The One Thing to Do in Alabama Before the End of the Year

Every once in a while, I love traveling out in the wilderness to camp out under the starry skies and admire the various constellations that shine bright in front of me. Stargazing in the winter is an especially memorable experience because the sky gets darker earlier, thus giving more time to take in the beauty of the cosmos. To reap the benefits of the dark skies, an outdoor getaway in the winter before the end of the year could be just what the doctor orders.

If you’re on the hunt for a place to go camping in December, Conecuh National Forest in Alabama is an unexpected yet surprisingly decent choice for those who love chilly nights in nature. Conecuh National Forest is located in the southern part of Alabama across from the Florida state line, and is the perfect dark sky destination for all of the stargazing that your heart desires due to the limited light pollution in the area. In fact, these 84,000 acres offer a chance to see the Geminids meteor showers that shine bright the entire month of December, but especially in the earliest hours of December 14. 

Conecuh National Forest is filled with pine forests and swamps, and visitors can set up their campground at the Open Pond Recreation Area, which is open year-round. This recreation area offers visitors access to over 60 RV sites, picnic facilities, a boat launch, water hookups, and bathrooms, which rounds out everything you’ll need for a December camping trip.

For those who enjoy birding, grab your binoculars and spot waders and shorebirds in the smaller bodies of water surrounding the Open Pond Recreation Area or catch a glimpse of the endangered Red-cockaded Woodpecker. Winter offers the perfect opportunity to see even more bird species flock to this area, with the Blue-headed Vireos, Orange-crowned Warblers, and rare wintering sparrows such as Henslow’s and LeConte’s making visits this time of year. 

You’ll also be spoiled with fantastic hiking options to round out your camping trip, where you can relax and take in sweeping views of the pine forests, swamps, and ponds. There are six main trails that run through the national forest, such as the Mossy Pond Loop, which goes through the dense forest, and the South Conecuh to Open Pond trail, which provides a scenic backpacking-friendly trek. 

The nature that you’ll see during your camping journey will be unmatched. This area contains one of the largest continuous stretches of longleaf pine forest in the Southeast, along with abundant wildlife such as deer, coyotes, red foxes, and wild turkeys. You can also opt for some paddling or fish for bream, bass, or crappie over at the Blue Lake Recreation Area. As it’s the end of the year, there will likely be less crowds and more opportunities to take advantage of being out in the great outdoors in whatever way you see fit. 

Since south Alabama has mild winters, winter camping is the way to go. Conecuh National Forest offers a cozy, enjoyable experience in nature to round off the year. Want additional ideas for spending the winter in Alabama? Look no further than Only In Your State’s AI-powered itinerary planner for information on activities, attractions, and more.