Break in the rain. Son voted for disc golf as the fish weren't biting. Roughly 40 miles from our…read morecampsite lies North Jasper Park. It's a small clean park tucked in a subdivision just off 195. It's largely a disc golf course with a paved walking track spanning the perimeter and a decent amount of playground equipment near the parking lot. It's mostly flat with a few challenging and long holes. It was a nice little course. We enjoyed it. Great for beginner disc golf players. No bikes, skate boards etc allowed on the track. I personally think if you've got your kids outside let them ride but thems the rules. It also boasts no smoking signs which doesn't appear anyone follows based on the number of butts we saw, so more than likely your kid can ride a bike or scooter in my opinion. This was our nearest option for this activity. It's not a disc golf destination but if you're in the area it's great!

Great disc golf course! Well maintained, not crowded, neat layout, and challenging enough! I'm at…read morean intermediate playing level and this course was a great way to improve my game. Seriously the best disc golf course in the area.

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!

I love to bring my kids and tubes to Turkey Creek Nature Preserve because they have an entire…read morenatural lazy river with a natural waterslide too. When I have grandkids, I'll be sure to bring them each summer. Sincerely, Christophe.

Oh my!!! I stumbled across a great hiking, swimming, relaxing and gathering spot. It's not far off…read morethe highway but tucked in enough to explore some great hiking trails. Alabama really does hold a lot of natural beauty. You kind find spots of tranquility or if you bring the kids, there's plenty of adventure for them. Pets are welcome. I will definitely be back!

I normally don't do outdoor activities unless it's during a certain time of the year when it's…read morecooler, but I ended up taking a hike around the lake. The walking trail is pretty decent which has you going in different directions depending on which part you want to start off with. Certain areas are closed off because of construction, but you still can get a good walk in. I would advise everyone to watch your step because the main starting trail has a lot of poop I'm sure you don't want getting on your shoes.

My first time coming to Cosby Lake was recently to join a group of ladies on a walk. It is really…read moreeasy to locate and there is easy access for parking. It was a cloudy, overcast day so we didn't get a chance walk as much as scheduled. I really enjoyed the scenery and the ease of the trail we were on. Beware of the territorial geese that reside here. They DO NOT play!!! This is an ideal spot for fishing. I can't wait to return to Cosby Lake!

This is a nice park that has a lot to offer. It was opened in 2000 and has a neighborhood park feel…read moreto it. I also get a little nature vibe as well. They have two full tennis courts that are decent and a half basketball court that is off to the side of the tennis courts and shares the same fenced in area. There is ample parking here at the park, but I can see how during large events that parking could become scarce. They have two lots; one is located by the tennis courts and other is shared with the Jewish Chabad Center next door. The main section of the park is completely fenced in and has a small picnic shelter with tables under it, a decent paved 2/10 of a mile walking trail, a restroom facility, benches, and a couple of picnic tables. There is a bunch of shade in this area and green space in the center where you could hold a picnic, play catch or relax on. You will also see a borrow a book box and a story trail in the are as well The are also has a playground area that is on a bed of wood chips and has traditional swings, toddler swings, tire swings, a medium sized jungle gym with a slide, A fire truck themed jungle gym with a couple of slides, a merry-go-round, and a jungle gym with monkey bars and rock climbing. The equipment is in decent shape and looked like kids would have a lot of fun here. Because the area is fenced in, it is popular for those with dogs. Even though they have many signs posted to tell you to keep your dogs on a leash, I saw a few people that did not while I was there. This is a very nice park that has a lot to offer. I love the shade that it has. Even though it is located off of a busy road, I still found it peaceful. This place is a diamond in the rough and you should really consider coming here if you are looking for a park to visit.

This park is off the beaten path, but it is a cool discovery. It is in the middle of a residential…read moreneighborhood and I'm sure everyone in this neighborhood loves this place. It is not very big, but the serenity of the park is very evident. There was also a kids play area a little creek running through it. I would definitely recommend a visit.

Smith Lake Park is a nice enough park set up around Smith Lake. It was a pleasant enough place to…read morespend some time and enjoy just being around Smith Lake. Smith Lake is north of Birmingham, Alabama and is located in Cullman, Alabama. For being maybe forty minutes from such a big city, it is a nice escape and I would definitely recommend a visit here.

It was very quiet the first day we were here, enjoyed sitting in the cool shades and peaceful…read moresurrounding . Slept very well in our camper , Sunday, everything was the same until about noon, some group came In with very loud speakers and a karoke machine !! They have been howling all day !! We finally government up being outside with our grandson bc the loud music and bad singing got to us!! It was non stop, they finally stopped do about an hour and it is now 7:21 and they are still going strong!! I donor mind them singing but why do we all in the campgroud. Have to be submitted to this loud disgusting trying to sing group! Has security been around at all? Apparently not ! Have they checked for alcohol? Bc surely they have some bc you would almost have to have it to listen to this noise ! I really like the campgroud , however if this is allowed at anytime I think I will find another place to spend our money . I love music and singing but please do not disturb the whole campgroud , go to Bankhead forest and get as loud as you want ! Good trip and not so good ! Please don't reply with I'm a Karen, bc I'm really not! But ppl need to show respect for the neighbors !

A great place to go for some nature time. The falls only had a small flow when I was there but in…read morethe spring there would be a heavier stream.

Beautiful when the water is flowing. Great trails…read more Picnic areas. Resting benches along the trails. Lovely

Highly recommend booking online ahead of time as their tours do fill up. Make sure to bring a…read moresweater as it gets to about 60° inside the caves. The tour itself you learn alot about the history of the cave and it's absolutely beautiful.

It only $3.00 for adults ( discount for veterans ) and kids under 4 get in free to the park. Cost…read moreis very reasonable . Camping, swimming, hiking and even walking trails. Underground cave tour. Park is very shaded with lots of oak and pine trees. You can rent a pavilion for family gatherings, birthday party and children's playground. Gift store has some souvenir items they also sell a few snacks and drinks. People in gift shop very friendly and knowledgeable of park. Give you a printed guide of park trails. Park is very well maintained and restrooms are very clean. I'll different go back again.

Great little park! Lots of different play sets and options for all ages of kids! We had a lot of…read morefun!

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.