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Lay Lake

Wilsonville · Harpersville · Childersburg · Vincent · Talladega Springs, Alabama — Shelby County.

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13,367Surface acres
4Public access sites

Surface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 120024200, 2 mapped parts).

Location & fast facts

Where Lay Lake is in Alabama

The red circle marks Lay Lake.

Fast facts

About Lay Lake

  • Counties: Shelby, Talladega, Coosa, Chilton
  • Cities & towns on the shore: Wilsonville, Harpersville, Childersburg, Vincent, Talladega Springs
  • Mapped as: Lake or pond (USGS National Hydrography Dataset)
  • Distance: about 30 mi from Birmingham and 57 mi from Montgomery, straight-line (not driving distance)

Towns and counties: U.S. Census Bureau boundaries overlaid on the USGS lake outline (Alabama: incorporated places touching the lake, otherwise the nearest one).

Fishing in Alabama

Official ADCNR pages. Rules and fees change; check before you go.

Good for & watch for

Good for

  • Boating. 4 public trailer launches listed (see access)
  • Camping. 5 campgrounds within 15 mi (list)

Watch for

  • Non-native/invasive species. Common water-hyacinth, Water lettuce and Alligatorweed recorded. Clean, drain and dry your boat and gear.
  • Boat traffic. A public trailer launch means motorboats share the water; expect more traffic on summer weekends.

Built only from the data on this page: official access lists, OpenStreetMap beaches and trails, campground listings, state and USGS invasive-species records. We don't rate crowds or water quality.

Lake map

Lay Lake shoreline, boat launches & beaches

Beeswax Boat Launch (Boat launch)1Boat ramp (Boat launch)2Boat ramp (Boat launch)3Boat ramp (Boat launch)41 mileN

Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.

Boat launch
  1. 1Beeswax Boat Launch
    Boat launch
  2. 2Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  3. 3Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  4. 4Boat ramp
    Boat launch

Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 120024200, plus 1 more mapped parts), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: OpenStreetMap boat ramps (no statewide agency ramp layer used) and OpenStreetMap boat ramps (ODbL). Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.

Campgrounds near Lay Lake

We found 5 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Lay Lake, 1 of them within 5 miles. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.

All campgrounds & RV parks in Alabama

Green tent icons on the lake map mark campgrounds near the shore, and the interactive map shows the closest 12. Amenities are listed only where a source records them; call or check the campground's website before you go, since seasons and rates change every year.

Campground data: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Pulled Oct 12, 2026.

Nearest airports

The closest airport with scheduled passenger flights to Lay Lake, plus larger airports within about 150 miles:

Car rental links go to our partner Discover Cars; LakeRipple may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Affiliate disclosure.

Airports with scheduled airline service from OurAirports (large and medium airports); larger airports are FAA large, medium and small hubs by FAA CY2025 enplanements ("major airport" = FAA large hub). Distances are straight-line from the lake's center, not driving distance; road routes are longer.

Conditions right now

Air temperature & conditions (nearest NWS station)Loading…
Fetching the latest National Weather Service observation…

Live from the National Weather Service API for the lake's coordinates (33.1947, -86.4694). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Lay Lake. No live water-temperature sensor is shown because we haven't found a public one for this lake.

Sun, moon & best fishing times

Sun & moon at Lay Lake

Best fishing times

Major periodMinor periodDaylight

    Based on solunar theory, an estimate. Major periods (about 2 hours) center on when the moon is directly overhead or underfoot; minor periods (about 1 hour) center on moonrise and moonset. The 0–100 activity score rises during those periods and gets a boost near sunrise and sunset and around the new and full moon. Weather, water temperature and pressure often matter more. Sun and moon times are calculated in your browser from the lake's coordinates with standard astronomy formulas, shown in CT (America/Chicago), and accurate to within a few minutes.

    Boat launches & access sites

    4 public access sites listed, 4 with a boat ramp or trailer launch.

    SiteTownOwnerTypeParkingFeeUsesMap
    Beeswax Boat Launch——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating33.1773, -86.5213
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating32.9783, -86.5222
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating33.0201, -86.5548
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating33.3697, -86.3543

    OpenStreetMap boat ramps (no statewide agency ramp layer used) and OpenStreetMap boat ramps (ODbL)

    Fees, hours and rules change; confirm with the site owner before you go.

    Non-native/invasive species

    Reported on or near Lay Lake

    Clean, Drain, Dry. Remove plants and mud, drain all water, and dry your boat, trailer and gear before moving to another water.

    USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database

    USGS records matched to this water by location (within about 150 m of the outline) or by the place name in the record. A record shows a sighting was reported; it doesn't prove the species is still there. As of Oct 10, 2026.

    Contact & official info

    Questions about Lay Lake

    How big is Lay Lake?

    Lay Lake covers about 13,367 acres in Wilsonville, Harpersville, Childersburg and Vincent, Alabama (Shelby County).

    Is there a public boat launch on Lay Lake?

    Yes. 4 public trailer launches are listed: Boat ramp, Beeswax Boat Launch and Boat ramp. Check posted fees and parking rules.

    Are there campgrounds near Lay Lake?

    Yes. We list 5 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles, 1 of them within 5 miles.

    What towns are on Lay Lake?

    Lay Lake touches Wilsonville, Harpersville, Childersburg, Vincent and Talladega Springs in Shelby County, Talladega County, Coosa County and Chilton County, Alabama.

    Share a tip or fishing report

    Know Lay Lake? Tell us about the launch, parking, where they're biting or anything a first-time visitor should know. Tips go privately to the LakeRipple editor; nothing is posted automatically. Helpful tips may be featured on this page (we'll use your first name only if you give one).

    Lakes & ponds nearby

    Straight-line distance between lake centers. All Alabama lakes & ponds · All waters in Wilsonville