The flora, fauna, and typography of this canyon are not very different from any other hiking area I…read morehave hiked in Alabama. It's very similar to Bankhead National Forest. The size of the sheer bluffs (and many of the rocks) at Dismals is fairly unique, though. We visited this past weekend and I thought the whole experience was okay. It's not a National Park, or a National Forest, Dismals is a "National Natural Landmark" that is privately owned. The cost in my humble opinion to hike (without a guide) the Dismals *and* take the night tour with a guide is expensive! It was approximately $28.00 per adult. The trail is around 1.5 miles - at least the trail we explored in the daytime before taking the night tour. The creek running through the base was deep enough that there needed to be ways to cross it that were navigable, preferably with handrails. In photos, I've seen concrete blocks, which would have been okay (note, not handrails) but there were no concrete block crossing at areas we needed/wanted to get across the water. There were random pieces of wood, even fallen trees and my husband, who is both a "daredevil" and in great shape, managed to traverse the waters to see the other side, but he did land in the water (on his feet) and absolutely soaked his shoes and socks. The three of us opted to backtrack and not deal with the water. To me, this is very poor planning on the part of the Dismals owners. The trail map we got from the "General Store" had landmarks which were just "cute" names for the features, like "The Pulpit" and "Witches Den" - to me, they were fairly unremarkable "landmarks." Fast forward to the night tour which was scheduled for 9:00 PM. We were told to arrive at 8:30 and if everyone was early, we could start early. I did not note the time we started, however, it was about a 45 minute hike. Parts of this hike were in total, 100 percent darkness to ensure we had the utmost opportunity to view the "Dismalites." That's fine, except, I'm not a fan of walking in uneven/unfamiliar terrain in the pitch dark, with my husband dragging me forward in a group of 13 people counting the guide. This was unnerving and I moved at a snail's pace, and held up those who were stuck behind me. Also, I was hanging onto the rail with one hand and couldn't physically rubberneck around to try to catch a view of a glowworm. I think I saw a total of twelve glow worms. After exiting the night tour trails, we saw firefly larvae that glowed in the shallow water at the entrance to the trail. To me, this was the highlight of the glowing visuals. Another con is the numerous wooden staircases at the Dismals trail's entrance/exit. There is absolutely no way these are constructed to code! These stairs are so narrow in depth that my size 8 ladies shoes, (which is an average women's shoe size) hung off the edge about 2 inches, forcing me to "duck walk" down the stairs. Even if they are built to code, the stair treads are completely worn off, providing absolutely no traction whatsoever. The guide told us due to the "drought" the Dismalite glowworms were not out in abundance. If you keep your expectations low, and really enjoy a sandstone gorge/canyon, and are not risk averse, you will have a nice time here. Our tour guide did a good job providing information that was geared towards the audience which included age ranges from children to senior citizens. I can't comment on the "General Store" food options because we didn't eat anything there, or the campsites (note, the on-site cabins are closed and unavailable). The sole restroom which is a little walk from the General Store and is clean with a barely working hand dryer and no paper towels. The parking lot is ridiculously small with each space being beyond small. The owners of the Dismals need to invest in their property to make it worthwhile, easy to traverse, and safe for their visitors.

Parents Beware Before Approving School Field Trips Here…read more I want to share my recent experience as a concerned parent. Our children's school scheduled a field trip to Dismals Canyon and collected payment for the students. Parents were originally told that we could attend for a $20 fee -- but at the very last minute, the site informed the school that parents would no longer be allowed to go. When I contacted the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce (who were kind and helpful), they reached out to Dismals Canyon for clarification. The canyon's staff claimed the decision was due to parking limitations, parents distracting the kids from learning, and tight spaces. However, this change was communicated only after money had already been collected and plans were finalized. Parents deserve transparency, especially when it involves children's safety at a location with cliffs, caves, and water features. I strongly urge other parents and schools to ask clear written confirmation of parent policies before sending children on field trips here. Families should not be excluded or misled after payments and plans have been made.

Beautifully maintained lake and recreation areas. Picnic tables, camping with electric hook up,…read morebeach for swimming, boat ramp, covered shelters, restrooms, disc golf, and hiking trails. Day use fee area and campers only after 9 pm. Variety of flora and fauna. There is poison ivy and MS does have 9 venomous snakes, I would guess there are cottonmouth a here. Heard lots of birds in the canopy. Terrain is hilly and thickly forested...after all....it is Tombigbee National Forest!

Have a picnic here or bring the dog for a hike. This stop along the Natchez Trace is very quaint…read moreand quiet. There is a pinnacle at the top on the park called the lookout. Do yourself a favor and bring your SO to watch the sunset This point is great for campers or just to make a pit stop on a road trip down the trace. Very Clean restrooms!!

Overall, McKee Park has a lot if sport fields and a nice pavilion. It has more than adequate…read moreparking. They also have a very small children's playground.

This is not a business. You will not be able to buy very much food from here. Also the park is…read moresometimes very crowded.

Beautiful. Great for bird watching the cypress swamp areas are nice. Boardwalks for viewing the…read morelake and you can canoe or kayak to see the rookery.

Great place to go fishing, love the views as-well. Great place to go relax and look for alligators.read more

A fun small-medium sized zoo than you can walk through in about two hours…read more The giraffe enclosure was nice that you could get so up close with them. We didn't do the drive thru area since they were busy with field trips. The gift shop is a lot cheaper than larger zoos.

As I was passing through I stopped in to find out more about this place. You can see some of the…read moreanimals from the road. The lady was very nice and it was quite busy. She explained to me that they had a walking tour as well as a drive through. They even give you buckets of food so you can feed the animals, apparently they come right up to you. I didn't take the tour but she invited me to continue to take a look around. Everyone looked like they were enjoying themselves and I didn't hear any wild animals on the loose. Maybe next time I'll take the drive through tour, if things go wrong I know I can't outrun an animal but I can certainly out drive one.

Nice camp ground, I'm not sure if they still have a splash pad but when my children were little…read morethey did and I would take them there in the summer to play at the splash pad. It was a safe, private campground and staffed.

We've been longtime campers here, and this was our first visit back since the renovations. All we…read morecan say is wow -- what a transformation! The park has gone from feeling like a 1950s campground to a true 21st-century RV destination, complete with all the conveniences you'd expect from a modern RV resort. The improvements are impressive: completely repaved roads, paved and mostly level sites, full hookups with 20/30/50 amp service, water, and sewer at every site. There are also plenty of spacious pull-thru sites that can easily accommodate large RVs and fifth wheels. The upgrades don't stop there. The park now features. WiFi, beautiful new restroom, and bathhouse facilities, along with new picnic tables and pavilions for day use. If you visited in the past and weren't impressed, it's definitely time to come back -- you'll be absolutely blown away by what they've done.

This state park is beautiful. Has a hiking path. A fishing spot. A picnic area. And 2 sand beach…read moreareas. The scenery is gorgeous. Nice and relaxing.

Under new ownership and they have done an amazing job! Store is well stocked, outside sitting area…read moreis nicely done with the creak meandering past. The paths are well marked and clear. Past the Natural Bridge is rooty, so take care with those not sure footed. I highly recommend the visit and will return. Hosts were very informative as well, so ask questions

This was a last-minute stop based on a sign I saw along the side of the road, and it was absolutely…read moreworth it! I had some difficulty finding it, as there is a town called "Natural Bridge." Google directed me there, and not to the park, itself, which caused some confusion. Coming in from the I-10, take highway 13 North to road 278. Turning RIGHT takes you to the town. Turning LEFT takes you to the bridge. There are some signs, but they are worn, and obscured by vegetation. Arriving at the park, one is immediately greeted with picturesque views, and a trickling creek. The trees are majestic, and the parking ample. It's important to remember that this is rural Alabama, and not some big city. The admission is inexpensive, and the trails are simple. The people that run the gift shop are country folk, and are very kind. Mind your manners (and your children). Stay on the trails, walk carefully, and do what the sign says - "Take only pictures .....leave only footsteps. With that said, this place was amazing. The bridge is absolutely breathtaking, as is the rock formation called "Indian Head." Many inscriptions - some over 100 years old - are carved into the surrounding sandstone. There is dripping water under the bridge, so watch your step! The trail is primitive and there are roots sticking out here and there - be careful! Shoes with traction are a MUST here for safety reasons! Enough said - go enjoy this natural wonder for yourself!