Northeast Alabama filled with outdoor adventures
As the temperatures warm up, northeast Alabama offers many options to enjoy the area’s natural beauty. Trails, parks, caverns, and waterfalls beckon and, as spring passes into summer, you can find a cool reprieve underground or in a local swimming hole after a long hike.
Cathedral Caverns State Park, Woodville
Cathedral Caverns’ natural formations are breathtaking reminders of what Mother Nature can do with enough time and mineral deposits. Stalagmites and stalactites fill the caverns, including one of the largest stalagmites in the world, dubbed Goliath, measuring 45 feet tall and 243 feet in circumference.
Visitors are often in awe of the Cathedral Room which gives the park its name. “It’s a big stalagmite forest and has a bunch of formations,” says Park Superintendent Chris Bentley.
A state park since 2000, a 126-foot wide, 25-foot high cave entrance welcomes visitors. The caverns remain a comfortable 60 degrees throughout the year. Guided tours typically take about 90 minutes. Tour times change seasonally with up to 7 daily tours during the summer. The park features camping, hiking trails and gem mining.
Keep in mind there are steep inclines inside the cave. “It’s a smooth concrete path through the cave, but it is not ADA accessible or wheelchair friendly,” Bentley says. “There are some very steep hills in there.”
Reservations are recommended, although not required, and can be made online or by phone at (256) 888-0230, 7 days in advance. Park hours are 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tour rates vary, including $20, for ages 13 and over; $18, for military with ID; $9, for ages 5 to 12; no charge for ages 4 and under. Group rates for 20 or more with a reservation are also available. For more, visit the park’s website, alapark.com/parks/cathedral-caverns-state-park.
Pisgah Gorge
The result of erosion by Little Bryant and Big Bryant creeks, Pisgah Gorge is home to beautiful views, waterfalls, and even a natural bridge.
Trails lead to scenic overlooks and are accessible through Pisgah Civitan Park. Walk through the park to get to the gorge trail that leads to both the top and bottom of the Pisgah Gorge upper waterfall. Depending on which trail you take, the trek to Pisgah Gorge can be easy to difficult, according to David Parham, founder of the Huntsville Adventurer website.
Parking to visit Pisgah Gorge is located off Jackson County Road 374 in Pisgah. There is no charge to visit the gorge.
Lake Guntersville State Park
With more than 36 miles of trails, a lakeside beach, and an opportunity to soar through the treetops, Lake Guntersville State Park offers many outdoor adventures.
The park, located on the southeastern side of Lake Guntersville, features a sandy beach, a dog park, fishing, geocaching, bird-watching, and golfing. Multiuse trails are available for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. There are also zip line canopy tours offered by Screaming Eagle Aerial Adventures that take thrill-seekers through the treetops on Taylor Mountain.
Lake Guntersville State Park has cabins, RV and tent camping, mountaintop chalets, a lodge, and glamping safari tents that sleep 4 to 6 people.
Walls of Jericho, Estillfork
The Walls of Jericho at the Alabama-Tennessee line is not for the faint of heart, but if you are up for it physically, the payoff is worth the effort.
The 7-mile trek includes a 1,000-foot change in elevation from the trailhead to the bottom of the canyon. It is an arduous hike with both uphill and downhill sections. There are narrow footbridges with handrails traversing Hurricane Creek and Turkey Creek.
The challenging hike and the unique rock formations at the end of the trail are big draws for those who visit the Walls of Jericho, managed by the Alabama State Lands Division and the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division.
Sturdy, comfortable shoes and appropriate clothing are necessary. Hikers need to stay aware of the weather as flash flooding is possible during heavy rain. With limited cellphone service, communicating plans to someone before starting your hike is wise. The journey itself takes about six hours, so it is best for hikers to start in the morning. Bring a trekking pole and a small first-aid kit.
Parham recommends taking frequent breaks and carrying water, snacks, waterproof boots, or a change of shoes. He also suggests starting with easier hikes first, such as Lost Sink Falls in the Keel Mountain Preserve in Gurley. If you do hike the Walls of Jericho, the payoff at the end is a beautiful amphitheater and waterfall where people swim during the sweltering summer months.
Russell Cave National Monument, Bridgeport
For lovers of human history, a trip to Russell Cave National Monument is a must. Visitors get a glimpse of the prehistoric Native Americans from the Paleo-Indian period to the Archaic, Woodland, and Mississippian time periods. Established as a national monument in 1961, Russell Cave is an archaeological site first and foremost, with artifacts from more than 10,000 years of human history.
A boardwalk leads to the cave, however, you will not actually go into the cave but, rather, its entrance to view an ancient archeological site. There are hiking options outside of the cave site. Choices include a 1.2-mile hiking trail or a 0.2-mile cutoff trail.
The hours for Russell Cave are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with hiking trails open until 3:30 p.m. to ensure visitors have time to finish their hikes.
Visitors can picnic or visit the Russell Cave Museum, and kids can participate in junior ranger activities. Audio tours are available free on the National Park Service app, but be sure to download them before you get to the park as Russell Cave does not have reliable cellphone service nor Wi-Fi.
Russell Cave is pet-friendly, and leashed dogs are welcome in the museum, visitor’s center, boardwalk, and hiking trail. Visit the Russell Cave website for more information.