Brushy Lake Campground

Brushy Lake Campground is a campground located at the Brushy Lake Recreation Area inside of the Bankhead National Forest.  It has been one of my favorite camping experiences of all time, used as a base camp while exploring the waterfalls of the Bankhead.  It is open year round and only claims to offer “water and flushing” from March – November.  I went in April to find that there was neither of those things available in spite of what their website said.  There was a spigot at my campsite but it was inactive, as were all, and the “flushing” must refer to the larger recreation area because the campground itself just has a vault toilet.  The recreation area’s water was off as well and the flushing toilets were locked up.  Luckily I trusted none of these things before arriving and had a huge water jug and multiple smaller sources with me, as well as a water filter that I could have used in Brushy Lake itself if needed.  But my jug did fine, and the vault toilet was actually very clean, and so long as you don’t mind a few large millipedes hanging out in the bathroom with you, it’s all good.  My favorite water related moment at Brushy Lake Campground was when this couple who had come in with a teardrop trailer came up to me asking if the water worked and went from site to site trying to find water.  They were unprepared.  I get my jollies out of having too much gear and being prepared, so, yeah.

To sum it up, Brushy Lake Campground is buried deep in the Bankhead, and makes a good location to hunt waterfalls from.  There are only 13 campsites, and they cost a mere $5 a night, which is a deal.  No reservations, just first come, first served, from an Iron Ranger kiosk.  Since there’s no power, no showers, no cell service, apparently no water besides what you can take from the lake, it isn’t everyone’s ideal place to be.  I’m thrilled to find a place like this though because it wards off most RVs and conventional campers.  Some nights just one or two other campers were there, and sometimes a few more, never hitting capacity when I went in the spring.  You can fish on the lake and catch dinner if that’s your thing too.  Since there are no showers it comes down to jumping into the waters of the Sipsey Wilderness in the day time to bath.  Personally, I enjoy a good shower in a waterfall.

If you try this place out let me stress – bring a water source and a water filter so you’ll be set.  No power in the area means no lights at all at night, so it gets dark, have your flashlights or whatever handy.  I’m pretty sure one night a boar came by and checked out my campsite, but it was too dark to prove it.  The main wildlife though you’ll get here is a chorus of frogs and other creatures that live in the lake that enjoy making a racket at night.  You can’t help but feel nice and secluded in nature here and you’re truly cut off from the outside world.

Within the attached recreation area is the  Brushy Lake Dam, a man made waterfall of sorts, so check that out.  If you need supplies after arriving, plan to visit nearby Double Springs, AL for groceries.