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 ↗



Site mix
| Standard with electric | 100 |
| group picnic area | 3 |
| Group tent areas | 2 |
| Host/management | 63 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 53 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
105 sites in 9 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Power | Water / sewer | People / vehicles | Fires | Pets | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acorn Camp | Acorn | Group tent | Back-in | Paved | No | Yes / – | 25 / 5 | Yes | Yes | |||
| Bayleaf Pavillion Group Picnic Area | Bayleaf Loop | Group Picnic Area | Paved | No | Yes / – | 50 / 10 | No | Yes | Yes | |||
| 84 | Bear | Electric | Back-in | 46 | Paved | Partial | 50 amp | Yes / – | 6 / 2 | Yes | Yes | |
| 85 | Bear | Electric | Back-in | 49 | Paved | 50 amp | Yes / – | 6 / 2 | Yes | Yes | ||
| 87 | Bear | Electric | Back-in | 48 | Paved | Full | 50 amp | Yes / – | 6 / 2 | Yes | Yes | |
| 88 | Bear | Electric | Back-in | 52 | Paved | Full | 50 amp | Yes / – | 6 / 2 | Yes | Yes | |
| 89 | Bear | Electric | Back-in | 45 | Paved | Full | 50 amp | Yes / – | 6 / 2 | Yes | Yes | |
| 90 | Bear | Electric | Paved | Full | 50 amp | Yes / Yes | 6 / 2 | Yes | Yes | |||
| 92 | Bear | Electric | Back-in | 51 | Paved | Full | 50 amp | Yes / – | 6 / 2 | Yes | Yes | |
| 96 | Bear | Electric | Back-in | 40 | Paved | 50 amp | Yes / – | 6 / 2 | Yes | Yes |
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
| Hookups | Electric, water, sewer |
| Max vehicle length | 49 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Tent pads | Yes |
| Accessibility | Sites 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
| Status | Open |
| Season | March 8th to October 31st |
| Forest | National Forests in Alabama |
| Booking | Single/Tent = $30.00 - $52.00 per night. Day use fee $10 per vehicle. |
Weather by month
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 town | Jasper, Alabama |
| Coordinates | 34.0214° N, 87.2692° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 23.5 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Werners Trading Company ↗ | 26.1 mi |
| RV sales & service | Paradise 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
- 10.7 miNatural Bridge Picnic Area ↗Day use
Other campgrounds nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Houston JailBuilding · Houston · 8.3 mi
- Winston County CourthouseBuilding · Double Springs · 11.5 mi
- William Brockman Bankhead HouseBuilding · Jasper · 12.2 mi
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
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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


