Payne Lake Recreation Area
Payne Lake is a 110-acre manmade lake inside the Talladega National Forest, Oakmulgee Ranger District. The Payne Lake Recreation Area provides opportunities to kayak, canoe, boat fish, bird watch, hike, and bicycle. The recreation area also contains two camping loops. The Payne Lake area offers two hiking trails. One trail follows the east shoreline of the lake. Starting at the boat launch, this trail is 1.1 miles and winds through the forest with several access spurs to the lake's edge for fishing. The other trail is at the north end of Payne Lake and is approximately 1.5 miles long with interpretive signs along the way. The trail meanders along the ridges and the drainages of the north end of the lake.
The two camping loops provide for any type of camping experience you
seek. The West Side Camping Area has 18 well maintained, spacious camp
sites that can accommodate RVs. There are seven sites with electricity,
water hook-ups, picnic tables, and fire rings. The remaining 11 sites
have water hook-ups, tent pads, fire rings, and picnic tables. Eight of
these campsites are adjacent to the lake with fishing access. The West
Side has a restroom building, new bathhouse, common area with a picnic
pavilion, shoreline fishing access, several scattered picnic tables,
and a swimming beach. The East Side Camping Area has 30 well maintained
primitive campsites tucked around the ridges of the pine forest with
tent pads, picnic tables, grills, and parking space for two vehicles.
Several of these campsites are situated above the lake with panoramic
views across the water. Five water faucets are centrally located around
the camping loop. The swimming beach has a parking area and a
bathhouse.
The West Side Day Use Area has restrooms, a common area with a picnic pavilion, shoreline fishing access, several scattered picnic tables, a parking area, and a boat ramp. Payne Lake is open year round with a 14-day limit for all camping. There is an admission fee.
Discounts: AARP/groups/military/other, America the Beautiful Passes, and the Forest Seasonal Pass
Accepted Methods of Payment: Cash and checks
Address: 9901 Highway 5, Brent AL 35034
Phone: 205-926-9765
Fax: 205-926-9712
Directions from the Oakmulgee Ranger District office: Take Highway 5 south and make a right hand turn onto Highway 25. Travel down Highway 25 until you see a large recreation sign for Payne Lake recreation Area and turn to the right.
http://paynelake.info/
The West Side Day Use Area has restrooms, a common area with a picnic pavilion, shoreline fishing access, several scattered picnic tables, a parking area, and a boat ramp. Payne Lake is open year round with a 14-day limit for all camping. There is an admission fee.
Discounts: AARP/groups/military/other, America the Beautiful Passes, and the Forest Seasonal Pass
Accepted Methods of Payment: Cash and checks
Address: 9901 Highway 5, Brent AL 35034
Phone: 205-926-9765
Fax: 205-926-9712
Directions from the Oakmulgee Ranger District office: Take Highway 5 south and make a right hand turn onto Highway 25. Travel down Highway 25 until you see a large recreation sign for Payne Lake recreation Area and turn to the right.
http://paynelake.info/
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