Alabama / Winston County / William B. Bankhead National Forest

Houston Shelter

Closed — Closed for the season. The pavilion is available for day-use May 1 through October 31. Day-use parking operates May through September. The boat ramp is open year-round.

About

Houston Shelter is a group picnic pavilion located on the scenic shoreline of Lake Lewis Smith within the William B. Bankhead National Forest. This day-use facility accommodates up to 50 people and operates on a first-come, first-served basis during the recreation season. The shelter is part of the Houston Recreation Area, which features a sandy swimming beach, modern bathhouse, boat launch, and access to hiking trails including the High Rock Loop and Fox Run Loop. Bankhead National Forest is known as the Land of a Thousand Waterfalls and encompasses the Sipsey Wilderness with its limestone bluffs, old-growth forests, and abundant streams. Lake Lewis Smith offers over 500 miles of shoreline with clear, deep water ideal for fishing Kentucky Spotted Bass and Hybrid Striped Bass, as well as motorized and non-motorized boating and water skiing. Note that Houston Campground (a separate facility in the recreation area) remains closed to the public, but the day-use areas, pavilion, and boat ramp are operational during their respective seasons.

Directions

From Double Springs, take Highway 278 east for 8 miles. Turn south on County Road 63 and continue for 4 miles. Turn right onto Forest Service Road 118 and travel 1 mile to the recreation area.

Nearby Campgrounds