William B. Bankhead National Forest

{{short description|Protected area in the U.S. state of Alabama}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}

{{Infobox protected area

| name = William B. Bankhead National Forest

| photo = Clear Creek Bankhead NF.jpg

| photo_caption = Clear Creek

| photo_alt = A photo of Clear Creek in early spring in William B. Bankhead National Forest

| map = USA

| relief = 1

| map_caption =

| location = Lawrence / Winston / Franklin counties, Alabama, United States

| nearest_city = Decatur, AL

| coordinates = {{coord|34|14|14|N|87|20|4|W|region:US|display=inline, title}}

| area_acre = 181,230

| established = January 15, 1918

| named_for = William B. Bankhead

| visitation_num =

| visitation_year =

| governing_body = U.S. Forest Service

| website = [http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/alabama/about-forest/districts/?cid=fsbdev3_002553 Bankhead National Forest]

}}

The William B. Bankhead National Forest is one of Alabama's four National Forests, covering {{convert|181230|acre|km2|0}}.[http://www.fs.fed.us/land/staff/lar/2007/TABLE_6.htm Table 6 - NFS Acreage by State, Congressional District and County] - United States Forest Service - September 30, 2007 It is home to Alabama's only National Wild and Scenic River, the Sipsey Fork. It is located in northwestern Alabama, around the town of Double Springs. It is named in honor of William B. Bankhead, a longtime U.S. Representative from Alabama.{{cite web |url=http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/alabama/forests/ |title=National Forests in Alabama |access-date=2008-10-05|work=USDA Forest Service |publisher=United States Department of Agriculture}}

Known as the "land of a thousand waterfalls", this National Forest is popular for hiking, horseback riding, hunting, boating, fishing, swimming, canoeing and more. Within the forest lies the Sipsey Wilderness, with a host of wildlife and an abundance of swift streams, limestone bluffs, and waterfalls. The forest also surrounds the western portion of Lewis Smith Lake.{{Cite web |title=Clear Creek Recreation Area |url=https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/alabama/recarea/?recid=30085 |access-date=September 26, 2023}} Native American relics abound in Bankhead, one of the Southern United States's premier sites for petroglyphs, prehistoric drawings, and rock carvings, at sites such as the Kinlock Shelter.

The forest is headquartered in Montgomery, as are all four of Alabama's National Forests. The other National Forests in the state are Conecuh, Talladega, and Tuskegee. There are local ranger district offices located in Double Springs.

The forest was established as Alabama National Forest on January 15, 1918, with {{convert|66008|acre|km2}}.Proclamation 1423 of January 15, 1918. President Woodrow Wilson. {{USStat|40|1740}} On June 19, 1936, it was renamed Black Warrior National Forest,Proclamation 2178 by Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt on June 19, 1936. {{USStat|49|3526}}. {{Federal Register|1|645}}. which in turn was renamed William B. Bankhead National Forest on June 6, 1942.{{Cite journal|url=https://foresthistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/National-Forests-of-the-U.S.pdf|title=National Forests of the United States|date=September 29, 2005|author=Davis, Richard C.|publisher=The Forest History Society}}AN ACT To change the name of the Black Warrior National Forest to the William B. Bankhead National Forest. {{USStatute|77|595|56|327|1942|06|06}}. In 1959, {{EO|10850}} removed land from the forest's boundaries.