Lakepoint State Park
104 Old Hwy 165, Eufaula, AL
Eufaula, AL
A broad, cypress-lined arm of Lake Eufaula spreads out below the pines here, where largemouth bass draw anglers and herons stalk the shallows.
Lakepoint State Park spreads along the western shore of Lake Eufaula, a 45,000-acre reservoir built on the Chattahoochee River that divides Alabama from Georgia. The park is one of Alabama's resort-style state parks, with a lodge, cabins, campground, and marina looking out over open water fringed with cypress and pine.
The lake is the real draw. Lake Eufaula, sometimes called Walter F. George Lake on the Georgia side, has long been famous among anglers for its largemouth bass, and the park has hosted major fishing tournaments for decades. Beyond the fishing, the coves and marshes make this one of the better birding spots in southeast Alabama.
What Guests Love
- Fishing for largemouth bass on one of the South's best-known bass lakes
- Wide sunset views across the open water from the lodge and marina
- Wintering ducks, herons, and bald eagles along the quiet coves
- An easygoing lakeside base for exploring old Eufaula
Worth Knowing
- This is called the Bass Capital of the World for a reason; boat traffic can be busy on tournament weekends
- Summer heat and humidity are real here, so plan water activities for morning or evening
- Water levels on the reservoir shift with rainfall and dam operation, which changes the shoreline
- Bring sun protection and insect repellent for the warm months near the water
Details
Eufaula, AL
Learn about Lakepoint State Park
The lake and the town of Eufaula
The country around the lower Chattahoochee was long home to the Muscogee, or Creek, people, whose towns lined the river before their forced removal in the 1830s. The river town of Eufaula that grew up afterward became a cotton-shipping port, and its wealth left behind one of the finest collections of antebellum and Victorian homes in the state, many of them along Eufaula's tree-lined Broad Street.
Lake Eufaula itself is far younger than the town. It was created in the 1960s when the Walter F. George Lock and Dam impounded the Chattahoochee, flooding the river bottoms and forming the broad reservoir. Lakepoint State Park opened along its new shoreline soon after, giving the region a lakeside resort and one more reason for travelers to slow down in this quiet corner of the Wiregrass.
The Bass Capital of the World
Lake Eufaula earned its nickname, the Bass Capital of the World, in the years after it filled, when the flooded timber and fertile bottomlands produced enormous largemouth bass and drew anglers from all over the country. Big fish and big tournaments cemented the reputation, and Lakepoint became a hub for competitive and casual fishing alike.
The lake holds more than bass. Crappie, bream, and catfish fill out the mix, and the marina at the park gives boaters and shore anglers easy access to the open water and the maze of coves. Fishing here rewards local knowledge, and the rhythms of the lake shift with the seasons, so a chat with a bait shop or a guide often pays off.
Birds and wildlife of the reservoir
The shallow arms and marshes of Lake Eufaula are a magnet for birds, especially in the cooler months. The nearby Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge protects wetlands that host tens of thousands of wintering ducks and geese, along with wading birds, ospreys, and bald eagles that patrol the open water year round.
Around the park, herons and egrets stalk the shallows, kingfishers rattle from overhanging branches, and turtles line up on half-sunken logs. Deer and turkey move through the surrounding pine woods, and alligators live in the lake and its backwaters, so keep a respectful distance from the water's edge and never feed them.
Season by season
Spring is mild and green, a favorite season for fishing as the bass move shallow to spawn and the woods fill with birdsong. Wildflowers and dogwoods bloom in the surrounding countryside.
Summer is hot and humid, best enjoyed on the water in the early and late hours, with long evenings and dramatic thunderheads building over the lake. Fall cools things down, thins the crowds, and brings the first waves of migrating waterfowl. Winter is the quiet season and the prime time for birding, when the coves fill with ducks and the light turns crisp over the open water.
Closest Boutels
The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is an independently owned, editorially selected place to stay.
Things to Do Near Eufaula
Historic Eufaula
About 8 miles south
A river town famous for its Seth Lore and Irwinton Historic District, one of the largest collections of antebellum and Victorian architecture in the Southeast, best seen along Broad Street.
Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge
About 10 miles north
A wetland refuge on the Chattahoochee that draws large flocks of wintering ducks and geese, with a wildlife drive and viewing points.
Shorter Mansion
About 8 miles south
A grand columned Neoclassical mansion in Eufaula, now a house museum and centerpiece of the town's spring pilgrimage of historic homes.