Availability is not tracked here yet
The site details and map below come from the public Recreation.gov record and are accurate. For current dates and to book, go to Recreation.gov.
About Houston Shelter
Overview
Houston Shelter is a group picnic site nestled on the shore of Lake Lewis Smith in Bankhead National Forest. This is a popular recreation area offering a variety of activities. Shelter is first come first served. Site is walk-up only.
Recreation
Day users can enjoy a beautiful sand swimming beach. Other activities include motorized and non-motorized boating and water skiing.
Anglers can fish for Kentucky Spotted Bass and Hybrid Striped Bass. There are also hiking trails in the area, including the 1.4 mile High Rock Loop and the nearly 2 mile Fox Run Loop.
Natural Features
Bankhead National Forest is located in northwestern Alabama. The prominent feature of the area is the Sipsey Wilderness.
Known as "The Land of a Thousand Waterfalls," the Sipsey Wilderness encompasses an area of abundant streams, old-growth forests, limestone bluffs and lush canyons.
Lake Lewis Smith boasts more than 500 miles of shoreline marked by high rock bluffs. The water is clear and deep and provides excellent fishing.
Getting there
About 50 miles southwest of Decatur, take Highway 278 east from Double Springs for 8 miles. Turn south on County Road 63 and continue for 4 miles. Turn right onto Forest Service Road 118 and travel a mile to the campground.
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at Houston Shelter?
Houston Shelter operates on a first-come, first-served basis and cannot be reserved in advance. Campsite Sniper does not have real-time on-site vacancy information for this facility; visitors claim sites in person on arrival.
Does Campsite Sniper book this facility for me?
No. Campsite Sniper sends alerts and direct Recreation.gov links. It never books, pays for, holds, hoards, or resells reservations.
How current is this availability data?
Campsite Sniper does not currently hold availability data for Houston Shelter, so there is nothing to date here. That is a gap in coverage — it does not mean the facility is full or closed. Check Recreation.gov for current dates.
First-come, first-served
This facility does not offer advance online reservation inventory for Campsite Sniper to monitor, and Campsite Sniper cannot determine real-time physical vacancy. Sites are claimed in person on arrival. For arrival rules, season dates and current conditions, check the facility's page on Recreation.gov.
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