Things to Do at Smith Lake

Access:  First of all you have to get here.  Traveling to the lake is quick and easy:

• Cullman - access the Cullman County side of the lake primarily from I-65 from Exits 299 (to Hwy 69), 304 (to Hwy 437, Hwy 438 & Hwy 222) & 309 (to Hwy 278)
• Walker - enter the Walker side from I-22 into Jasper and through Curry AL
• Winston - the Winston side can be accessed through Cullman and Walker, both the Curry Highway (Hwy 41) and Helicon Road from Hwy 278 eventually intersect in Arley, AL (The Heart of Smith Lake), and Hwy 278 on the far northwest side accesses the furthest area from major interstates - the Double Springs, AL area.  ​

• For reference, distances are (from the popular 299 Exit from I65):  
  • ​about 40 minutes to Birmingham AL (40 miles)
  • about 1 hour to Huntsville AL (60 miles)
  • about 2 hours & 20 mins to Nashville, TN (150 miles)​

Once you have an address of where you want to go, everything is accessible via GPS, but keep in mind that most of the lake is still very rural, so traveling around can be tricky.  There are still some dirt/gravel roads in the area, as well as some hard pack roads.  If you're veering off main highways and don't have a 4-wheel-drive, just be mindful of road conditions in inclement weather.

Activities:  there are so many activities to enjoy on Smith Lake.  We'll list a few of our favorites below.  

• Boating - all types of motor operated or man powered vehicles (i.e. cabin cruisers, wakeboard boats, wakesurf boats, pontoons, jet boats, fishing boats, kayaks, canoes, jet-skis, even sailboats in designated areas, etc.).  Check our list of boat ramps if you're not sure where to launch or recover your boat.  The landings we highly recommend for newbies are located at Smith Lake Park, The Dam, Duskin Point Marina, and Duncan Bridge Marina.  Looking for a marina to purchase a boat - try Russell Marine-Smith Lake and Duskin Point Marina, they're happy to help you - see our list of marinas in the area.  Looking to rent a boat - try Duskin Point Marina - see our listing of rentals.  
• Watersports - enjoy anything you like such as wakeboarding, wakesurfing, wakeskating, waterskiing, slalom, kneeboarding, barefooting, hydrofoiling, wakefoiling, surf foiling, efoiling  tubing, stand-up paddle boarding (SUP), etc. (and be sure to check out local watersports shop Lakeside Gear @lakesidegear for great pricing on special orders delivered locally to your door and Pine Valley Outdoor Living @pvoutdoorliving for rentals of lots of watersports equipment and recreational equipment.)
• Fishing - enjoy angling on the reservoir or fly fishing below the reservoir on the peaceful waters of the Black Warrior River.  You will find the lake area provides great fishing.  Common catches are:  Crappie, Bream, Striped Bass, Spotted Bass, White and Largemouth Bass;  Channel & Flathead Catfish, and there are Rainbow Trout provided in the area below the dam for those who love fly-fishing - be sure to check out lessons at well-known Riverside Fly Shop.  For fishing gear, we highly recommend Jasper's Pat's Archery & Outdoors.  Pat's offers equipment for all outdoor sports, from fishing, camping, hiking, hunting to watersports.  You'll find everything you need.  
• Wildlife - there are abundant common wildlife in the area such as deer, fox, raccoons, groundhogs, chipmunks, wild turkey, etc.  It has been reported there are small mountain lions, coyotes and small black bear in the area too, but those animals need a wide range and are seen more often in the northwest end of the lake into the Bankhead National Forest.  
• Birdwatching - gorgeous birds commonly found in the southeast are proliferate here as well as Eagles, Blue Herons, Mallard Ducks, Canadian Geese, Loons, Kingfishers, many songbirds, hummingbirds, etc.
• There are so many more general lake activities - swimming, camping, hiking - the possibilities are simply endless.  Be sure to check out our RV campsites in the area.  
• Visit Smith Lake Landmarks aka #spotsonsmith - find many of the favorite spots on Smith Lake through maps on our MAP page in the LOCAL INFO tab.  We often cover these favorite spots in our magazine, and soon we'll have a page dedicated to these spots.  
• Adjoining the lake on the far northwest end is the celebrated William B. Bankhead National Forest and Sipsey Wilderness that are simply a MUST SEE.  There are facebook pages dedicated to traversing this treasured area from many different trailheads.  Its nickname is "The Land of a Thousand Waterfalls" - just a quick Google search or search on social media will show you just why it has that name.  A heavenly gorge/cavern and mountain area full of creeks, streams, waterfalls, and riverbeds (such as Sipsey Fork River, Smith Lake's west side headwater, feeds the lake on the west side).  Here you'll find an abundance of well-kept trails along natural rock bluff walls, hills and valleys with not only hiking trails, but biking, horseback and off-road riding trails as well.  The area is massive, and best not to go off-trail unless you are a very experienced hiker or are hiking with a group that is.  The area is absolutely STUNNING.  Just "Google it," and be prepared to go down the proverbial "rabbit hole" of beautiful photography and scenery like nothing you've ever seen.
• AND... that's just ON the lake - the three counties that surround the lake offer so much more to do outside the lake area year round - such as shopping Jasper Main Street in Jasper's historical downtown area, and the Cullman Warehouse District in the historical area of Cullman that lies near the old Train Depot, Depot Park where most of Cullman's annual magical events occur, and all are right beside Cullman's famous downtown railroad tracks. Within those counties are other natural and manmade parks, lakes, rivers, waterfalls, historical sites, and incredible landmarks - all very close to the area.  A visit to the local Chamber of Commerces in Cullman or Jasper, as well as area museums, offer a wealth of information about the counties that surround the lake (see links below). 

Also, check out the bottom of our blog on Lewis Smith Dam and Powerhouse for information about visiting the Alabama Power Company Powerhouse.  

If you would like more information about our area, we encourage you to check with the local Chamber of Commerce for each city/county you plan to visit and/or the tourism boards in those areas.  In true southern style and hospitality, they will all graciously provide even more detailed and factual information about their specific areas.  

• Cullman Area - Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce and Cullman Parks, Recreation and Tourism and Visit Cullman
• ​​Walker Area - The Chamber of Commerce of Walker County
• Winston Area - Haleyville Area Chamber of Commerce

We have gathered these facts from numerous sources for the benefit of our community, so please feel free to offer any edits.  Call/text us at 256-708-7679 or email us at [email protected]