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Hidden Cove Outdoor Resort
Overview
Hidden Cove Outdoor Resort offers a peaceful escape along the shores of Lewis Smith Lake in Arley, Alabama. This resort is part of the Thousand Trails network, providing a blend of natural beauty and modern convenience for travelers. Visitors find themselves surrounded by a lush forest canopy that offers shade and privacy for a variety of camping styles. Whether you are arriving in a large motorhome or looking for a cozy cabin rental, the park focuses on delivering a traditional outdoor experience. The park is characterized by its hilly, wooded terrain, which gives each site a distinct sense of place within the heart of the Alabama wilderness.
Location & Surroundings
The resort is situated in Winston County, specifically in the charming town of Arley. The primary draw of this location is Lewis Smith Lake, widely considered one of the deepest and cleanest lakes in the southeastern United States. The surrounding area is part of the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, providing rolling landscapes and scenic vistas. Being close to the Bankhead National Forest means guests are never far from pristine wilderness areas and unique geological formations. The remote nature of Arley ensures that the nighttime skies are dark and the sounds of nature are the primary soundtrack to your stay.
Amenities & Park Features
Hidden Cove is well-equipped to handle the needs of modern RVers with a variety of functional and recreational features. The park provides full hookup sites with 30 and 50-amp service, ensuring a comfortable stay in any season. To keep guests entertained and comfortable, the resort includes:
- A refreshing outdoor swimming pool and sun deck area.
- A private boat ramp for easy access to the lake waters.
- A clubhouse, playground, and mini-golf course for family fun.
These amenities are complemented by essential services such as laundry facilities and well-maintained bathhouses, making it easy to settle in for an extended stay.
Nearby Attractions & Things to Do
Water activities dominate the itinerary for most visitors to this region. Anglers will appreciate the world-class fishing for striped bass and spotted bass found in the deep waters of Smith Lake. Beyond the water, a short drive takes you to the Natural Bridge of Alabama, the longest natural bridge east of the Rockies. For hikers, the nearby Sipsey Wilderness offers miles of trails leading to hidden waterfalls and ancient rock shelters. If you enjoy scenic drives, the winding roads through the Bankhead National Forest provide stunning views, especially during the autumn months.
Who This Park Is Best For
This resort is an ideal choice for boating enthusiasts who want immediate access to one of Alabama's premier waterways. It is also a fantastic destination for families seeking a digital detox, as the wooded environment encourages outdoor play and exploration. Those who travel within the Thousand Trails network will find this to be a reliable and scenic stop. If you prefer a quiet, nature-focused stay over a busy urban environment, the tranquil atmosphere and scenic lakeside views of Hidden Cove will align perfectly with your travel style.
Amenities
- Tenting
- Recreational Facilities
- Policies
- Rentals
- Other Amenities & Services
- Recreation Nearby (within 10 miles)
- Discounts
- Facility
- Internet
- On-Site Rentals
- Sites
User Reviews
Lisa Holland
This could have been a much better experience. Biggest complaint is that a scheduled disconnect of electric was never communicated. When we called the property manager after the outage, that’s when we learned of the situation. We were told it shouldn’t be much longer, it turned out to be several hours. Any kind of heads-up and we could have been prepared. It is a nice property but nothing to do in the fall/winter. There weren’t any activities planned. There’s nothing closer than 30 minutes and the roads are treacherous. The lots in “C” are spacious but not paved and not level. Our auto-level on the rig was not happy and it took 20 minutes to work out the kinks. Our rig dragged in the area coming out of ”C” and did some damage. I’d like to believe that this place is great in the spring/summer but for now this review shall remain in place. There were some beautiful areas around Smith’s Lake.
Barb N
They are so wonderful and helpful! I especially appreciate the extra help from thier maintenance as i am older and do not understand or have difficulty knowing how to do all i need. Everyone i have delt with so far from reservations, member services, the welcome center and maintenace persons preform customer service to the highest standards. Excellent service from all!!!
Janice Baker
It does take a few twists and turns to get there, but it is so worth it. The park has beautiful views of the lake. An observation point that was fun to take the pups swimming on. The park was well maintained, all hookups were ready to access. Signage was adequate. The pool was pretty and clean. The only downside was no cell or tv signal at all, not even for a fee. Now this was able to be solved by going into town. And truthfully it does force you to put the phones down, but we needed to keep in touch with family, etc. So just give family, work the heads up before you lose signal. Besides that a perfect stay, quiet, friendly, will definitely come back.
Amee Bailey
No rooms it's an RV resort. Staff was friendly. The place was huge. Pool area was nice and clean, pool is only 4 1/2 ft deep. There was a basketball court and volleyball area near the pool, along with restrooms. The playground was near the front of the park along with a little putt putt course.
Rick Hull
It’s fine; has full hookups and pull through sites. We came in mid-June during heat wave so was very hot and site didn’t have trees. Everyone’s A/Cs were maxed! Nice lady at the gate and quite helpful. Would definitely stay again but probably Spring or Fall
Nick Cruze
Been really disappointed this year. Still don't have lights at the dock. Super dark at night. For the last two weeks one of the dock fingers has been broken. Like broken off!!!! Now the first finger is broken as well. Don't try to dock or walk on the dock at night. I would think that's a liability. It's been pointed out by many, but nothing has been fixed. Don't get me wrong, the staff is great. I believe their hands are tied because of corporate. At least, I hope that's the case. Lots of wash out in the gravel roads as well. Hidden Cove has so much potential. We're going to have 4 yards of gravel delivered ourselves to place in front of our camper. Aggravating!!!
Delinda Meherg
An okay camp ground but the amenities were all a bit run down. They were getting the pool ready to open it up - May17, 2025. The pool area looked really nice but there was no shade around the pool. The roads leading to the campground are a bit rough, which made for a bumpy ride as we got closer.
Amber McCormick
It's called Hidden Cove for a reason. It was definitely off the beaten path, but once we got there, it was great! RV sites are level, spacious, and plenty of room to fit our 45' toy hauler and our both our back deck and front porch and still space to park the truck. Staff called to check on us when we needed to add to our stay until we could get a flat tire replaced. The view of the lake is beautiful.
Joshua Schulist
Amazing location right on the lake with many green spaces for a playground, mini golf, horseshoes and disc golf. Swimming in the lake was fun and refreshing. The roads were well maintained overall with only a few areas of washout. Laundry was sufficient. Clubhouse was very large but a bit musty. 2 pool tables but only one works to play on. Air hockey worked. Free Internet at the clubhouse and laundry house was quite slow but more that enough for checking email (2 Mbps down 1 Mbps up). The pool was drained as they are waiting on a new liner but no timeline was given in when it would be complete.
Kimmie Hajduk
Very nice RV Park on Smith Lake in Arley, AL. Location is rural. Very few grocery and restaurant options close by, however everything is available within 20 miles. Nice game room.