On June 25, 1974, Clarkson
Covered Bridge was named to
the National Register of Historic
Places. Shortly thereafter, in 1975,
the Cullman County Commission
restored the site with the help of
concerned citizens as part of the
American Bicentennail Project,
embellishing the grounds with
hiking trails, a picnic area, and
two period structures built to
accent the historical nature of the
bridge: a Dogtrot log cabin and
a working grist mill. Located just
off U.S. Highway 278 in Bethel,
Clarkson Bridge is the site of
numerous weddings, car shows
and various other activities.
Smith Lake Park:
Located on the shores of the
21,200 acre Lewis Smith Lake
with 500 miles of shoreline, the
Smith Lake Park is open for year
round camping. The park has
nine cabins; 219 full service sites;
five water and electric sites; and
61 tent sites. Eight pavilions,
playgrounds, a pool, fishing pier,
a huge stage for special events,
and new boat launch makes rustic
Smith Lake Park a destination for
fun and relaxation plus a number
of special events and festivals at
the park throughout the year.
Located within seven miles of
I-65, Smith Lake Park is a great
place to visit that offers relaxation
and fun for the entire family.
All cabins offer amenities
like beds, refrigerators, stoves,
microwaves, showers, toilet and
air (varies based on availability,
contact the office to book
and verify amenities on each
particular cabin). The pavilions
offer tables, seating, water,
power, grills and a performance
stage area (varies based on
availability, contact the office to
book and verify amenities on
each particular pavilion). RV
Camping and Tent Camping with
bathhouse access (varies based on
availability, contact the office to
book and verify amenities on each
particular RV or tent camping
site).
Hurricane Creek
Park:
Those longing for fresh air and
breathtaking natural scenery will
find Hurricane Creek Park to be
an idea destination. The large
park, located just off Highway
31 in South Vinemont, is nestled
in a 500-foot deep canyon in
the foothills of the Appalachian
Mountains Called Hurricane
Creek Gorge. Visitors can spend
the day trekking or bird watching
along the four miles of designated
hiking trails that wind through
the lush woods, unique rock
formations and cliff sides of
the gorge. Notable locations in
the park that were formed by
the weathering of natural rock
include Twilight Tunnel, the
Stairway to Heaven, and Dead
Man’s Squeeze. Speaking of rock
formations, rock climbing is
another widely popular activity
in the park. Climbers will find
ample opportunities to scale the
park’s dozens of climbing faces.
There are also picnic tables in an
open area near the main creek
for those who packed a lunch or
simply wish to take a break. Pets
are allowed to accompany visitors
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