Tucked away near the Bankhead National Forest in Northwest Alabama is a family owned treasure that takes you back to the Jurassic period. You can camp or just visit their canyon for the day. There is a natural fed spring that creates a pool and it stays around 50 degrees year round that is amazing during summer time. It spills over into the canyon and runs through it to bring the temperature inside the canyon to 15 degrees cooler than whatever the ambient temperature is. In the canyon you are transported back in time it seems. Huge rock formations jut out everywhere and huge ferns riddle the floor. If the natural beauty wasn't enough to get you to go and explore they have glowworms called Dismalites that appear at night during certain times of the year. They offer night tours to help show you where they are located. There are two peak seasons for seeing the Dismalites. The Spring peak, late April through May, is the best. Then the Fall peak is the end of September / first of October. They have a handful of primitive sites to camp at. Our favorite is the Sleeping Waters site that features a small waterfall to help get you to sleep. If tent camping isn't your thing they offer a couple cabins you can rent as well.
On the way there from the south don't miss out on some good eats at the Pizza Bar in Carbon Hill. If you are coming from the north then visit Big Bad Breakfast in Florence.
