Guaranteed to fulfill your recreational dreams, Lake Guntersville State Park is located beside the beautiful Tennessee River in northeast Alabama. The park claims 6,000 acres of natural woodlands and offers a wide variety of outdoor activities. This park is home to an ever-increasing population of nesting American bald eagles. Lake Guntersville State Park is a space of exceptional beauty with vistas of the stunning Lake Guntersville. The lake is a tranquil place of profound beauty, offering many opportunities for outdoor recreation. Lake Guntersville State Park supports the use of the lake with a sandy beach for swimming, free boat ramps, and superb fishing. Lake Guntersville, formed from the Tennesee River, is Alabama's largest lake, and it is home to bass, bream, sunfish, crappie, sauger, and catfish. Guests will also find recreational opportunities on the 18-hole golf course, more than 30 miles of hiking, biking, and horse-riding trails, and the Screaming Eagle zip-line facility. The park is home to a wide variety of lodging and dining options as well. Lake Guntersville State Park has accommodations available in one of 112 hotel rooms and suites, 20 chalets, 15 cottages, and two campgrounds. Campers will find a wide range of camping options from fully modern sites with water, electric, and sewage hookups to primitive and boondock camping. Guests have access to tennis courts, basketball courts, a fishing pier, boat ramps, a sand beach, and a nature center.
Just 2.5 hours from Nashville, 1.5 hours from Chattanooga, and less than an hour from Huntsville, Lake Guntersville State Park is easy to find by following Highway 231, 431, or 75, depending on which way you are coming from. The roads here are scenic, and you will follow the Tennessee River for most of the ride and cross over it at least once. The entrance to the park is easily located off Alabama Highway 227.
Once you enter the park, you will be on some curvy and winding roads which may be narrow and difficult to maneuver in a large RV. If you need to, there are several turnouts to pull off if you are having trouble keeping the pace. The Aubrey Carr Scenic Drive is a winding loop that leads you into the campground where you can park the rig for the night.
It is best if you leave the RV at the campsite, so you do not have to worry about handling the curvy roads and narrow campground streets. Bring some bikes or walk when you can or have another form of transportation. Parking is readily available at the lodge, the Country Store, and the golf course. Guests may also find parking at the campsites and the Town Creek Fishing Center.
Lake Guntersville State Park Campground is tucked away at the foot of Taylor Mountain along the banks of Lake Guntersville. This pet-friendly facility is the park's main campground offering 229 full-hookup, 65 water and electrical, and 100 primitive camping sites. The sites are large, with many spaces accommodating RVs and trailers up to 60 feet in length. All spaces, regardless of the size or services, have a picnic table, grill, and fire ring, and the full hookup sites have complimentary Wi-Fi. The campground has modern bathhouses, trash services, and a dump station. For campers who forgot something, visit the store, located near the campground entrance. The Country Store sells ice, firewood, fishing licenses, and a small quantity of food and drinks.
Lake Guntersville State Park offers guests the opportunity to play an 18-hole championship golf course atop majestic Taylor Mountain. The Eagle's Nest Golf Course underwent major renovations in 2009. The course now features Dwarf Bermuda Tiff greens with a state-of-the-art irrigation system. Pro golfer Jerry Pate was part of the redesign and renovation of the Eagle's Nest. The course is adjacent to the Lake Guntersville State Park Lodge and Convention Center. The course offers a unique golfing experience as elevations change throughout the greens. Guests are greeted by tranquil rolling hills and the occasional strolling deer providing for a unique and engaging golfing experience.
Lake Guntersville State Park offers over 36 miles of hiking trails. These trails are used for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. The park offers trails of varying lengths and a variety of scenery. Some of the hiking trails in Lake Guntersville State Park traverse the banks of the Tennessee River, while others offer views of waterfalls. Other trails provide stunningly beautiful views of wildflowers in the spring and summer months. Lake Guntersville State Park’s hiking trails range in length from half a mile to three and a half miles, so there is a trail for almost all types of recreationists.
Lake Guntersville is Alabama's largest lake, and it's no wonder that fishing is a popular sport in the region. Guests at Lake Guntersville State Park will find fishing a fun activity to participate in. Boat rentals and boat launches are available near both campgrounds. Guests will find that the area offers superb bass fishing. Fish frequently caught here are largemouth bass, bream, red ear, sunfish, crappie, and catfish. If you need a fishing license or bait, stop by the Country Store or the Dock Store. Both stores provide anglers with information on the best bait to use for the type of fish species you hope to catch. Bass boat rentals are available at the Dock Store, conveniently located close to two boat ramps.
All of the trails in the park connect to form a loop of over 36 miles. These interconnected trails make for ideal mountain biking conditions. With northern Alabama’s scenic vistas of the lake and its interesting topography, the different trails offer a fantastic way to explore the park. The 3.4-mile Tom Bevil Trail is an intermediate loop trail with an ascent of 298 feet and an average grade of three percent. The intermediate 3.3-mile Golf Course Loop Trail has a rise of 275 feet with an average grade of five percent. For an easy trek, try the 1.1-mile Terrell Trail, which has an ascent of 35 feet and an average grade of two percent. With so many trails to traverse, you won't want to miss out on your opportunity to ride, so make sure you pack your bikes in the RV.
Did you remember to pack the swimsuit and beach toys in the rig? If not, you may want to pick some up on your way to Lake Guntersville because their sandy beach is pristine and family-friendly. With a huge parking lot, there is even room to park the motorhome or trailer while you take a dip. There is a beach pavilion as well with changing rooms, restrooms, showers, and a concession area. You will have to swim at your own risk, though since there is no lifeguard on duty.
Geocaching is a year-round outdoor adventure for individuals or families. It is an activity that many guests to Lake Guntersville State Park may not be aware exists. The geocache in Lake Guntersville State Park is part of the Alabama State Parks Geocaching Challenge. Geocaching is an outdoor adventure similar to treasure hunting. Guests enter locations into their GPS device or cell phone, and then satellites are used to help guests locate the hidden containers, often called geocaches. Geocaches often contain an array of small trinkets, some thematic, that guests can trade. Each cache in the Alabama State Parks provides a clue or code that can be used to access the Alabama State Park Geocache Challenge Puzzle Cache. Geocaching is a simple way to involve the family in an outdoor group activity.
Lake Guntersville State Park is home to an increasing population of American bald eagles. As such, the park has become a focal point of eagle awareness in the state of Alabama. On select weekends in January and February, Lake Guntersville State Park provides guests with the opportunity to engage in eagle watching and to participate in educational activities related to the park's eagle conservation program. 2019 marks the 34th year of presentations, socials, and eagle watching at Lake Guntersville State Park. On Eagle Awareness Weekends, guests can participate in staff-led guided tours with activities designed for all age groups.
Ziplining is a popular outdoor activity at Lake Guntersville State Park, and the Screaming Eagle Zipline, named for the park's bald eagle population, is a fun way for guests to take to the skies to soar like eagles. Depending on your age and your weight, you may choose from two different zip-lining experiences. Level one offers 10 zip lines with four suspension type bridges with lengths up to 400 feet and heights of up to 80 feet. Guests must be a minimum of eight years old and weigh at least 50 pounds. Guests can expect to spend one to two hours on this exhilarating adventure. Level two offers 12 zip lines with nine Sky Walk Bridges up to 80 feet high and one tower. Guests must be at least 10 years old and weigh a minimum of 90 pounds. Guests can expect to spend between 1.5 and 2.5 hours on this exhilarating adventure. What are you waiting for? It's time to get your wings!
If you own horses, this park is the place to visit because there are over 30 miles of equestrian trails waiting for you to explore. The 16-mile Horse Trail starts at the Town Creek Campground parking lot by the bathhouse and meanders along Town Creek and Lake Guntersville to Callahan’s Cave. If you want a shorter trip, try the Little Mountain Trail, which is a 1.5-mile loop trail that includes a trip up the Little Mountain as well as along some small ponds and beautiful valleys of flowers in the early spring.
How long has it been since you had a family get-together? If it's been too long, why not gather the crew in your RV and head to Lake Guntersville State Park for a nice off-season picnic or BBQ? There are two pavilions you can reserve for a half or full-day. The Beach Pavilion can accommodate up to 100 people and has a panoramic lake view. With 12 picnic tables, there is plenty of room to sit and get comfortable while you eat. There is even a kitchen with two refrigerators, sink, microwave, and freezer. Restrooms, water, and electric are provided as well.
The Buckeye Pavilion is located near the campgrounds and the beach with proximity to running water and restrooms. There isn't a kitchen at this pavilion area, but picnickers have access to 10 tables that accommodate up to 80 people, as well as BBQ pits for cooking traditional picnic foods such as hamburgers, hot dogs, and veggie burgers.
