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Upper Bear Creek Reservoir

Bear Creek, Alabama — Marion County.

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1,577Surface acres
7Public access sites

Surface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 1729f627-d2fa-4b7f-903a-2d89f8a25f08).

Location & fast facts

Where Upper Bear Creek Reservoir is in Alabama

The red circle marks Upper Bear Creek Reservoir.

Fast facts

About Upper Bear Creek Reservoir

  • Counties: Marion, Franklin, Winston
  • City or town on the shore: Bear Creek
  • Mapped as: Reservoir (USGS National Hydrography Dataset)
  • Distance: about 69 mi from Huntsville and 74 mi from Birmingham, 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. 7 public trailer launches listed (see access)
  • Camping. 5 campgrounds within 15 mi, 1 on the shore (list)

Watch for

  • 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

Upper Bear Creek Reservoir shoreline, boat launches & beaches

Twin Forks Campground (campground)Bates Landing (Boat launch)1Boat ramp (Boat launch)2Boat ramp (Boat launch)3Boat ramp (Boat launch)4Mon Dye Ramp (Boat launch)5Quarter Creek Access (Boat launch)6Twin Pines Boat Ramp (Boat launch)71 mileN

Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.

Boat launch Campground
  1. 1Bates Landing
    Boat launch
  2. 2Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  3. 3Boat ramp
    Boat launch · Bear Creek
  4. 4Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  5. 5Mon Dye Ramp
    Boat launch
  6. 6Quarter Creek Access
    Boat launch
  7. 7Twin Pines Boat Ramp
    Boat launch · Bear Creek

Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 1729f627-d2fa-4b7f-903a-2d89f8a25f08), 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 Upper Bear Creek Reservoir

We found 5 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Upper Bear Creek Reservoir, 1 of them within 5 miles. 1 is right on the shore. 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 Upper Bear Creek Reservoir, plus larger airports within about 150 miles:

Compare car rentals near this lake

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 (34.3077, -87.6746). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Upper Bear Creek Reservoir. 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 Upper Bear Creek Reservoir

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

    7 public access sites listed, 7 with a boat ramp or trailer launch.

    SiteTownOwnerTypeParkingFeeUsesMap
    Bates Landing——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating34.3242, -87.6620
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating34.3324, -87.6509
    Boat rampBear Creek—Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating34.2800, -87.6864
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating34.2897, -87.6286
    Mon Dye Ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating34.3462, -87.6561
    Quarter Creek Access——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating34.2894, -87.6289
    Twin Pines Boat RampBear Creek—Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating34.2806, -87.6844

    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.

    Contact & official info

    Questions about Upper Bear Creek Reservoir

    How big is Upper Bear Creek Reservoir?

    Upper Bear Creek Reservoir covers about 1,577 acres in Bear Creek, Alabama (Marion County).

    Is there a public boat launch on Upper Bear Creek Reservoir?

    Yes. 7 public trailer launches are listed: Bates Landing, Boat ramp and Twin Pines Boat Ramp. Check posted fees and parking rules.

    Are there campgrounds near Upper Bear Creek Reservoir?

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

    What towns are on Upper Bear Creek Reservoir?

    Upper Bear Creek Reservoir touches Bear Creek in Marion County, Franklin County and Winston County, Alabama.

    Share a tip or fishing report

    Know Upper Bear Creek Reservoir? 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 Bear Creek