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.

We loved hiking in this nature preserve. It is definitely off the beaten path (literally a drive…read moredown a gravel road). There are beautiful wooded trails and a pretty overlook. Our hike was a loop that took us through a waterfall, woods and an overlook. The hours are limited: weekend hours only and it closes at 5 pm. It is part of a land trust. I recommend this preserve for hikers, nature lovers and those that love exploring trails off the beaten path.

Such a lovely private preserve! Clean, well managed, clear signage & maps. We went when there was a…read moredrought, but would love to go back k when we can see the waterfalls.

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.

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

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!

Excellent stop on road trip. Impressive platform mound and a…read moresignificant burial mound. Good museum displays and nice gift shop with friendly staff.

Wow, that's what I have to say. It's a small place and it has so much information and so many…read moreactivities for children in kindergarten till 5th grade. They have festival in May for 3 days they also have a corn run and they have a big property where you can walk around and get to know the place. They have a lot of arrows, skin of animal for demonstration and even technology from back then like apple grinder and corn grinders. This place is absolutely free but they do accept donations. The service was amazing it was an older gentlemen. He would tell us amazing facts and history of the the Indians did back then. He also let us play instruments from back then. He let us touch their weapons and showed us how they were used. He was always on top of everything interacted a lot of my family especially my little sister of 8 years. This was splendid. Please stop by and support them!!!

How can you not love a park on a brisk morning looking over a lake!…read more The playground area is made of rock base and there is a sand pit. We went in the morning around 10am and the park was not too busy maybe around 5 kids. It wouldn't matter though the park is pretty big and spaced out with fencing. So it is pretty easy to keep up with your child and not feel over crowded.. Plus as an adorable little bonus they do have a swing that is a wheelchair swing for children who are handicapped Just on the off-chance you go on the offseason it can be a little noisy during clean up but I always see that as a good sign because they're keeping the park clean and not many beautiful places are kept as nice as this one was being kept.. The trail has photo opportunities for kids and workout equipment along the way! Also tons of rest stops picnic tables and just beautiful views.. it also looks like there is a stage that could potentially be for music and you can rent gazebos with picnic tables under it.

I had asked some coworkers where to go for a simple pinic in Cullman. Two different people…read moresuggested Sportsman Lake which is behind the Cullman Fairgrounds. After going to a movie my husband and I picked up a pizza and set out to find Sportsman Lake. Heading north on 31 we found the sign and turned left. After passing the fairgrounds we headed into the park area. We found an empty picnic table and devoured our pizza. The small lake is beautiful with an elegant white pier. There were a lot of people but the park is spacious so we were still able to enjoy a peaceful meal by the water. There were several pavillions which are perfect for family gatherings, a playground for the children, and even a little train but I'm not sure of the operating hours. Several families were feeding the ducks and geese and couples were taking a stroll on the walking path. I definitely plan to come back the next time we are looking for a peaceful place to relax.

Hays Nature Preserve is a great place to get out and get some fresh air, bike ride, walk, run, or…read morebird watching. Thy have a little fishing lake as well with a playground and benches. We like to walk the greenway trail that goes through here. It is in a flood plain, so be careful after heavy rainfall.

Well maintained paths for walking, running or biking with great views of streams and wildlife.read more

Red Mountain Park is a fantastic place to spend an afternoon hiking, with so much to explore. While…read morevisiting Alabama, my friends and I decided to spend a couple of hours here and ended up hiking about 5-6 miles. There's truly no shortage of trails, and the variety keeps things interesting the entire time. The park definitely offers some challenging uphill climbs--especially for us Florida girls who aren't used to elevation--but we powered through and felt very accomplished. One of my favorite highlights was Rushing Rendezvous; the idea of a suspension bridge tucked up in the treetops always excites me, and this one did not disappoint. Of course, when we saw Trail 5 marked as most difficult, it was a no‑brainer--we had to take it. I really enjoyed reading about the history along the way, especially learning more about the Birmingham Mineral Railroad site. I do wish there had been a bit more signage around some of the remaining structures so we could soak up even more history, but honestly, guessing their original purpose became part of the fun. Hands down, I would absolutely come back to explore more of Red Mountain Park. It's a great mix of challenge, scenery, and history--and well worth the visit.

So I've been back living in Alabama for the past 9 years and never realized Red Mountain was a real…read morething. I set out to look for it, and guess what?! It's a thing! I'm so happy that I found this historical place. Such a great walking and hiking trail. There's also areas to get your cardio on and to sit, relax, pack lunch/meal to enjoy at the tables along the trail. Perfect for bike rides, bird watching and getting away without getting away. Add this place to your weekly workout routine.

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.

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.