Camping on Lake Islands

In March of 2020, before the water came back up, my family and I loaded up 2 canoes from the Westshore Landing community dock and boat ramp (on the south side of the lake near Flat Rock). We had enough food and sleeping gear for a week. The kids were 10 and 12 at the time and were familiar with camping. It was a beautiful afternoon as we paddled almost 2 miles across the "big water" to our own private island at mile marker 4. As we arrived we felt like pioneer explorers landing on virgin island. The two pieces of land that are islands in the summer had magically come together as one as the sandbar arose out of the water. We immediately set out to gather the firewood we would need for the evening. I pitched my tent in the sand. The kids and my husband opted for hammock camping in the trees. We played games and ate around the fire and retired once it was good and dark. I read in my tent and listened as an armadillo made the noise of a large horse in the forest. Thanks to sleeping on the ground and the light breaking in early, we all arose at the crack of dawn. It turns out that the hammock dwellers had a deer visitor in the night, sniffing around their hammocks! We ate breakfast and had hot coffee (is coffee made from boiled water over a fire not the best thing ever made? I digress).. And enjoyed a leisurely stroll around the beach. We loaded up our canoe and made it back to the home dock where our loyal (and angry) retriever awaited our return. Next time we will take him with us!

Common things to know about island camping:

• There are no reservations, it's first come, first served.
• Pack in and pack out - take out all trash that you bring with you (and any other that you find on the site).
• There are 13 campsites with GPS coordinates on the map. However, please note most of these are accessible by water and are primitive camping only. (No RVs). Alabama Power Company does not have formal campsites on Lake Wedowee, but does allow primitive camping on the islands (at your own risk, of course.) Be safe on the Tallapoosa Rivers.
• Whether you're out for the afternoon or are planning to spend weeks on the water, be prepared! Much of the Tallapoosa basin has decent cell phone service, but don't count on it. Take care of yourself, you may be farther from civilization than you think.