat for Winston County. The area known today as Winston County was originally established in 1850 as Hancock County, named after John Hancock, signer of the Declaration of Independence. In 1858 the county was renamed Winston after the first native-born governor of Alabama, John Anthony Winston. Old Houston, located a few mil
  • Discover the Incredible Variety of Habitats and Birds in the Bankhead National Forest. Birding on the Bankhead

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Natural features

The 180,000+ acre Bankhead National Forest is in northwestern Alabama, and its prominent feature is the Sipsey Wilderness. Known as "The Land of a Thousand Waterfalls," the Sipsey is at the juncture of three separate geologic areas: the Appalachian Plateau, the Cumberland Plateau and the Coastal Plain. The vegetation from these three unique environments blend into a remarkable diversity of species, with overlapping ranges creating many unusual plant associations. The Sipsey is a 12,726 acre area of swift streams, waterfalls, sandstone cliffs, undisturbed gorges, majestic hardwood forests, wildflowers, birds, animals and is home to Alabama's largest tree, a tulip poplar with a 21-foot circumference at its base. Lewis-Smith Lake (or Smith Lake) is located in the counties of Cullman, Walker and Winston. The 300-foot high dam, completed in 1961 by Alabama Power Company, impounds the Sipsey Fork of the Black Warrior River to form the lake. Smith Lake has a surface area of 21,200 acres, 500 miles of shoreline, a watershed area of 944 square miles, a retention time of 435 days, and a maximum depth of 264 feet. What's Happening in Your Alabama National Forest Video

Recreation

  • The campground has a basketball and volleyball court, and horseshoe pit. Interpretive programs are hosted during the summer.
  • Day-use visitors and campers have access to a boat ramp and swim beach. The lake provides excellent fishing for Kentucky Spotted Bass and Hybrid Striped Bass.
  • There are two trails in the area; the 2.5-mile Raven Interpretive Trail and a 1.5-mile bicycle trail.

Guidebooks for Alabama and the South

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

  • Best Tent Camping: Alabama
    Joe Cuhaj, 2018
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Exploring Wild Alabama
    Kenneth M. Wills and Dr. L. J. Davenport, 2016
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Rail-trails Southeast
    Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, 2024
    Find at Bookshop.org

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Clear Creek?

Sites at Clear Creek are reservable on Recreation.gov. Single/Tent = $30.00 - $52.00 per night. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Clear Creek?

Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is Clear Creek open right now?

Open as of Oct 16, 2026. Season March 8th to October 31st.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Clear Creek have?

168 sites, including 100 standard sites with power, 3 group picnic area, and 2 group tent areas.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Clear Creek?

The longest site here provides 49 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.

Source: Will my RV fit

Does Clear Creek have hookups?

Yes, electric, water, and sewer hookups at some sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are there showers or a dump station at Clear Creek?

Flush toilets, drinking water and showers are offered for both campers and day use visitors.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Clear Creek?

Yes, pets are allowed at Clear Creek. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Clear Creek?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are there accessible sites at Clear Creek?

Sites Bayleaf Pavillion Group Picnic Area, Elm Pavillion Group Picnic Area, 19, and Oak Pavillion Group Picnic Area are listed accessible on Recreation.gov. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

What is there to do at Clear Creek?

The campground has a basketball and volleyball court, and horseshoe pit. Interpretive programs are hosted during the summer. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Clear Creek?

Jasper, Alabama. Four nearby attractions within Bankhead National Forest are:

Source: Getting there