11 Places That Make Alabama An Outdoors Paradise

There’s no denying that Alabama is an outdoors paradise. From parks and preserves, to canyons and caves, there are several amazing outdoor spots in the Yellowhammer State just waiting to be discovered. Listed below are 11 places that make Alabama an outdoors paradise. How many of them have you experienced?

google/Gage Reed

Little River Canyon National Preserve is located atop North Alabama's Lookout Mountain and is one of the state's most scenic spots. It's home to Little River Canyon, which is known as the "Grand Canyon of the East."

flickr/Geoff White

The Sipsey Wilderness, which is well known for its hiking trails, covers approximately 25,000 acres and is located within North Alabama's William B. Bankhead National Forest. It attracts hikers from all over the world.

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facebook/Cathedral Caverns State Park-Alabama

Cathedral Caverns State Park is home to Cathedral Caverns, which is one of the state's most famous caves. With a height of 25 feet and a width of 126 feet, Cathedral Caverns also has one of the largest cave entrances in the world.

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flickr/Jimmy Emerson, DVM

Neversink Pit is a limestone sinkhole with a 162-foot drop. Cavers come from all over the world to explore it. Neversink Pit also happens to be Alabama's most photographed sinkhole.

google/Ryan Beverly

Dismals Canyon is a true hidden gem. Not only is this 85-acre nature preserve beautiful, it's also one one of the few places in the world where you'll find dismalites, which are rare insects that resemble glowworms.

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tripadvisor/LADYJET

Natural Bridge Park is home to Natural Bridge, which is one of Alabama's most famous natural landmarks. Measuring 60 feet high and 148 feet long, it's the longest natural bridge east of the Rockies. It's also believed to be 200+ million years old.

flickr/Brian Collins

Cheaha State Park, which is located atop Cheaha Mountain, is surrounded by the Talladega National Forest and has an elevation of 2,407 feet - making it Alabama's highest natural point. Because Cheaha State Park opened in 1933, it's also the state's oldest continuously operating state park. The views from Cheaha Mountain are incredible!

wikimedia commons/Quintaped

Lewis Smith Lake, most commonly known as Smith lake, is located on the Sipsey Fork of the Black Warrior River in Cullman, Walker, and Winston counties. It covers more than 21,000 acres and is one of America's clearest lakes.

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google/Jeffrey Schreier

The Madison County Nature Trail is one of North Alabama's most scenic parks. It covers 72 acres and features a 1.5-mile trail around a 17-acre lake. There's such a variety of things to see and do at this park.

tripadvisor/Amanda S

Wilderness Park covers more than 26 acres and is one of Alabama's most unique parks. What makes it so unique is its towering bamboo forest.

flickr/Alby Headrick

Covering nearly 10,000 acres, Oak Mountain State Park is Alabama's largest state park. It's well known for its hiking and biking trails, and one of its main features is Peavine Falls (pictured).

Have you ever been to any of these outdoor spots in Alabama? If so, please share your experience(s) with us in the comments below.

For more information about Wilderness Park and its famous bamboo forest, be sure to take a look at the following article: The Hidden Park That Will Make You Feel Like You’ve Discovered Alabama’s Best Kept Secret.