Rocky Branch Day Use Park
Black Warrior and Tombigbee Lakes
Rocky Branch Day use park is located on Holt Lake on the Black Warrior-Tombigbee Waterway northeast of Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The facility is in a beautiful forest along the shoreline, providing day-use visitors with access to water sports, boating, fishing, swimming, hiking and biking.
Rocky Branch has 88 picnic sites to choose from with grills nearby. Two group shelters with grills, a water born bathroom as well as an improved and maintained swim beach available for users.
Need to Know
Gates are open from 8:00 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Holiday weekends are notoriously busy and a shelter reservation does NOT guarantee entry into the park.
For entry each vehicle should have an approved single Day Use Pass, USACE Annual Day Use Pass bought through recreation.gov OR an America The Beautiful pass.
Hickory Point Shelter and the Hilltop Shelter are reservable or first come first serve.
No camping.
No pets on the beach.
No alcohol in the park.
No fires on the beach.
No lifegaurd on duty.
Natural Features
Holt Lake was created by the damming of the Black Warrior River. The campground is situated amidst a mixed pine and hardwood forest, which displays colorful foliage along the riverbanks each fall. Deer, squirrel, wild turkey, migratory birds and blue birds, all live in the Holt Lake area. The Black Warrior-Tombigbee Waterway consists of six lakes with a total length of 457 miles and 39,800 surface acres of water. Temperatures range from the 80s to 90s from April through September, and annual rainfall averages about 60 inches.
Nearby Attractions
Boat ramp available year round is adjacent to seasonal day use facilities.
Recreation
Day Users can explore the lake shore using the hiking trail as well as the swim beach. There are numerous picnic tables and grills to choose from as well as 2 reservable shelters for picnicking.
Contact Information
Mailing
11911 Holt Lock and Dam Road Cottondale AL 35453
Physical
13710 Rocky Branch Road Brookwood AL 35444
Phone Number
For campground inquiries, please call: Gatehouse 205-554-1684 Resource Office 205-553-9373
Rental Options
Learn more about gear rental options for your trip
Driving Directions
Coming from Birmingham going south on I-20/59 in Alabama, take Exit 86 (Covered Bridge Road) toward Brookwood. Turn right on Covered Bridge Road and continue for 5.5 miles to traffic light. Turn left at traffic light onto Highway 216 and continue 3.6 miles. Turn right on Rocky Branch Road and continue 2.5 miles until you get to the park gates on your right.
Coming from Tuscaloosa at the intersection of University Blvd and Veterans' Memorial Parkway, continue on Highway 216 for 7.4 miles. Turn left onto Rocky Branch Road and continue for 2.5 miles until you get to the park gate on your right.
Available Campsites
- Site Hickory Point Shelter, Loop Hickory Point Shelter, Type Group Shelter Nonelectric
- Site Hilltop Shelter, Loop Hilltop Shelter, Type Group Shelter Nonelectric
