Bear Creek

Bear Creek Dam is located in the northwest corner of Alabama, 30 miles southwest of Muscle Shoals. It’s one of a cluster of four small dams located in the area.

Bear Creek is one of four dams that provide flood damage reduction, recreation opportunities, and water supply in northwest Alabama. The others are Upper Bear Creek, Little Bear Creek, and Cedar Creek.

The Bear Creek area is popular for all kinds of boating, including canoeing and kayaking. The Bear Creek Floatway, which flows into Bear Creek Reservoir, is a popular spot for teaching first-timers to negotiate rapids and work with the current.

Below the dam, the Lower Bear Creek Canoe Trail provides a more leisurely float, running 34 miles down the creek to Pickwick Landing Dam on the Tennessee River.

Fishing, picnicking, birdwatching, and sightseeing are also popular activities in the Bear Creek area.

Bear Creek: Facts & Figures

• Bear Creek Dam was completed in 1969.
• The dam is 68 feet high and 1,385 feet long.
• Bear Creek Reservoir extends 12 miles upstream from the dam.
• The reservoir has a flood-storage capacity of 37,800 acre-feet.
• Bear Creek Dam is not a hydroelectric facility. It has no power generators and produces no electricity.

More Information on Bear Creek Reservoir

Daily Lake Level

Reservoir Health Ratings

Water Trail Guide