Ultimate Guide to Visiting Dismals Canyon
Mossy canyons, swinging bridges, beautiful waterfalls, AND GLOW WORMS!? No, I’m not talking about New Zealand…. all this beauty can be found in the heart of Alabama. Dismals Canyons in a unique 85-acre National Landmark that draws in thousands of tourists each year. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know before visiting Dismal Canyons. Happy Planning!
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Table of Contents
What is Dismals Canyon?
Dismal Canyons is an 85-acre National Natural landmark that features a 1.5-mile trail that meanders through the mossy rocks, past waterfalls, slot canyons, and over swinging bridges. Aside from the beautiful scenery, it’s also one of the only places in the world where you can see Dismalites (the insects that glow blue).
Where is Dismals Canyon located?
Dismals Canyon is located in Phil Campbell, AL which also means in the middle of nowhere. The closest major airport to Dismals Canyon is the Huntsville International which is about 74 miles away. The Birmingham airport is a little further away at 104 miles.
If flying, you will of course need to rent a car to get to the Canyon (again, it’s the middle of nowhere). After arriving, you will find a small parking lot and likely see cars lined up on the road as well. Parking is free and connects to a short trail leading to the visitor’s center.
Physical Address: 901 County Rd 8, Phil Campbell, AL 35581
Have extra time? Spend a weekend exploring all that Huntsville has to offer!
How much does it cost to visit Dismals Canyon?
If just visiting for the day, you will pay 12 dollars per person to hike along the canyon floor. But, if you want to take the night tour, you can bundle the two for 18 dollars. Make sure to make this reservation (for the night tour) a week in advance as they typically sell out of night tour slots.
Side Note: Kids and seniors are slightly discounted.
When is Dismals Canyons Open?
Dismals Canyon is open for hikers between the months of March-November. The hours are subject to change based on the season and sun set times, so be sure to check here before planning your trip.
Can you stay at Dismals Canyons?
There are 6 campsites and two rustic cabins located right at Dismals Canyons. With this being said, be sure to make your reservation early as they are always booked. Admission is not included with your accommodation fee, but each tent or cabin reservation does include a night tour spot!
The cabins range from 175-345 per night and can sleep up to 8 people. The campsites are much more affordable and range from 27-45 dollars per night. We stayed in a primitive site and it was just a short, easy walk from the car. There is also a bathroom and showerhouse located in the parking lot that all campers are able to use.
When is the best time to visit?
If hoping to see the most dismalites (the glowing worms), then plan your visit in the months of April and May as this is their peak season. The second best time to see the dismalites is from September to early October. We visited in the end of October and saw less than 100 dismalites during our night tour. Our guide said that during the peak you will see 10’s of thousands!!
Dismals Canyons Average Temperatures by Season:
- Spring (March-May): 71/46
- Summer: (June-August): 87/64
- Fall (September-November): 72/46 (With temperatures decreasing an average of 10 degrees each month).
- Winter (December-February): 52/31
March is the rainiest month with an average of 9 days per month, while October only sees about 5 days of rain.
Can I bring my dog to Dismals Canyon?
YES! That’s the best part about this stop 🙂 Your dog is welcome to walk the trail with you during the day and camp with you at night. Unfortunately, your dog is not allowed to join you on the night tour. We left Thor in our car (it was cold outside), during the 45-minute night tour. They also aren’t allowed to eat at the Soda Shop, but there are tables outside that you can eat at!
Things to do while visiting Dismals Canyon
Hike:
The most popular thing to do at Dismals Canyons is of course to hike! There is a 1.5-mile trail that meanders through the canyon. You’ll pass two waterfalls, a swinging bridge, slot canyons, mossy rocks, and other gems! It’s a very easy trail, but that doesn’t take away from the beauty of it. Once you have paid your entrance fee, you can explore and hike the loop as many times as you would like!
Grab lunch
After you’ve worked up an appetite, you can grab a bit to eat at their on-site diner. It’s a cute little soda shop with old-fashioned cokes, sandwiches, and desserts.
Night Tour
The night tour is what initially piqued my interest. I never knew that you could find dismalites in Alabama! Anywaaaay… as I stated previously, you do need to reserve your night tour in advance, but if you book a campsite, your night tour is included.
You then meet your guide back at the Country Store/Visitor Center at your designated time. You walk a shortened version of daytime loop. You do need to bring a flashlight as it is of course pitch black. There will then be several stops where everyone will turn off their lights and search for the dismalites.
Red light flashlights are best for this tour as they do not compromise your night vision as much as a white light flashlight does. The country store sells these in case you are interested!
Camp
Camping can be an adventure in itself! Reserve one of the 6 campsites and spend the entire day and night exploring the canyon.
Where to stay near Dismals Canyon
If camping is not your thing (or if their 6 campsites and 2 cabins are already reserved), you can search for hotels or Airbnb in Russellville or Hamilton. If you do want to camp, you could check out available campsites in the Bankhead National Forest nearby.
Recommended Hotels near Dismals Canyon:
- Budget-friendly Option: Microtel Inn and Suites is just under a half hour away, but you can typically find rooms for under 70 dollars!
- Dog-friendly Option: You can bring your pup to the Days Inn in Hamilton for just 15 dollars extra per night.
- Best Value: Best Western Plus Russellville is less than 10 miles away, and provides a free warm breakfast, and clean no-frill rooms.
Other Things to do near Dismals Canyon
Surprisingly enough, North Alabama is full of outdoor gems. You can check out the things to do along a North Alabama Road trip here….but for those short on time, here’s a short list for ya!
- Hike the Natural Bridge Loop (Pictured on the left)
- Check out the Ava Maria Grotto (A garden with miniature replicas of famous religious structures)
- Camp and hike in the Bankhead National Forest
- Eat in a cave at Rattlesnake Saloon
- Self-guided scavenger hunt in Huntsville
- Hike Jericho’s Wall
- Search for caves at Stephans Gap
- Hunt for waterfalls at Little Canyon Falls (Pictured on the right), Desoto Falls, Pigeon Gorge Falls, Nocculu Falls
- Climb to the tallest point in Alabama at Chea State Park
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