Canyons, Caves, & Waterfalls
Check out some of Northern Alabama's best spots for breathtaking views.
Explore unexpected beautiful places on the Canyons, Caves, and Waterfalls tour. Take a drive along the Canyon Rim Road in Little River Canyon, which is the largest gorge east of the Mississippi River, and see many breathtaking views. Explore the depths of Cathedral Caverns and Russell Cave National Monument. Take in the beauty of several of North Alabama’s beautiful waterfalls like Little River Falls in Little River Canyon, DeSoto Falls, and Noccalula Falls. These beautiful places plus more await you on the Canyons, Caves, and Waterfalls tour.
Tour Timeline: Any Season
(Please note, depending on when flight arrives at Huntsville International Airport, optional afternoon and evening receptions or destination stops may be added.)
Day 1 -
Arrival and travel to Lake Guntersville State Park
Day 2 -
Cathedral Caverns State Park
Lake Guntersville lake tour to Bat Cave
Jules J. Berta Winery
Day 3 -
Morning travel to Gadsden and hotel check-in
Noccalula Falls Park
Mary G. Hardin Center for Cultural Arts
Tigers for Tomorrow
Day 4 -
Morning travel to DeSoto State Park, Fort Payne
Driving tour of Little River Canyon & Waterfalls
Little River Canyon Center
Fort Payne Depot Museum
Orbix Hot Glass
Day 5 -
Stevenson Railroad Depot Museum
Russel Cave National Monument
Meal at Goose Pond Colony, Scottsboro
Shopping at Unclaimed Baggage Center, Scottsboro
Afternoon travel to Huntsville
Day 6 -
U.S. Space & Rocket Center
Huntsville Botanical Garden
Lowe Mill
Day 7 -
Departure
Destinations
Lake Guntersville State Park
- Location: 1155 Lodge Drive Guntersville, AL 35976
- Phone: (256) 571-5440
- http://www.alapark.com/lakeguntersville
1. Lake Guntersville State Park
Located along the banks of the Tennessee River in Northeast Alabama, Lake Guntersville Resort State Park promises to satisfy whether you are looking for a resort-style retreat or an outdoor adventure in the park’s 6,000 acres of natural woodlands. One of the main attractions at the park soars high above all the others. Thanks to conservation efforts Alabama's nesting bald eagle population is increasing, and Guntersville has become a focal point of Eagle Awareness in the state. Each year, on select weekends in January through the first weekend in February the park’s Eagle Awareness programs entertain and educate the public about our once endangered national symbol.
Cathedral Caverns
- Location: 637 Cave Rd. Woodville, AL 35776
- Phone: (256) 888-0230
- http://www.alapark.com/cathedral-caverns-state-park
2. Cathedral State Park
DAY 2 Stop 1 The first thing you notice about Cathedral Caverns is the massive entrance. The huge opening measures 126 feet wide and 25 feet high. Inside the cavern, you will find Big Rock Canyon, Mystery River and some of the most beautiful formations Mother Nature has ever created. Among them, you will see Stalagmite Mountain, the Frozen Waterfall, and Goliath, a huge stalagmite column that reaches the ceiling of the cave some 45 feet above! Human habitation can be traced back 8,000 years.
Jules J. Berta Vineyards
- Location: 1409 Darden Ave. Albertville, AL 35951
- Phone: (256) 891-5115
- http://julesjbertavineyards.com
3. Jules J. Berta Winery
Located atop Sand Mountain in Albertville, Ala. The vineyards are five acres of vines on a 22 acre farm, and mostly consist of Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and other varietals. They additionally have fruits wines and muscadine wines grown by local Alabama farmers.
Noccalula Falls Park
- Location: 1500 Noccalula Rd. Gadsden, AL 35904
- Phone: (256) 549-4663
- http://www.noccalulafallspark.com
4. Noccalula Falls Park
Nestled among the trees in the park is a pioneer village, a group of rustic, hand-hewn log buildings representing a display of pioneer living conditions, included in the village is a country store, grist mill, covered bridge, pioneer home, smokehouse, blacksmith shop and more. Other park attractions include a War Memorial and Museum, botanical gardens, hiking trails, a sightseeing train, a playground, carpet golf, picnic pavilions, wedding chapel and honeymoon cabins, and meeting facilities. Wheelchair accessible.
Gadsden Cultural Arts Foundation, Inc.
- Location: 501 Broad Street Gadsden, AL 35902
- Phone: (256) 543-2787
- http://www.culturalarts.org
5. Mary G. Hardin Center for Cultural Arts
Includes three art galleries, the Imagination Place Children’s Hands-on Museum, a 72-foot working model railroad, and the Gadsden Community School of the Arts.
Tigers For Tomorrow
- Location: 710 Co. Rd. 345 Attalla, AL 35954
- Phone: (256) 524-4150
- http://tigersfortomorrow.org
6. Tigers for Tomorrow
Looking for a unique experience? Take a trip to Untamed Mountain. Tigers for Tomorrow is a wild animal park and environmental education center that’s home to over 130 animals. See 70 big cats, wolves, and bears. Children can interact with barnyard animals at their contact yard.
Little River Canyon National Preserve
- Location: 4322 Little River Trail, Suite 100 Fort Payne, AL 35967
- Phone: (256) 845-9605
- https://www.nps.gov/liri/index.htm
7. Little River Canyon Center
A partnership between Jacksonville State University and Little River Canyon National Preserve. The Center provides visitors with information, educational and recreational opportunities, and an impressive HD film about Little River Canyon.
DeSoto Falls at DeSoto State Park
- Location: 1299 Blalock Drive. NE Fort Payne, AL 35967
- Phone: (256) 845-0051
- https://www.alapark.com/parks/desoto-state-park
8. DeSoto Falls
One of the most photographed points of interest in Alabama, DeSoto Falls is also one of the tallest (107 ft.) and most visited waterfall locations in the state. The waterfall has a concrete dam above the falls, which was built in 1925 for Alabama's first hydroelectric power plant, which is of historical significance.
Fort Payne Depot Museum
- Location: 105 5th St NE Fort Payne, AL 35968
- Phone: (256) 845-5714
- http://www.fortpaynedepotmuseum.com
9. Fort Payne Depot Museum
Features exhibits typical of the lifestyles of the late 1800s and the early 1900s. The museum features Native American pottery, basketry, tools, and clothing. Old Fort Payne Depot was built by the Alabama Great Southern Railroad in 1891.
Orbix Hot Glass
- Location: 3869 County Road 275
- Phone: (256) 523-3188
- http://www.orbixhotglass.com
10. Orbix Hot Glass
Owned by artist Cal Breed, creates unique handmade functional art glass and sculpture. Orbix studio and gallery is located on Lookout Mountain in Alabama.
11. Stevenson Railroad Depot Museum
An important Civil War railroad junction. Station now houses a collection of military, agricultural, Indian artifacts, railroad, and other local memorabilia. Listed on the Nations Register of Historic Places
Russell Cave National Monument
- Location: 3729 Co. Rd. 98 Bridgeport, AL 35740
- Phone: (256) 495-2672
- http://www.nps.gov/ruca
12. Russell Cave National Monument
Russell Cave is an archaeological site with one of the most complete records of prehistoric cultures in the Southeast.
Goose Pond Colony Resort
- Location: 417 Ed Hembree Drive Scottsboro, AL 35769
- Phone: (256) 912-0595
- http://www.goosepond.org
13. Goosepond Colony
Complete resort offering golfing, camping, fishing, lodging, boating, marina service, and a wide selection of events at our civic center.
Unclaimed Baggage Center
- Location: 509 W. Willow Street Scottsboro, AL 35768
- Phone: (256) 259-1525
- http://www.unclaimedbaggage.com
14. Unclaimed Baggage Center
Experience Unclaimed Baggage, one of the most unique Alabama tourist attractions. Come browse our selection of lost luggage – you never know what you'll find!
U.S. Space & Rocket Center
- Location: 1 Tranquility Base Huntsville, AL 35805
- Phone: (256) 837-3400
- http://www.spacecamp.com
15. US Space & Rocket Center
Huntsville is home to the largest space museum in the world: the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. Not only is America’s space program on exhibit in Huntsville, it was forged in Huntsville. We’re known as the “Rocket City” because Huntsville, Alabama is where rockets were developed that put men on the moon.
Huntsville Botanical Garden
- Location: 4747 Bob Wallace Ave. Huntsville, AL 35805
- Phone: (256) 830-4447
- http://www.hsvbg.org
16. Huntsville Botanical Garden
Huntsville Botanical Garden is located in the heart of Madison County, right off I-565, adjacent to the US Space & Rocket Center and offers the optimal blend – wildlife, foliage, florals, trails, specialty gardens, pavilions, a butterfly house, walkways, lakes, and more.
17. Lowe Mill
America's largest independent art facility! With more than 200 artists in 127 incredible studios, Lowe Mill Arts & Entertainment is the place to be in Huntsville if you are a lover of art, music, food and fun. With over a hundred artists working in public studio spaces, three art galleries, a theater that hosts every imaginable kind of live performance, a record store, food stands, and dozens of events, shows, classes every month, there is always something fun to do at Lowe Mill.
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