Recreation
Alabama's National Forests offers places for hiking, biking, skiing, nature viewing, and scenic drives among numerous attractions and recreation sites to help you connect to nature. These perfect backdrops have something for everyone. Many of the facilities and services associated with these opportunities are free. However, some do require fees or permits to help maintain, manage and improve your national forests and grasslands. Requirements vary by forest.
Recreation Enhancement Projects across the National Forests in Alabama.
Recreation Fees
Recreation fees, authorized by the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, enables federal land management agencies to reinvest the following types of fees back into the recreation sites.
Fee Discounts explained, broken down to help you better understand what discount applies at each forest and ranger district.
Standard Amenity Fees
Examples: Picnic areas, developed trailheads, destination visitor centers
Pass Coverage: Yes. Pass coverage does vary at concessionaire-managed sites
Expanded Amenity Fees
Examples: Campgrounds, highly developed boat launches and swimming areas, cabin or lookout rentals. Services like hookups, dump stations, special tours, transportation systems and reservation services.
Pass Coverage: No. However, holders of Senior and Access Passes do receive a 50% discount for single family campsites.
Special Recreation Permits
Examples: Shooting ranges, special events, specialized trail systems
Pass Coverage: No. However, some exceptions do exist.
Know Before You Go
Telephone: 205-489-5111
- Recreation areas on Bankhead: Corinth, Clear Creek and Brushy Lake.
- Houston Day Use is Open.
- Brushy Lake Bathhouse is Open.
- Check the motor vehicle use maps for open roads
Recreation Areas
**The national forest is open, but the office is closed on major holidays and weekends.
Telephone: 334-222-2555
ATV/OHV use is not allowed.
Check the motor vehicle use maps for open roads
Recreation Areas
Site Closures
- The national forest is open, but the office is closed on major holidays and weekends.
Telephone: 205-926-9756
ATV/OHV use is not allowed.
Recreation Areas
- The national forest is open, but the office is closed on major holidays and weekends.
Telephone: 256-463-2272
ATV/OHV use is not allowed.
Recreation Areas
**The national forest is open, but the office is closed on major holidays and weekends.
Telephone: 256-463-2272
Recreation Areas
- There is an active timber sale underway in the Porter’s Gap area of the forest. Until approximately April 20, 2026, crews will be skidding logs across a section of the trail just south of the Porter’s Gap trailhead. The trail is open, and signs are posted on both approaches to the work zone. If you plan to hike through, stay alert, follow all posted instructions, and be prepared to briefly wait if equipment is moving.
**The national forest is open, but the office is closed on major holidays and weekends.
Telephone: 334-552-3145
- ATV/OHV use is not allowed.
- Effective immediately, camping permits will no longer be required.
The Uchee Shooting Range Maintenance Schedule here.
Recreation Areas
**The national forest is open, but the office is closed on major holidays and weekends.
The Bankhead National Forest is located in the northwestern part of the state in Lawrence, Winston and Franklin Counties. Topography of the Bankhead National Forest i
Conecuh National Forest is located in the southern part of the state along the Alabama/Florida line in Covington and Escambia Counties. Topography of Conecuh National
The Talladega National Forest is divided into three Ranger Districts: Oakmulgee District lies in the central part of the state, south of Tuscaloosa County in Hale, Tu
Tuskegee National Forest lies in the east central part of the state west of Auburn, in Macon County.
Recreation
Allred Hunting Camp
Bankhead National Forest
Big Oak Physically Disabled Hunting Camp
Blue Lake Recreation Area
Brushy Lake Recreation Area
Clear Creek Recreation Area
Coleman Lake Recreation Area
Conecuh National Forest
Conecuh Shooting/Rifle Range
Corinth Recreation Area