Discover “Sweet Home Alabama’s” pristine lakes, majestic Appalachian Mountains, diverse wildlife, and breathtaking natural scenery. Come experience Alabama’s southern cuisine and neighbourly hospitality by staying at vacation rentals or campsites along popular Lake Guntersville. While vacationing along Alabama’s beautiful lakefronts, visitors can spend family time boating, fishing, canoeing, sunbathing, swimming, and more. While exploring Lay Lake, enjoy golfing under Alabama’s dazzling blue skies, encountering the zoo’s exotic wildlife, and museum hopping. Please check out the following list of the most gorgeous lakes in Alabama, the USA to get the most out of your relaxing nature retreat to the southern state.
1. Lake Martin
Outdoor enthusiasts will love spending time at Lake Martin, with its golden sand beaches, islands, and waterfront restaurants. Reserve a lakefront vacation rental or a campsite to enhance your vacation near America’s largest man-made lake. Visitors can enjoy viewing wildlife, kayaking, boating, swimming, fishing, and jumping off Chimney Rock into the water below. Each evening, gather together to roast marshmallows under the bedazzling evening sky. Lake Martin’s waterfront is a popular vacation spot throughout the year due to its fishing tournaments, Fourth of July celebrations, and a buzzing jazz festival.
Lake Martin
Address: 350 Air Force Road, Dadeville, AL 36853
Website: Lake Martin
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
Price: Free
2. Neely Henry Lake
Come to Gadsden, Alabama, to enjoy numerous water activities on the 11,000 acres (4,451.5 hectares) of rippling blue waters. Book a lakefront home to experience stunning views, restaurants, and marinas during your vacation. Coosa River’s longest lake is ideal for water skiing, boating, and fishing. Families can enjoy outdoor dining at the picnic areas dotting the waterfront while beholding spectacular sunsets. There are public boat launches and fishing piers where anglers can cast their lines for bass and catfish.
Neely Henry Lake
Address: Huff Drive (behind Dollar General off of East Broad), Gadsden, AL 35901
Website: Neely Henry Lake
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
Price: Free
3. Lake Wedowee
Retreat to Randolph County, Alabama, to experience Lake Wedowee’s beautiful sapphire blue waters accented by dense conifer forests. Lake Wedowee’s 9,870 acres (3,994 hectares) of waterfront is ideal for activities such as boating, swimming, fishing, and camping. Lake Wedowee is a popular lake in the southeast for fishing, due to its thriving population of bass, crappie, striper, and catfish. Nature enthusiasts can walk along rugged trails to the Piedmont Plateau Birding Trail where they can encounter native aviators. During the hike, visitors can learn about common fish, trees, and aquatic plants found along its marshy wetland trail.
Lake Wedowee
Address: Randolph County, Alabama 36266, USA
Website: Lake Wedowee
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
Price: Free
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4. Jordan Lake
Located in Elmore, County, Lake Jordan has numerous public and private boat ramps for boating, water skiing, and wave riding. It spans 6,800 acres (2,751 hectares) with miles of sandy shores to picnic, sunbathe, etc. Its picturesque waterfront is lined with lakefront residences, marinas, and shops. Besides water activities, visitors can hike, golf, and shop in this quaint lakeside community. Jordan Lake is also known among anglers for its bass, bluegill, sunfish, and catfish populations. Campers can enjoy beautiful sunsets set against the background of Lake Jordan’s surrounding evergreen forests.
Jordan Lake
Address: 789 Lakeland Drive, Titus, AL 36080
Website: Jordan Lake
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
Price: Free
5. Guntersville Lake
Guntersville Lake is surrounded by natural woodlands where visitors can hike the same trails the Cherokee people did centuries ago. Along with the trail system, hikers can encounter ducks, herons, deer, and eagles while passing by pools of water, boulders, and staggering cliffs. Besides boating, hunting, fishing, and sunbathing, visitors can golf and view eagles at designated centres in Guntersville State Park. Within the state park are campgrounds, chalets, and cabins where visitors can stay throughout the seasons to enjoy nature all year-round. With a beach pavilion, groups can host family gatherings, picnics, and special events on the stunning lakefront.
Guntersville Lake
Address: 24 State Campground Road, Guntersville, AL 35976, United States
Website: Guntersville Lake
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
Price: Free
6. Walter F. George Lake
Walter F. George Lake, located along the Chattahoochee River, is a great location to enjoy Alabama’s great outdoors. Visitors can camp along the lakefront during their retreat to experience Alabama’s natural beautiful scenery. Each day, you can cook campfire meals while taking in amazing scenery. Besides boating, fishing, and picnicking, guests can ride horseback along the shoreline and view wildlife. Due to its location on the Georgia/Alabama state line, visitors can explore border towns for shopping, dining, and admiring historic antebellum mansions.
Walter F, George Lake
Address: 104 Lakepoint Drive Eufaula, AL 36027
Website: Walter F, George Lake
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
Price: Free
7. Lewis Smith Lake
Lewis Smith Lake, located on the Black Warrior River, covers more than 21,000 acres (8498 hectares) in northern Alabama. With its expansive shoreline, outdoor enthusiasts can camp year-round in cabins or at campsites. Families can participate in recreational activities on the waterfront, playground, and pool. Visitors can enjoy nature walks, bird watching, cycling, swimming, fishing, and boating at Smith Lake Park. Be certain to check out the special events and annual festivals including the Fourth of July fireworks spectacular.
Lewis Smith Lake
Address: Address: 403 Co Rd 386, Cullman, AL 35057, United States
Website: Lewis Smith Lake
Opening hours: 8am - 4pm (daily)
Price: Free
8. Weiss Lake
Weiss Lake’s 30,200 acres (12,221 hectares) consist of coves, deep channels, shallow flats, and deep under-water drop-offs. While staying at campgrounds, cabins, and nearby motels, visitors can take advantage of Weiss Lake’s miles of golden shores. With 37 privately run marinas and four free public access areas, visitors can enjoy sailing, fishing, sea-dooing, and tubing along the lakefront. Being located on the foothills of the Southern Appalachian Mountains, visitors can cycle, view wildlife, and admire autumn’s brilliant foliage on hikes. They can also wake up to the sounds of nature and fall asleep under the expansive onyx star-filled skies.
Weiss Lake
Address: U.S. Hwys. 411 & 68, AL Hwy. 9 in Cherokee County Centre, AL 35960
Website: Weiss Lake
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
Price: Free
9. Lay Lake
Visitors to Lay Lake will be delighted with its abundance of attractions including museums, zoos, golf courses, and shopping. Stretching for 12,000 acres (4,856 hectares), Lay Lake is ideal for boating, swimming, fishing, paddleboarding, etc. Within the lake, there are five islands to which visitors can kayak or canoe to experience more of the great outdoors. Lay Lake has many campgrounds, RV parks, and vacation rentals for guests to stay while hiking or cycling the Appalachian Mountains forest trails. With its miles of shoreline, families can picnic, sunbathe, and have waterfront campfire dinners with nightly storytelling.
Lay Lake
Address: Shelby County, Alabama 35143
Website: Lay Lake
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
Price: Free
10. Wheeler Lake
Wheeler Lake is the second largest lake on Alabama’s Tennessee River, making it popular for recreational activities. With its watery expanse stretching 67100 acres (27154 hectares), Wheeler Lake is perfect for kayaking, jet skiing, canoeing, tubing, and more. The lake is popular for fishing, drawing thousands of anglers to attend and participate in its national fishing tournaments annually. With several marinas and launch sites, boaters can spend hours under the summer skies soaking up the sunshine with their families. Visitors can also hike or cycle rugged forest trails, which are especially spectacular during autumn when the colours change.
Wheeler Lake
Address: 402 Sherman Street P.O. Box 2537, Decatur, AL 35602
Website: Wheeler Lake
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
Price: Free
Experience Alabama's stunning lakes
Outdoor enthusiasts looking to experience Alabama’s natural beauty can do so throughout the Yellowhammer State. With its spacious state parks and lakes, visitors can engage in water activities while admiring the majestic Appalachian Mountains. After experiencing the southern state’s amazing lakes, visitors will return refreshed and eager to book a return wilderness adventure.
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