Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 1.5 miles
Entry Fee: Day Admission, Adult $12, for complete fee list, see “Fee” section below
Dismal’s Canyon is a secluded park in Northwest Alabama. The park offers a fantasy world looking canyon filled with amazing rock formations, beautiful plant life, hidden paths, and bioluminescent flies. Though this park is not “kid-friendly” as far as ease of access and kid-friendly hiking, it is built for a child’s imagination.
Dismal’s Canyon is located an hour and a half’s drive west from Huntsville. It is located in Phil Campbell, AL.
Google Maps Dismal’s Canyon or look at the map above!
Entry Fee: Individual
Day Tour:
Adult – $12
Over 60 – $11
Under 12 – $8.75
Night Tour (guided):
Adult – $10
Over 60 – $9
Under 12 – $7.75
Day & Night Tour:
Adult – $18
Over 60 – $17
Under 12 – $14
2 Day & 1 Night Tour:
Adult – $30
Over 60 – $27
Under 12 – $21.25
Entry Fee: Groups (20 People+ / Ages 3+)
Day Tour:
Adult – $10
Under 12 – $7.25
Night Tour (guided):
Adult – $8
Under 12 – $6.75
Day & Night Tour:
Adult – $15.50
Under 12 – $11.75
Entry Fee: Schools (1 Supervisor Free per 10 students)
Day Tour:
Grades 1 – 6 – $6
Grades 7 – 12- $8
Night Tour (guided):
Grades 1 – 6 – $5
Grades 7 – 12- $7
Day & Night Tour:
Grades 1 – 6 – $9
Grades 7 – 12- $13
Parking Lot/Country Store
The parking lot is well marked with plenty of parking spots for a couple of dozen cars. When you enter the parking lot, on your right is the bathroom and straight ahead going past the bathrooms is the paved road that leads you to the country store and entry into the park. You will pay your entrance fee at the country store.
Rainbow Falls
Rainbow Falls is the first thing you come across heading down into the canyon. It is a beautiful waterfall with plenty of different angles you can take pictures of it to show to your friends. This area is also where you’ll find a beautiful swinging bridge. Cross the swinging bridge and safely climb up the rocks for a different view!
Trail
The trail here is absolutely magical. There is amazing rock formations with moss covering almost every inch of the boulders. There are secret passageways and stunning deadends. I highly suggest finding a split between two rocks and just finding where it leads!
Secret Falls
The Secret falls is hidden after the weeping bluff and right before the stepping stones on your way back upstream (assuming you are following the path as the provided trail map shows). The path veers off to the right, right before you cross the river for your second time. It is a hidden waterfall in between some large boulders. You can view this waterfall from above, or below!
Dismalties
Photo Credit: By ChattOconeeNF – Foxfire at Anna Ruby Fall, Chattahoochee National Forest, CC BY 2.0
Only seen on a Night Tour!
The Dismalties are the only glowing flies in North America. They can be found in Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Virginia. The flies build sticky webs and use their bioluminescence to attract prey and they can be found right here in Dismal’s Canyon.
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