U.S. National Forest Campground Guide

Talladega National Forest

Alabama



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CAMPGROUND NAME: Coleman Lake

VISIT DATE: 04/27/1997

UPDATE DATE: 8/25/2020

STATE: Alabama

REGION: Southern

RANGER DISTRICT: Shoal Creek

NEAREST CITY/TOWN: Heflin

RESERVATIONS: No

DIRECTIONS:
From Heflin, AL, at the interesection of State Rts. 46 and 78, take 
Rt. 78 east for 5.7 miles to Coleman Lake sign (County Rt. 61).  
Turn left onto Rt. 61 and go 7.6 miles to another Coleman Lake 
sign (Forest Rt. 500).  Turn right onto Rt. 500 and go 0.4 miles to 
Coleman Lake campground sign. Turn right and continue on Forest 
Rt. 500 and go 1.8 miles to campground on right.

GENERAL COMMENTS:
The elevation is 1,200 ft.

The campground, with two unnamed loops, is located above Coleman 
Lake in hardwoods including large Sweetgum.  Heavy vegetation limits 
view of water but offers ample shade and Fall color.  All campsites, in 
both loops, have electric and water hookups.  The campground is 
conveniently located as a base camp for a variety of activities while 
offering campers a relaxing, forest camping experiences.

Possible daytrips are Cheaha State Park, Talladega Scenic Drive 
(State Rt 281), Shoal Creek Church (GPS - N33 46.540,W85 33.848), 
Cole Cemetery (GPS - N33 43.800,W85 35.880), and Talladega Raceway.

SEASONS
Open Seasonal: Yes
Open All Year: No

Seasonal Comment:
Open March 15 through December 6

RATE AND MAXIMUM STAY PERMITTED
Rate: $16 per day  
$8 per day - no hookups
Maximum Stay Permitted (days): 14

CAMPGROUND SITE CONFIGURATION
No. RV Sites: 0
No. Tent Sites: 0
No. Combined Sites (Tent or RV): 39
   
   Total Sites: 39

Tent Pads: Yes
Open Sites: No
Wooded Sites: Yes

No. Tables on Sites: 39
No. Grilles on Sites: 39
Equestrian Camping: No

RV INFORMATION
No. Full Hookups (includes waste): 0
No. Water and Electric Only: 39
No. Water Only: 0
No. Electric Only: 0

No. RV Pull Throughs: 1
Waste Station: Yes
Potable Water at Waste Station: Yes 
Largest Parking Apron Size: 13' X 52'

Comments:
The parking aprons are paved.

BATH AND SHOWER FACILITIES
Vaults: No
Flush Toilets: Yes
Hot Showers: Yes

Comments:
Wheelchair friendly showers

OTHER FACILITIES
Playground: Yes
Public Phone: No
No. Water Spigots (non-site): 0
  No. Threaded: 0
Wheelchair Friendly Toilets: Yes

WATER SPORTS
Lake: Yes
Swimming (provided): Yes
Sailing: No
Boat Ramp: Yes
Boat Carry Down Access: No
Power Boating: Yes
Boating (no power): Yes
Water Skiing: No
Rafting (whitewater): No
Kayaking (whitewater): No

Comments:
Coleman Lake is 21 acres.  Power boats limited to trolling motors.

HIKING
Coleman Lake Loop Trail (foot) - 2 miles

FISHING   
Small and Largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie and catfish

CAMPGROUND NAME: Payne Lake VISIT DATE: 01/28/1997 UPDATE DATE: 11/4/2020 STATE: Alabama REGION: Southern RANGER DISTRICT: Oakmulgee NEAREST CITY/TOWN: Centreville RESERVATIONS: No DIRECTIONS: In Centreville, AL, at the intersection of US Rt. 82 and State Rt. 25/6, take Rt. 25 west 3.9 miles to an intersection with State Rt. 5. Turn left onto Rt. 5 and go south 5.9 miles to Rt. 25/Payne Lake Rd.. Turn right onto Rt. 25 and go 16.2 miles to Payne Lake National Forest Recreation Area sign. Turn right sign at sign into campground. GENERAL COMMENTS: The elevation is 300 ft. This notable, heavily wooded campground, stretching along the east shore of Payne Lake, has two sections named East and West that are separated by the lake. The rustic East section, is under maintained and has a semi- dispersed feel.It is recommended for tent and slide-in RV campers only. A few sites in this section overlook the lake. The campground's West section hugs the western shore of Payne Lake. With a manicured feel, this section is more open and spacious with views of the lake. It has all of the campground's pull-throughs, hook-ups for electric and water, a modern bathhouse and the possibility for informal boat mooring at some campsites. Because most of the understory has been removed, privacy is fair to good. A pleasant mix of Sweet gum, maple, oak, and Loblolly pine provide ample shade. Butterfly watching is a popular campground activity as is watching for Redcocked woodpeckers. NOTE: The campground is gated at night - call the ranger district office for hours. Alcoholic beverages are not permitted in the campground. SEASONS Open Seasonal: No Open All Year: Yes NOTE: Only the West section is open year round. RATE AND MAXIMUM STAY PERMITTED Rate: $18 per day - electric and water hookups $12 per day - water hookups $6 per day - no hookups Maximum Stay Permitted (days): 14 CAMPGROUND SITE CONFIGURATION No. RV Sites: 0 No. Tent Sites: 0 No. Combined Sites (Tent or RV): 35 Total Sites: 35 Tent Pads: Yes Open Sites: No Wooded Sites: Yes No. Tables on Sites: 35 No. Grilles on Sites: 35 Equestrian Camping: No RV INFORMATION No. Full Hookups (includes waste): 0 No. Water and Electric Only: 7 No. Water Only: 9 No. Electric Only: 0 No. RV Pull Throughs: 3 Waste Station: Yes Potable Water at Waste Station: Yes Average Parking Apron Size: 13' X 45' Comments: The parking aprons are a mix of paved and dirt/gravel. Leveling an RV on some aprons may be a challenge. BATH AND SHOWER FACILITIES Vaults: Yes Flush Toilets: Yes Hot Showers: Yes OTHER FACILITIES Playground: No Public Phone: No No. Water Spigots (non-site): 0 Wheelchair Friendly Toilets: Yes WATER SPORTS Lake: Yes Swimming (provided): Yes Sailing: No Boat Ramp: Yes Boat Carry Down Access: Yes Power Boating: Yes Boating (no power): Yes Water Skiing: No Rafting (whitewater): No Kayaking (whitewater): No Comments: Payne Lake is 110 acres. Power boats are limited to electric/trolling motors There are two large sandy beaches, one in each section. HIKING East Shore Trail (foot only) - 1.5 miles Payne Lake Nature (loop) Trail (foot only) - 1 miles FISHING Largemouth bass, Crappie, Bream, Shell Cracker and Channel catfish

CAMPGROUND NAME: Pine Glen VISIT DATE: 04/28/1997 UPDATE DATE: 8/25/2020 STATE: Alabama REGION: Southern RANGER DISTRICT: Shoal Creek NEAREST CITY/TOWN: Heflin RESERVATIONS: No DIRECTIONS: In Heflin, AL, at the intersection of State Rt. 46 and US Rt. 78, take Rt. 78 east 0.3 miles to Pine Glen Recreation Area sign. Turn left at the sign onto Old Edwardsville Rd., cross the railroad tracks, and immediately turn right onto Oxford St. Go 2.4 miles to another Pine Glen sign. Turn left at this sign, onto Forest Rt 548 (dirt) and go 1.9 miles to another Pine Glen sign at a "Y" intersection. Bear left on to Forest Rt. 531 (dirt) and go 2.0 miles to another sign. Turn right at sign, onto Forest Rt. 500 (gravel) and go 0.5 miles to campground on left. GENERAL COMMENTS: The elevation is 1,100 ft. The campground is adjacent to Shoal Creek with sites scattered through a grove of hardwoods. This campground has a developed-dispersed feel and an appearance of being under maintained. It is recommended for only tent, car, and slide-in campers. There is a grass understory but little to no middlestory, so privacy between campsites is poor. The abundance of hardwood trees suggest good Fall color and nice shade in the Summer. Tents must be placed on tent pads. Possible daytrips are Cheaha State Park, Talladega Scenic Drive (State Route 281), Shoal Creek Church (N33 46.540, W85 33.848), Cole Cemetery (N33 43.800,W85 35.880), and Talladega Raceway. NOTE: No alcoholic beverages permitted in campground. SEASONS Open Seasonal: No Open All Year: Yes RATE AND MAXIMUM STAY PERMITTED Rate: $3 per day Maximum Stay Permitted (days): 14 CAMPGROUND SITE CONFIGURATION No. RV Sites: 0 No. Tent Sites: 23 No. Combined Sites (Tent or RV): 0 Total Sites: 23 Tent Pads: Yes Open Sites: No Wooded Sites: Yes No. Tables on Sites: 22 No. Grilles on Sites: 20 Equestrian Camping: No BATH AND SHOWER FACILITIES Vaults: Yes Flush Toilets: No Hot Showers: No OTHER FACILITIES Playground: No Public Phone: No No. Water Spigots (non-site): 0 Wheelchair Friendly Toilets: Yes WATER SPORTS - None HIKING Pinhoti Trail (foot, horse, mountain bike) - 102 miles to Coleman Lake - 6 miles to Sweetwater Lake - 2.5 miles FISHING Red-eye bass and Red-ear sunfish

CAMPGROUND NAME: Warden Station Hunter/Horse Camp VISIT DATE: 04/27/1997 UPDATE DATE: 5/25/2020 STATE: Alabama REGION: Southern RANGER DISTRICT: Shoal Creek NEAREST CITY/TOWN: Heflin RESERVATIONS: No DIRECTIONS: From Heflin, AL, take US Rt. 78 east for 5.7 miles to Coleman Lake sign (County Rt. 61). Turn left onto Rt. 61 and go 7.6 miles to another Coleman Lake sign (Forest Rt. 500). Turn right onto Rt. 500 and go 0.2 miles to campground sign. Turn right into campground. GENERAL COMMENTS: The elevation is 1,200 ft. The campground, comprised of four widely separated loops, is used primarily by equestrian and hunting campers. There are no hitching posts, rails or stalls. The interior roads are eroding. There are no tables or grilles. Generally, the campground is under maintained, but on the plus side, it is located in a stand of hardwoods suggesting great Fall color. The campground is developing as a base camp for an array of annual events such as the Yellowhammer Endro Ride and Cheaha Challenge. SEASONS Open Seasonal: No Open All Year: Yes RATE AND MAXIMUM STAY PERMITTED Rate: $6 per day Maximum Stay Permitted (days): 14 CAMPGROUND SITE CONFIGURATION No. RV Sites: 19 No. Tent Sites: 0 No. Combined Sites (Tent or RV): 0 Total Sites: 19 Tent Pads: No Open Sites: No Wooded Sites: Yes No. Tables on Sites: 0 No. Grilles on Sites: 0 Equestrian Camping: Yes RV INFORMATION Hookups: None No. RV Pull Throughs: 0 Waste Station: No Largest Parking Apron Size: 10' X 55' Comments: The parking aprons are dirt and grass. There is an RV waste station with potable water, two miles north on Forest Rt. 500, at Coleman Lake campground. BATH AND SHOWER FACILITIES Vaults: Yes Flush Toilets: No Hot Showers: No OTHER FACILITIES Playground: No Public Phone: No No. Water Spigots (non-site): 3 No. Threaded: 0 Wheelchair Friendly Toilets: No WATER SPORTS - None HIKING Shoal Creek Horse Trail (foot, horse, and mountain bike) - 3 loops comprising 35 miles FISHING - No




Fred and Suzi Dow