Hidden Cove TT RV Resort

It’s easy to see why so many thousand trailers love Hidden Cove in Arley, AL. The views of Lewis Smith Lake are incredible (don’t miss the spot behind the clubhouse) and the sites are really nice. Older kids will love to splash in the water on the rocks down by the observation deck and boaters/kayakers will appreciate that there is a launch right in the campground

Many of the sites are level and spacious. I would suggest heading into the park and going left towards C-loop. We made the mistake of perusing A-loop, and had to push the limits with the fifth wheel’s turning radius. Some of those sites have amazing lake views, but it appeared they were all annual sites. The views in C-loop also seem to be taken by annuals and it is easy to see why- their patio views are epic. B-loop has some wooded, 30amp sites that are much tighter.

We had decent service with AT&T and weak (but still streamable) service with T-mobile. There are tons of Starlink-friendly sites. The bathrooms/showerhouse were some of the nicest that we have seen in a TT park (2 shower heads!)

As far as getting mail, they accept UPS and FedEx (without a charge) and Amazon delivers to USPS with pickup at the post office that is about 15 minutes from the campground.

The playground is in progress (possibly for a while…), but they do have some swings and a slide (and a pool if the weather cooperates!) Stock up on groceries before you head in, as it is about 45 minutes from most stores (although there’s a dollar store nearby). And, take the road in SLOW, the potholes are no joke.

Also, beware of stray/unleashed dogs. We saw several during our stay. Most seemed friendly, but you never know. The ranger said that one of the dogs belongs to the neighbor and that he runs around the park fairly often.

When you’re ready to adventure outside the campground, you can find some great hiking trails. We absolutely loved Sougahoagdee Falls, an epic trail and waterfall about 45 minutes north. (Yes, you can explore behind the falls!) The trail is about 4.5 miles roundtrip and follows a river for most of the duration. You can admire some impressive rock formations and trickling waterfalls before hitting the main falls. I would consider it family friendly as long as your children are cautious - there are some cliffside portions. The parking lot only has room for 3 or 4 cars, but you could likely find a spot on the side of the road. This trail is in a very remote area and didn’t seem to be very popular. We went on a weekday and only ran into 1 other hiker on the trail.

Details:

• Out and back trail

• About 4 miles roundtrip

• Around 440 ft of elevation gain

• Well-blazed trail, dirt

• Coordinates: 34.25423, -87.26480

• Dogs are welcome

• No bathrooms or trash

We also enjoyed an interesting hike to Caney Creek Falls, another beautiful waterfall, although with less wow-factor than Sougahoagdee. The parking lot is located at a private residence. This property is home to an assortment of animals (dogs, cows, horses, chickens) as well as old vehicles and other metal scraps. The gentleman was kind and welcoming, even though we have Yankee plates (better believe we dropped some cash in his donation box, though).

This trail would be best suited for adventure seekers. One of the resident pups, Stevie, escorted us for the entire hike. He was the cutest, most well-behaved little guy (a jack-russell mix) and our 6 year old almost convinced us to add him to our family. This trail is partially blazed with ribbons. Make a left after the stream crossing and you should be in good shape. The trailhead is to the left of the chicken coop/tied up cow/trash and goes straight behind the property.

Details:

• Out & back

• About 1 mile roundtrip

• Around 250 ft of elevation gain

• Decently blazed trail, dirt

• Coordinates: 34.26977, -87.44318

• Dogs are welcome (should be dog friendly - several dogs on property)

• No bathrooms, trash is available

If you’re looking for a quick hike closer to the campground, with a remarkable natural feature, head to the Natural Bridge trail. It is about 25 minutes from Hidden Cove and is less than a mile. The rock bridge is really cool to explore from below and the trail is paved and easy to follow. There are some nice spots for a picnic along the trail, too.

Details:

• Loop

• Less than a mile

• Around 65 ft of elevation gain, but some steep portions

• Paved

• Coordinates: 34.18702, -87.27815

• Dogs are welcome

• Porta-potty, trash is available

On your way to any of these trails (they are all North of Hidden Cove), you can easily visit the historic Houston Jail. It is worth exploring (and also has a quick geochache). Don’t miss the “bathroom” in the old cells. We also heard that the restaurant across the street, Chef Troy’s Talk of the Town, is excellent, but it was closed when we visited.

If you’ve had enough of trees and tranquility, Birmingham isn’t far (the drive takes about 75 minutes, but it’s beautiful and typically without much traffic) You’ll find some great breweries, restaurants, nightlife, etc. The McWane Science Center is perfect for a rainy day with the kids (part of ASTC!) Don’t miss their little town area- it’s more of a children’s play museum.

Tell us in the comments on the instagram/facebook post what we should check out next time we visit!