It turns out Alabama isn’t just beautiful above ground — it’s beautiful below it too, and these four caves you can visit are proof of that.
Whether you want to see massive one-of-a-kind formations millions of years in the making, take in massive, cathedral-like entrances or just escape the heat in the summer, Alabama is home to some seriously awe-inspiring caves. So next time you feel like exploring a new part of our state, be sure to check these out — and be sure to watch your head, too!
What makes Rickwood Caverns State Park unique is the massive cave that contains 260-million-year-old formations that were created by water and reveal evidence that the cave was carved from an ocean bed. (Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com). al.comal.com
Rickwood Caverns State Park
The top attraction at Rickwood Caverns State Park in Warrior is its one-of-a-kind cave, which is home to 260-million-year-old formations that were created by water and suggest that the cave was carved from an ocean bed, according to the Alabama parks website. The cave is open for guided tours only, which run about a mile and take visitors 175 feet beneath the Earth, and it’s a great place to visit during the heat of the summer because it maintains a temperature of between 58 to 62 degrees year-round. Other activities at the park include camping, hiking and swimming in an Olympic-sized pool fed by spring water from the cave.
Majestic Caverns is located in Childersburg, Ala. (Tamika Moore/AL.com)(Tamika Moore/AL.com)
Majestic Caverns
Formerly known as DeSoto Caverns, Majestic Caverns in Childersburg attracts visitors from across the country and is the most historic caverns cave in America, according to its website. The naturally 60-degree caverns, which offers hour-long tours year-round, gives guests the chance to view and find out more about a variety of unique formations, including the longest hanging draper formation as well as the largest accumulation of onyx in the United States. Exploring its cave isn’t the only thing Majestic Caverns has to offer though — there’s also an underground laser light show in addition to gemstone panning, mini golf and more.
Cathedral Caverns State Park – 461 acres – Originally called Bat Cave, Cathedral Caverns was opened to the public by Jacob Gurley in the 1950’s. The cave was renamed because of its cathedral-like appearance. Purchased by the state in 1987, it was opened as a State Park in the summer of 2000. (Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com). al.comal.com
Cathedral Caverns State Park
During a 90-minute cave tour at Cathedral Caverns State Park in Woodville, you can see a variety of one-of-a-kind formations, including one of the largest stalagmites in the world — which is known as “Goliath” and measures 243 feet in circumference — as well as a “frozen” waterfall, stalagmite forest and much more, according to the state park’s website. The cave was once known as bat cave, but was renamed thanks to its large, cathedral-like entrance that measures 126 feet wide and 25 feet high. In addition to daily cave tours, the park hosts a variety of other activities for visitors to enjoy, including gem mining, hiking, camping and more.
U.S. Park Service Guide Jason Money stands inside the Russell Cave National Monument , near Bridgeport, Ala. (The Birmingham News, Charles Nesbitt)AP
Russell Cave National Monument
You can learn about 10,000 years of human history with a visit to the Russell Cave National Monument in Bridgeport, according to the National Parks Service. While tours inside the cave, which serves as an archeological site with one of the most complete records of prehistoric cultures in the Southeast, are not permitted, visitors can walk a short boardwalk to its entrance as well as explore the natural beauty of the surrounding area, doing some birdwatching or enjoy a shaded picnic via the park’s 1.2-mile hiking trail. In addition, Russell Cave National Monument hosts events and educational classes throughout the year you can plan your trip around.
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Publish date : 2024-08-16 21:30:00
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