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    Rickwood Caverns State Park

    4.3 (32 reviews)

    Rickwood Caverns State Park Photos

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    Outstanding camping experience! Went on a big group trip here back in the Winter season and everything was perfect - great weather, beautiful nature, awesome caverns and exceptionally friendly & helpful staff. Had a minor issue with one of our reservations and they immediately issued a refund the next day. Our group also had a blast cooking out, telling stories and going on the cavern tour. Would definitely recommend and will certainly be returning!

    Beautiful location, caverns were gorgeous. Tour guide was young but incredibly knowledgeable and had a great sense of humor. Bonus points for a great gift shop.

    Auntie Vee B.

    We had a super few night stay camping here. Really enjoyed the cave tour led by Kayla. She was so knowledgeable and let us really take our time to appreciate this amaxing cavern system. Hiking trails were short, or the ones we tried were, but with small elevation challenges. We will certainly be back. Wonderful stay!

    Nancy C.

    We were fortunate to come fir a tour when it was not crowded. We waited in the gift shop for the tour to begin and bought a few little things. Our tour guide was knowledgeable and helpful. The cavern was more expansive than I thought and our guide kept it interesting. The steps at the end were not fun, but we're not terrible either. At least they warn you ahead of time. M would highly recommend that you visit!

    Anna M.

    Wanted something to do with my mother and aunt while she was in town for the holidays. Wonderland Under Warrior seemed like a great option. It was cold that day, but once you got into the caverns you didn't notice since it's a constant balmy temp in there. Different displays from the year before according to online pics, and it's amazing what they're able to set up down there. We'd been before for a regular tour, and this was less regulated in the flow of people. Previously there were enough employees to make you wait in certain areas before going ahead. I don't know if it was because there were more people or fewer employees but there was a lot of squeezing by and waiting for large groups to pass almost inevitably in the narrow sections. The description on the AL parks website said that for the holiday tour there would not be the110 steps at the end of the usual tour. It also said, "there will be about 30 stairs and a mile walk in the cave." Not correct. There are far more than 30 stairs, so there were a couple older folks that had to take a breather. One group actually asked how long it would take if there were an emergency--don't ask; they have to physically relay through to get to where they could call. On our way out, there was another group coming in and within the first 100 yards, one of the children was already distressed. So be mindful that it is a little bit of a trek, and it is an enclosed space. The lights were really pretty, and pictures don't quite do them justice. It was a nice little perk to have the Grinch at the lowest part, and he was great in character.

    Niki A.

    We came to see the "Wonderland Under Warrior" exhibit with the Christmas lights in the caves and it was breathtaking! Prices were very reasonable. ($12 per person, kids and adult. Under 5 was free.) The temp was 43° outside, but the cave was in the 60s temp range. Music, lights, and Christmas decorations filled the cave, illumination every crevice and nook and cranny. There were some spots you couldn't even see the bottom, and we were all amazed at the beauty. There are some spots where it is very wide with very high ceilings, and others where it was incredibly narrow (a pregnant woman couldn't fit standing sideways) with ceilings so low my 6ft husband had to duck down. There were so many places to take beautiful photos. At the very end, there is someone dressed in a Grinch costume for photo ops. It was so much fun, and we intend to make this a yearly tradition even though we live around 4 hours away. It's worth the drive! Note: there are stairs and again, several very narrow areas. Not wheelchair or stroller accessible.

    Zach B.

    I decided to spend a couple of nights in late December at the primitive campground (site 17). Although there were not very many campsites, I enjoyed the amount of space between the ones that were there. The site came with a fire pit and there's plenty of wood in the trees, unless it's wet. I went on one of the trails (forgot which one!) and it was a nice trail with mossy rocks and trees. I didn't even go to see the actual caverns while I was there! Only living about 45 minutes away, I will definitely be back soon to see that too. Overall, great experience!

    The "bridal" room
    Lee D.

    The star of this park is the cave! We've toured caves in multiple states, most of them "live" caves so while we didn't learn much, if anything, new, it was still worth our time and money to tour another. We camped at the small campground here last night which entitled us to a $4 per person discount on the tour. Carson, our guide, did a very good job but as northerners, I sometimes had difficulty understanding his soft spoken southern accent Recommend you wear hiking boots as you will walk on uneven ground and through some water. 110 steps at the end to get out of the cave so if you have mobility issues, you would not be able to do the tour. As for the campground, it is small (18 sites; five of them tent sites) and there really is no privacy between them but it was fine for a one night stay. There are two short (~1 mile) hiking trails. Wear proper footwear as they are rocky. Small store with snacks but no other food.

    Under cave Christmas set up
    Trish V.

    Great place to visit at Christmas time. They have the caves lit up and decorated! And play music. Santa is know to visit!!

    Scott M.

    Ladies and gentlemen, this is a state park. It's out in the middle of nowhere. It's got picnic tables, a kid's playground, you can camp there and they're got a small gift shop with a few interesting things that you may pick up if you're in the market for a souvineer. There's also a huge pool so I guess in the summer you could swim there. The main attraction? 2 things. 1) You're in the middle of nowhere. It's quiet and peaceful and you can walk around among the trees which hey...is kind of a good thing here and there when you have the time to do it. 2) A massive underground cave. About that cave...you should go through it at least once. It's a good way to kill a day. It's nice and cool, and there's a few bats, some old fossils, an underground lake, (sorry no swimming in there), and a bunch of rock formations that you don't see every day...not to mention that you get a tour guide who tells jokes, maintains a positive attitude and gives you all kinds of facts about caves and such. Good times indeed. One thing to know, you're gonna walk over a mile underground, then you're gonna go up 100 or more steps to get out. If you aren't down for that then stay out of the cave. I don't get the negative reviews for state parks. They aren't supposed to be luxurious or full of amenities. They're supposed to be rustic, and peaceful, and in the middle of nowhere. This place is all 3. No restaurant so find food before you go. Some snacks available in the gift shop. 3 bucks to get into the park, 17 bucks to get into the cave. Don't complain about the prices. The tour guides have to eat, and the park has to be funded somehow. If you like parks, support one. Get down there and hike that cave right now.

    In the cave
    Staci B.

    You must judge it for what it is ..It's a very small park in the middle of nowhere. It has a very dated playground you know the kind that will burn your bum if the sun hits it lol . It Didn't keep the children from playing on it though. It was very popular :) We came to see Wonderland under warrior and that's what I'm rating. The cave itself was small but decorated beautifully. In some spots I could have sat there with the relaxing music and been very happy .. yes the cave is very narrow and in some spots steep. There are around 30 steps. Be careful in some places! There were also characters spread throughout the cave. It was maybe around a mile inside. So for what it is. The employees tried very hard on this special event and on that they should b commended..Don't forget all the work that was involved taking the decorations in the cave. The only thing I knocked a star off is the gift shop's register was wonky and didnt want to take my card. Pls realize this if you use a credit or debit card. Eventually it will but after you try tapping it, inserting and finally swiping it. You get a bit aggravated . So the event is what it is. It's pretty, it's something to do with the family, and you are helping a small park which is how I look at it. It's not a big cave, so places will b tight and be aware there are stairs ..If you understand what it is then you will not b disappointed. There are plenty of bathrooms. There is a steep incline a bit to get to the cave . The gift shop is very small also which carried drinks , snacks , crystals, some odds and ends . Santa will b here in a few days for the kiddies . Am I glad I went sure! I recommend going when they first open for you to b able to enjoy it the most before the huge later crowds. Also I preferred to b at the tail end so all the children and noise were a bit from me. Warning : keep your eyes open for the mean one Mr. Grinch!!! So for a one and done it's an experience nothing more nothing less .. It seemed popular with families ..some kids might like it but others might not with the noise levels(from others) I don't recommend this to seniors (be very careful) or people who have bad knees . It was just okay but I know they did their best and that's why I would say go at least once!! Support small parks like this one if you can. They are not as well known as others..I leave off my review with some pics to get you in the Christmas spirit .

    Inside the cave
    Emilee H.

    My husband and I toured the cave today with Emily, one of the tour guides. It was just us three and it took about an hour to tour the entire cave. Such a cool experience. Emily was a great guide! She told us so many interesting things about the cave and really made the experience so much fun! The cave is around 175ft under ground. There is a natural spring at the bottom of the cave that you pass on the tour. (The spring is actually used to fill the pool at the park so it stays chilly) We also saw a few bats in the cave who were completely harmless. The park decorated the cave for Christmas and has a meet and greet with Santa in the cave, which is such a great thing for kids. Try this at least once, you won't regret it. Truly a unique experience.

    "Badlands" of the cave

    I go to caves pretty often and this is one of my favorite caves I've been to. Our guide was terrific and was happy to show us all of the intricate details of the cave. The walking wasn't too bad for a cave without an elevator and is 100% worth it. Definitely my favorite place in all of Alabama.

    The christmas adventure Cave

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    8 months ago

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    5 months ago

    Very fun Christmas cave tour. Wasn't busy on a weekday. You miss the outside lights during the day but avoid the crowds. Self guided tour.

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    2 years ago

    It's a nice little beginners cave and for the most part my children have enjoyed the pool.

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    6 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Fun place to go for the caverns and swimming. Christmas show was great fun. Kids loved it.

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    4 years ago

    Can't walk to the cave yourself. You have to go on a scheduled tour So call ahead of time to book it

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    9 years ago

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    15 years ago

    Great place to camp, great staff, quite and peaceful . Can really relax here

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    Ask the Community - Rickwood Caverns State Park

    Review Highlights - Rickwood Caverns State Park

    Music, lights, and Christmas decorations filled the cave, illumination every crevice and nook and cranny.

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    Kymulga Grist Mill Park

    Kymulga Grist Mill Park

    4.0(8 reviews)
    49.5 mi

    For what it is I really enjoyed my time here. Noone was in sight we arrived and the store was…read morelocked. A nice man must have saw us and met us on his golf cart. He opened the store for us and he filled us in on the history of the place and showed us how the mill worked. It was very interesting to us. We bought the grits and cornmeal that had been freshly done the day before. The restroom was locked when I went (has number pad for the campers ) So we had to ask for it to b unlocked. The restroom was very nice . They have a covered bridge and peaceful trails. The trails unfortunately are not marked very well at all. We were afraid we would get lost so we didn't stay in the woods much. They have a camp ground for RVS and plenty of space . You can bring a tent :) Nice, little side trip w/ a bit of history.

    So this stop was totally be accident. As I was travelling I came across a sign that read Kymulga…read moreGrist Mill & Covered Bridge. I thought to myself that sounds kind of cool and kept driving. A couple miles down the road I crossed paths with yet another sign for Kymulga, to which I kept driving. But then it started weighing on my mind and I decided to GPS it to see how far away it was. 5 miles...I'm early for my meeting, let's give this a try. Arriving at the park they have very reasonable rates ($3.00) and the place (considering it is the dead of winter) is really quite pretty. Only explored for a few minutes, since I needed to get back on the road, but they have disk golf and hiking along with fishing (license is required). Several picnic benches located around the covered bridge. Would make for a fun spot to go do additional exploring. Will definitely plan a day trip here....plus based on the other Yelp reviews there seems to be some good BBQ in the area.

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    Kymulga Grist Mill Park
    Kymulga Grist Mill Park
    Kymulga Grist Mill Park

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    Horse Pens 40 - Fissure continues to the other sids

    Horse Pens 40

    4.0(6 reviews)
    31.8 mi

    I went climbing at Horse Pens 40 this past Friday and Saturday and had an absolutely incredible…read moreexperience. The guy at the front desk, Troy, was so friendly and kind -- we ended up talking about music for a while, and he helped us find the perfect rental gear to get started. The whole area was beautiful and easy to navigate thanks to the Kaya app, which made finding the boulders super straightforward. It was a little difficult to determine which were the start holds on some of the climbs but by following the chalky holds of previous climbers we were able to make sense of it for the most part. Between the great climbing, welcoming atmosphere, and amazing people, HP40 definitely became one of my favorite spots. Can't wait to come back!

    So, what is Horse Pens 40? Well, the simple breakdown, it is a privately owned outdoor nature park…read morelocated in near Steele, Alabama. The park is situated on top of Chandler Mountain (Chandler is a mountain .... Friends reverence for anyone keeping track), in the foothills of The Appalachian Mountains. The park is known among the rock climbing community as a premier bouldering site. The site is also home to a "Bluegrass Park" where it hosts festivals showcasing the genre several times per year. The biggest of these festivals occurs on the Fourth of July. The park features both RV and primitive camping. So, we were coming out to explore and play on the boulders, when a massive downpour hit. We were literally the only ones at the park (just driving in as the rain hit). We parked in the lot and sat there a few minutes. Now, here is where they get the 5 stars .... an employee came out in the downpour to make sure we were ok and didn't need anything. We felt so bad! Any place that treats customers like this is worthy of 5 stars. Thank you Horse Pens staff for caring about the people that come to visit and making sure they are safe and don't need anything. He even offered us a place to get out of the storm while it passed. Looking forward to a time we can return and properly explore this cool site.

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    Horse Pens 40
    Horse Pens 40 - "Merlin's Hat" rock

    "Merlin's Hat" rock

    Horse Pens 40 - Massive fissure between two boulders

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    Massive fissure between two boulders

    Rickwood Caverns State Park - parks - Updated May 2026

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