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    Dismals Canyon

    3.7 (40 reviews)
    Open 10:00 am - 5:30 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Dismals Canyon Photos

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    Lita G.

    A friend was very persistent and was able to snag 4 spots for a night tour to go see the dismalites, and I'm so thankful she invited me to join. The tour was wonderful. We got there right before sundown so we got to look around before it got dark. The gate and entrance are super cute, and we got a glance at the terrace by the gift shop, which looked like a lovely lounge. After introduction and signing of waivers, our guide took us down to the canyon where we got to see so many glow worms! It was really a living galaxy, so special. Similar bugs are only found in Australia or New Zealand, so if you get a chance, try to go check this out. The glow worms appear around April-May and also September-October, so keep an eye for that. Getting reservations is tricky as you gotta call, so you definitely need persistence but it's worth it!

    Ashley S.

    This place is absolutely beautiful! We went in the night hike to see the glow worms and it was awesome!! The sounds of the waterfall were awesome. The glow worms were very cool! This is a very rare occurrence in only a few places on earth! How lucky we are to have them in Alabama! Super reasonably priced as well. If you can do it! Bring a red lens flashlight so you can save your night vision.

    Entrance to gate
    Melinda O.

    This place was amazing! The bathrooms are located in the parking lot at the top of the hill and are your only option period! You can try to go in the woods BUT there are too many hikers and snakes are a consideration off the beaten path. Worth every single dime to explore here! Breath taking and beautiful, take water shoes to explore the beautiful creek beds and a towel. Take water as the hike back up MANY MANY flights of stairs will not be made easily after making your way back out of the canyon. Highly recommend this place!

    Felicity M.

    This is a hidden gem. Heard about this place from a friend & was not disappointed! There's a ton of hidden trails to explore. It's pet friendly & very family oriented. Everyone was super nice & so friendly! They have cabins & night tours here which is awesome. The water was so clean & beautiful! I will be coming back!!

    Jacob H.

    Small trails, waterfalls and canyons for the journey about covers it. You can camp out, hang out, swim, rent a cabin, or just have fun. It is very family oriented. -Jake

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    It's a beautiful nature Walk and the waterfalls and pathway are easy to get to and you will be in awe of the beauty of it all

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    4 years ago

    This is a National Nature Landmark great place to take in when your close by . We are in Arley Al about an hour away but worth the trip.

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    Ask the Community - Dismals Canyon

    I'm planning to go for night tour with elderly folks and wanted to know if it would be safe ( just wanted to ensure no slips and falls and they are hand rails to hold, if necessary). Do we go in the same uneven paths like shown in day hikes?

    Yes you would be on the same uneven paths shown in day hikes and at least 1/3 of the night tour is in pitch dark (no flashlights allowed) and one has to grasp the handrails and get pulled by a loved one in front of them to make your way through.… Read more

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    Review Highlights - Dismals Canyon

    We really enjoyed exploring the Canyon during the day and then going back to take the night tour.

    Mentioned in 7 reviews

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    Natural Bridge Park - Entrance to the gift shop where you buy your tickets

    Natural Bridge Park

    4.6(26 reviews)
    18.8 mi

    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!

    Photos
    Natural Bridge Park - Inside the natural Bridge cave

    Inside the natural Bridge cave

    Natural Bridge Park - The inside view of the natural Bridge

    The inside view of the natural Bridge

    Natural Bridge Park

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    Tishomingo State Park - Swinging Bridge at Tishomingo State Park

    Tishomingo State Park

    4.7(26 reviews)
    30.3 mi

    Beautiful park. Stayed in cabin 6. Updated and well kept. Doesn't feel like Mississippi at all here.read more

    Nestled along the back roads of Tishomingo County, this park feels like a second home. With hiking…read moretrails for every level of experience, there's truly something for everyone. The campground offers over 60 sites, plus six cozy cabins. Three of these are rustic stone cabins with two rooms each, while the other three are smaller, single-room cabins. Cabin Six has been beautifully updated with new floors, furniture, appliances, and a modern bathroom. For larger groups, the park also has three group camp cabins--each with 20 bunk beds and spacious bathrooms that include showers, toilets, and sinks. The park is full of history and adventure. Visitors can explore the Pioneer Cabin and its nearby waterfall, or cross the famous swinging bridge--a suspension bridge that stretches 25 feet over Bear Creek. On the other side, you'll find two trails perfect for bouldering, rock climbing, or simply wandering through the forest. Wildlife is abundant, with deer, squirrels, raccoons, and plenty of other critters calling the park home. There are three scenic pavilions for picnics or gatherings. Pavilion One has restrooms nearby, Pavilion Two overlooks Haines Lake, and Pavilion Three also offers a beautiful view of the water. The dining hall is available for weddings, reunions, meetings, and other special events. Fishing enthusiasts will love the three fishing spots: Haines Lake, a quiet pond behind the Pioneer Cabin, and Bear Creek beneath the swinging bridge. For families, the park includes two playgrounds, a sports field, and plenty of picnic tables with cast-iron grills scattered throughout. Outdoor fun continues with three disc golf courses designed for different skill levels. And when it's time to clean up, the campground features two bathhouses that are always kept tidy by the hardworking park staff. Tishomingo State Park is more than just a destination--it's a place where history, nature, and community come together.

    Photos
    Tishomingo State Park - Rock formations - Tishomingo State Park

    Rock formations - Tishomingo State Park

    Tishomingo State Park - Small waterfall at Tishomingo State Park

    Small waterfall at Tishomingo State Park

    Tishomingo State Park - Flat Rock Trail

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    Flat Rock Trail

    Clear Creek Recreation Area - Bicycle/walking trail

    Clear Creek Recreation Area

    2.4(9 reviews)
    36.3 mi

    The scenery here is beautiful! But, what is not is most of the staff. The restrooms are small…read morecompared to the camping space. There are only 2 toilets and 1 shower per bath house. I went over to another bathhouse in another loop and was given a courtesy ticket of the way I park. I was parked in a parking space. Then they complained I could not park in another loop as over flow. It was explained that was not the case. The lack of communication between the staff and campers is terrible. Another thing that the staffs does is drive around our loop almost every 15 to 20 minutes. They patrolled our area so often that when we drove to another loop to use the restroom, that restrooms didn't have any toilet paper for that whole day. This was a lovely camp site, however, we will not be back due to the staff.

    We camp here every season they are open. Sometimes more than once depending on what we have going…read moreon, but you need a reservation. It's very clean, the camping spots are spacious and they have a nice bicycle trail you can walk or ride your bike on. The "beach" for the campground is a short walk away or you can drive too it. Bathrooms there are locked and you have to use a port a potty so be prepared for that negative....but the beach area is clean. They so NOT have a playground so If you have little kids, bring your entertainment and toys with you for them. The water spots do get crowded and loud so if you want quiet get higher up on bear or fawn. They do have hiking trails but lots of spiders and I got eaten alive with mosquitos despite using "off" so make sure you are prepared!

    Photos
    Clear Creek Recreation Area - Camp site

    Camp site

    Clear Creek Recreation Area - Photo op on the walking/bicycle trail

    Photo op on the walking/bicycle trail

    Clear Creek Recreation Area - Main lake. Boat ramp is off to the left.

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    Main lake. Boat ramp is off to the left.

    Crossroads Regional Park - Twisty root tree makes great photo ops

    Crossroads Regional Park

    5.0(1 review)
    58.5 mi

    This is a beautiful park and it has really changed and been enhanced over the past few years. There…read moreis current construction in the old tennis courts and a new entry road is being improved on the back side to gain entry from Droke Rd. There is an addition of 25 acres to be cleared and used for the park expansion with a $5.3 million budget (parking lot, and more ball fields, dressing rooms and bathrooms). It was said that it is justified by the amount of tourism dollars it'll bring in...ha! I know if I go to other states or towns I go just so I can play on their ball fields in the searing heat. God forbid they build a climbing wall or add some water features to cool off in or an outdoor theater for movies or entertaining the family as a WHOLE instead of catering to kid sports. To Each Their Own. Several decades ago, when I was a kid, there was an aluminum jet body and a couple varying height slides where the main pavilion is. Many, many, many kids have skinned themselves climbing into it and my goodness at the seared skin from sitting in that seat after it had baked in the sun. There were car shows held in and on the park grounds every year, but now the car club seems to divide its time between Arby's and Dairy Queen parking lots. This is not the greatest all around park for everyone, but it is beautiful in the Summertime with the green trees. Speaking of trees, there may not be very many left in a few years, seems to be missing one or two a year from rot or damage of some sort. There is one twisty rooted tree that I enjoy photographing. This park covers around 40 acres and there are oodles of ball fields (at least 6), 10 tennis courts now (if they replace the old courts with more tennis then it will seem somewhat of a waste for me. I have not seen a single tennis player ANY time of the day that I have been on the premises. There is a 1-mile asphalt walking/jogging trail that winds through the trees. This park is located next to train tracks and it isn't pleasant or relaxing when it rolls through, you turn up the music or just grit your teeth and wait it out. There is a soccer field, batting cages (not the high end pay-to-bat style with a machine spitting balls at you, but a toss it in the air and hit it style), 3 picnic pavilions, bathroom facilities in each end of the park. This park is NOT pet friendly. NO DOGS, NO SKATEBOARDS... I don't have a dog, but I thought the old tennis court site would've made an ideal dog park.

    From the owner: Parks and Recreation Department: Recreation, Sports, Special Eventsread more

    Photos
    Crossroads Regional Park
    Crossroads Regional Park
    Crossroads Regional Park

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    Big Hill Pond State Park

    Big Hill Pond State Park

    4.8(5 reviews)
    73.8 mi

    There was a levee built in 1835 that led to the creation of Big Hill Pond, a 35 acre pond. The…read morestate park surrounding the land is over 4,000 acres of land which has marshland, timberland, and other natural resources. The park offers horse trails, bike trails, two picnic pavilions, boating, fishing, paddling, 28 primitive campsites, a visitor's center, and an observation tower. There's over 30 miles of trails, including the Azalea Spring Day Loop (2.95 mi), the Big Hill Pond Access Trail (0.30 mi), the Big Hill Pond Trail (4.75 mi), the Dogwood Point Trail (3.10 mi), the Dry Ridge Trail (2.85 mi), the Fox Hollow Trail (.65 mi), the Horse (& Mtn Bike) Trail (6.0 mi), the Rocky Knob Trail (2.40 mi), the Turkey Call Trail (2.45 mi), and the Tuscumbia Trail (2.30 mi). They also offer rentals of kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards in the summer. When we went, the trail to the observation tower was out of pocket due to flooding, so we definitely want to go back.

    Fantastic state park under two hours from Memphis! The park…read moreis underused, which is great because you have a lot of privacy! The trails are decently marked and there are over 30 miles to be hiked of varying difficulty. The observation tower is worth seeing and the trail to get there isn't terribly long. Camp sites are a little close to each other but I don't think it's ever busy here so it's a mute point. Bathrooms are the cleanest I've seen in a TN state park!! You have to use wood from the park and there is plenty of it, but bring a hatchet, you'll need it to split the big pieces! The staff were also very welcoming! Park is horse and pet friendly! I will be visiting again soon!!

    Photos
    Big Hill Pond State Park
    Big Hill Pond State Park
    Big Hill Pond State Park

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    Dismals Canyon - parks - Updated May 2026

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