November 2026 — Bald Eagles Return & Christmas Lights Open Across North Alabama

Bald Eagles Return to Lake Guntersville

Lake Guntersville supports one of the largest wintering bald eagle populations in the southeastern United States. Each November, eagles return to established nest sites along the shoreline and islands of the 69,000-acre reservoir to begin their winter breeding season. The lake's abundant threadfin shad population provides a reliable food source, and the tall sycamores, loblolly pines, and hardwoods along the Tennessee River corridor offer ideal nesting habitat.

Nesting pairs stake out massive stick nests in the tallest trees near the water, often returning to the same nest year after year and adding material each season. Eagles are most visible in the early morning when they hunt along the shoreline, soaring low over the water and diving for shad near the surface. The main river channel, creek mouths, and the islands between Guntersville and Scottsboro are prime viewing areas.

Guests at Guntersville Getaway regularly spot eagles soaring over the cove and diving for fish near the dock. The best viewing is early morning with a cup of coffee on the covered porch, or from a boat on the main channel. Lake Guntersville State Park hosts its celebrated Eagle Awareness Weekends in January, but the nesting season begins in November and eagles can be observed from the water, the park trails, and the Guntersville Getaway property throughout the winter months.

Arab's Christmas in the Park — Opens Late November

Arab's Christmas in the Park is one of the largest free Christmas light displays in North Alabama. Located at Arab City Park, approximately 15 minutes south of Guntersville Getaway, the display features more than 2 million lights arranged in themed scenes, tunnels, and animated displays throughout the park. The event opens on or around Thanksgiving weekend and runs nightly through December 31.

Visitors drive and walk through the displays at their own pace. There is no admission charge, though donations are accepted. Concessions including hot chocolate, kettle corn, and roasted nuts are available on select nights. The display grows each year as local sponsors add new scenes and animated features. It is one of the most popular family outings of the holiday season in Marshall County, and its proximity to Guntersville Getaway makes it an easy evening activity after a day of fishing or hiking.

Galaxy of Lights — Huntsville Botanical Garden

The Galaxy of Lights at the Huntsville Botanical Garden opens in mid-November and is one of the premier holiday light events in Alabama. Located about 35 minutes west of Guntersville, the Botanical Garden transforms its 112 acres into a walking and driving light experience with hundreds of illuminated displays, themed garden areas, and interactive light tunnels.

Walking nights and driving nights alternate on the calendar, with walking tours offering a more immersive experience through the garden paths. Tickets are purchased in advance online and popular dates sell out quickly, particularly on weekends. The event runs through late December. Plan to arrive early on driving nights, as the line of vehicles can stretch well beyond the garden entrance on busy evenings. It is worth the drive from Lake Guntersville for the scale and quality of the displays.

Peak Crappie Fishing on Lake Guntersville

November marks the start of peak crappie season on Lake Guntersville. As water temperatures drop through the upper 50s and into the low 50s, black crappie and white crappie move off the shallow flats and stack up in deep creek channels at 15 to 30 feet. Brown Creek, Short Creek, North Sauty Creek, and the Siebold Creek channel on the south end all hold dense concentrations of fish through the winter months.

Jigs tipped with minnows or small soft plastics fished vertically over brush piles are the go-to presentation. Use electronics to locate brush and suspended fish, then drop a 1/16 or 1/32 oz jig to the exact depth where crappie are holding. Spider rigging with multiple poles is popular for covering water along creek channels. Bridge pilings on Highway 431 and Highway 69 and the riprap along the railroad bridge also hold fish. The Guntersville Getaway dock area holds crappie through the winter, and guests regularly catch slabs from the dock by dangling minnows around the pilings and boat lift structure.

What's Working

• Crappie jigs (1/16 oz, chartreuse/white) dropped vertically over brush piles in 15 to 25 feet
• Live minnows on slip bobber rigs around bridge pilings and dock structures in 12 to 20 feet
• Spider rigging with 6 to 8 poles slow-trolled along creek channels at 18 to 30 feet
• Bass on jerkbaits (suspending, shad pattern) over deeper grass remnants in 8 to 12 feet
• Bass on football jigs (1/2 oz, brown/orange) dragged on main lake points and ledges
• Ned rigs on rocky banks and transition areas in 6 to 10 feet for both bass and crappie

Deer Gun Season Opens in November

Alabama's deer gun season opens in November in Zone C, which includes Marshall County and the land surrounding Lake Guntersville. Following the October archery opener, gun season brings more hunters into the field and coincides with the rut in many parts of the state, increasing the chances of encountering mature bucks on their feet during daylight hours.

Public hunting is available at Lake Guntersville State Park wildlife management area and nearby Mud Creek WMA. The Tennessee River corridor supports a healthy white-tailed deer population, and the oak flats at elevation produce strong acorn crops that concentrate deer in predictable feeding areas. Hunters staying at Guntersville Getaway benefit from the full kitchen for processing and cooking game, plus the cabin's proximity to public land for early morning hunts.

Thanksgiving at the Lake House

Thanksgiving week is one of the most popular family gathering times at Guntersville Getaway. The cabin sleeps 9 comfortably with three bedrooms, multiple sleeping areas, and enough space for the whole family to spread out. The full kitchen is equipped for a complete Thanksgiving dinner — oven, stovetop, full-size refrigerator, dishwasher, and all the cookware and serving dishes a holiday meal requires.

The gas fireplace keeps the living room warm on cool November evenings, and the covered porch offers lake views for morning coffee and after-dinner conversation. Families spend Thanksgiving mornings fishing from the dock, hiking the State Park trails, or watching eagles from the porch before gathering around the table for the holiday meal.

After dinner, the outdoor fire pit is the gathering spot for the family. The combination of a waterfront setting, a fully equipped cabin, and the quiet of a November evening on Lake Guntersville makes Thanksgiving at Guntersville Getaway a tradition that families return to year after year.

November at Guntersville Getaway

November at Guntersville Getaway is all about cool mornings, fireside evenings, and quiet lake time. Daytime highs run in the upper 50s to mid-60s with overnight lows in the upper 30s to low 40s. The gas fireplace keeps the cabin warm, and the covered porch faces the lake for morning coffee with views of eagles and rising mist over the cove. It is one of the most peaceful months on the lake, with minimal boat traffic and excellent fishing just steps from the cabin.