Haleyville

Farris Farms 18min

118 County Road 3212, Haleyville, AL 35565. (205) 269-3494.

Horse Back Riding

Natural Bridge Park 26min

Natural Bridge Park, located near Natural Bridge in Winston County, Alabama, is the longest natural bridge of its kind east of the Rocky Mountains.

Open to the public since 1954, the park has picnic areas, drinking fountains fed by a freshwater artesian well, a gift shop with many hand-made trinkets, over two-dozen varieties of fern, a type of hemlock that dates to the Ice Age, and a nature trail that takes around 30 minutes to complete.

Known by the natives as “Lodi”, the Natural Bridge was formed from the erosion of sandstone and iron ore about 200 million years ago, and stands 60 ft (18.3 m) tall, and 148 feet (45 m) long.

It is widely known that Creek Indians lived in the area for many years, using the cave near the bridge for shelter. Down the hill from the bridge is a mysterious 15 feet (4.6 m) tall stone American Indian head looking to the right, much like that of an Indian Head Nickle.

Note: Due to insurance liability concerns, visitors are no longer allowed to walk over the bridge.

The Natural Bridge Park is open seven days a week, from 8:00 A.M. until sunset.

Notable Restaurants in Haleyville

Mill Creek Farms

(205) 485-2003

41590 Highway 195, Haleyville, AL 35565

Melody’s

(205) 430-2523

41991 Alabama 195, Haleyville, AL 35565

La Estancia Pizza

42451 Highway 195 Ste 107, Haleyville, AL 35565

Dixie Den

907 20th St, Haleyville, AL 35565

(205) 486-8577

Golden Dragon Chinese Buffet

1814 21st St, Haleyville, AL 35565

(205) 486-5720

Bank’s Bar-B-Q

2210 21st St, Haleyville, AL 35565

(205) 486-2266

Russell’s Rising Smoke

1030 AL-13, Haleyville, AL 35565

(205) 486-7427

Family Table Country Cookin’

405 Hwy 13. Haleyville, AL 35565

(205) 486-4900

Restaurants in Double Springs:

B & K BBQ

15457 US-278, Double Springs, AL 35553

(205) 489-2263

Sapore Grill Italian Restaurant

26641 AL-195, Double Springs, AL 35553

(205) 489-1172

Buena Vista Mexican Restaurant

14940 US-278, Double Springs, AL 35553

(205) 489-5949

Subway

26285 AL-195, Double Springs, AL 35553

(205) 489-8090

Jack’s

15266 US-278, Double Springs, AL 35553

(205) 483-3254

Lewis Smith Lake & Dam

Lewis Smith Lake and Dam were created in 1961 to help provide electricity to area residents. The switch to hydroelectric power became necessary when coal supplies in the area were in high demand and the price of coal began to sour.

Today, Lewis Smith Lake & Dam is a destination spot for outdoor activities like fishing, boating, hiking, water skiing, and bike riding, among other things.

Smith Lake has over 500 miles of beautiful shoreline loaded with fish, which makes it an ideal location to host major fishing tournaments such as the Bassmaster Open Series Tournament.

There are live events and concerts throughout the year on the lake, including July 4th and New Year’s Eve firework shows, where people from all over come to hang out by the water.

Top Places to Visit on Smith Lake

Smith Lake Park

Smith Lake Park is usually the center of attention in the Smith Lake area. Each year the park hosts an enormous July 4th Fireworks Festival as well as many fishing tournaments, including the B.A.S.S. Master Classic. There are campgrounds, a pool, and beach-front access to Smith Lake. Smith Lake Park is one of the top must-see places at Smith Lake!

Brothers on Smith Lake

Brothers at Smith Lake is a classic American dining restaurant. In addition to the food, Brother’s is one of the few bars you will find on Smith Lake.

Big Bridge

Big Bridge, located where County Road 222 passes over Smith Lake, is one of the most distinguishable major landmarks in the Smith Lake area.

Trident Marina & Grill

Trident Marina & Grill has the largest marina on Smith Lake and houses hundreds of boats. The Grill has some of the best cuisine on the lake. During the summer months Trident hosts live music events in which concert goers have the option of watching and listening to the show from the bank or on the water from their boat.

Smith Lake Dam

Smith Lake Dam is located just outside of Cullman County on Highway 69 and ranks as one of largest earth dams in the US. For boaters, there is a large boat ramp located on the other side of the dam. The dam is worth seeing!

The Castle 1hr

Not many people know that Smith Lake has its own castle. The legendary “Castle” on Smith Lake is a massive house with walls that sport the classic Middle Ages rock-like castle style that can be seen for miles on the lake.

Indian Head Rock

Indian Head Rock is a unique cliff formation near one of the deepest parts of the lake. This location offers a thrill for adventure addicts, as people have climbed up and jumped off the top of Indian Head Rock for decades. This activity is not for the faint of heart.

Speegle’s Marina & Campground 58min

Speegle’s Marina & Campground is located right on the lake and boasts a beautiful view of the surrounding area. They have a convenient boat dock and are in one of the best locations on Smith Lake.

Rock Creek Marina

Rock Creek Marina offers a unique shopping experience as it floats on Smith Lake in Crane Hill. Rock Creek has all the supplies you will need to enjoy a day on the lake. Take time to check out the large carp.

Attractions Near William Bankhead National Forest

Sipsey Wilderness

The Sipsey Wilderness can be found within the Bankhead National Forest, near the Sipsey Fork of the Black Warrior River. This area was the first wilderness area officially created east of the Mississippi River. Containing numerous natural waterfalls, Sipsey is the largest and most visited wilderness area in the state of Alabama.

It houses the largest tree in Alabama, fondly named as “The Big Tree”. If you are up for the 8.5-mile loop trail, you will find one of Alabama’s most majestic trees at a height of 150 feet and a circumference of almost 27 feet at breast height at the base of a waterfall.

Where Cranal Road and the Sipsey River cross, enjoy a family or romantic picnic surrounded by nature at the Sipsey River Picnic Area. The charge for entrance to the Sipsey Wilderness is only a $3 charge per vehicle.

West Bee Falls

Nicknamed the “Land of 1,000 Waterfalls, this wilderness area is carved by many small creeks and rivers on the low plateau of Brindlee Mountain. Many waterfalls have formed in this wilderness due to years of erosion effects on the layers of limestone and sandstone in the area.

The West Bee Falls region has some of the oldest forests in Alabama, most notably the 260 acres along Bee Branch Gorge and Buck Rough Canyon, where you can find ancient varieties of Eastern Hemlock, American Beech, Sweet Birch, White Oak, and Tulip Poplar.

There are many different trails throughout the Sipsey Wilderness, and the Sipsey Wilderness Hiking Club has detailed maps and directions to trailheads available to the public.

Saltpeter Furnace

There is a Civil War-era saltpeter furnace located near Bee Branches. Saltpeter is the main component of gunpowder, and the furnace is in a small saltpeter cave hidden by a waterfall. During the Civil War, the location of the saltpeter furnace was a close kept secret, and once resulted in a small battle being fought at nearby Hubbard’s Cotton Mill.

Saltpeter Furnace is located 5.3 miles from William Bankhead National Forest in Winston County, Alabama.

Houston Historic Jail

The Houston Historic Jail was built circa 1868, making it the oldest structure of its kind in the state and the second oldest in the country! Houston was the original county seat of Winston County before the seat was moved to Double Springs. The jail is open daily, and admission is free.

The Houston Historic Jail is located 7.9 miles from William Bankhead National Forest at 4786 County Road 63, Houston, AL 35572. For more info call (205) 489-3669.

The Historic Winston County Courthouse

Winston County Courthouse was created by the organization commission for Hancock County appointed April 8, 1850. Residents of Hancock County, which was later named Winston County, were asked to contribute supplies, equipment, and a workforce to the construction. The original courthouse burned down in 1871 but was rebuilt shortly thereafter. On August 27, 1987, the Winston County Courthouse was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places. The Winston County Courthouse is located at Blake Drive, Double Springs, AL 35553, 7.1 miles from William Bankhead National Forest.

MUSCLE SHOALS

The Muscle Shoals area has produced many interesting tidbits of American history. In addition to being the birthplace of W.C. Handy and Helen Keller, the city is home to the “Muscle Shoals Sound”. Since the 1960s its storied music recording studios have hosted some of the greatest artists from around the world, such as Aretha Franklin, Paul Simon, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Rolling Stones, Alison Krauss, Willie Nelson, Chris Stapleton, Grace Potter, Michael McDonald, Jason Isbell, Bob Dylan, and Etta James. Muscle Shoals is a haven to nature lovers and has many great opportunities for world-class fishing, hiking, and biking, as well as several local golf courses.

15 Cool Things to Do in the Muscle Shoal Area

Frank Lloyd Wright Rosenbaum House

FAME Recording Studios

Ivy Green

River Heritage Park

Wilson Lock and Dam

Muscle Shoals Sound Studios

Old Railroad Bridge