dismal canyon and surrounding area

[grillmastertoo]

hey there--looking to hear to northwest alabama to hike and camp in the next few weekends...we will only be able to leave early saturday morning and be back sunday afternoon....im looking for suggestions of activities and camping spots....my initial thought was to leave bham and drive to natural bridge to check out the park there and then head to dismal canyon to camp over night and take advantage of their night hike....
i guess my question is what else is available in the area to do....i ahve heard dismal can be an expensive trip as there is a charge for the day use and overnight camping fees....im also looking for a back up camping spot in case dismal doesnt have space available...
any help would be greatly appreciated..
thanks
allen

[McDowra]

Why not go to Bankhead, its closer than Dismal and free to camp at. As for a night hike look at THIS!.

[Nalgene Ninja]

If you really want to camp close to Dismals Canyon, try the Bear Creek Lakes. The only good thing about the $80 for the weekend of camping @ Dismals Canyon was the brand new bathhouse.

http://www.bearcreeklakes.com/camping.html

[Joshua Szulecki]

Go to Dismals in the summer. Fall/Winter is Sipsey Season.

Even if you go to Dismals, the ride to Sipsey is pretty short. Go to Bankhead.

Rock Bridge Canyon, in Hodges, is something that you may want to look into. When I went to Dismals, I started the day by checking out this park, and it was closed due to illness of the owner. 

I think it is still closed, but it might be worth a call or a drive over, as the photos from Schuffert's Scenic North Alabama looked good, despite the apparent run-down condition of the park.

http://www.infosports.com/parks/AL/75579.html
http://www.dismalscanyon.com/activities/index.html

But seriously. Sipsey.

[WolfVanZandt]

Rock Bridge Canyon is closed to the public. It's under new ownership and, at least back in July, it was posted. It may be that you can track down the owners and they may let you see the canyon, but at least go with the understanding that it might not work out.

[Joshua Szulecki]

Wolf,

That's what I was afraid somebody would say. I've been worrying about the status of the place since I visited last year and found the gate locked. I asked at the local store and they told me the owner had been put in a nursing home, and that the children wanted to get rid of the place, but also that this was all gossip and might or might not be true. Local color...

I hoped the property would end up in the hands of TNC or some other land trust, or at least get bought out by Dismals Canyon (a possibility imho), but I guess we'll see. I'd just search the land records, but I don't think that county uses GIS, so I'd actually have to go there to look it up.

Access to another natural feature in Alabama lost.

[WolfVanZandt]

Well, the new owners live right up the street. If I had had time (it was around 4:00 when I got there) I would have, at least, asked, and I certainly intend to do so one day. Locals are pretty willing (or they were in July) to point the house out.

[grillmastertoo]

this site is so awesome and helpful----
i remembered this weekend is opening for gun season....how will this limit anyones activities...whe re is it safe to hike and camp and will there be an increase of people in the campgrounds because they will be hunters trying to get an early start....several folks have recomenned sipsey or bankhead to hike and camp in, but are there any good palces where one can car camp...
also, are there any places in TN that folks might recommend....try ing to stay under 3 hours....
this site is awesome, thanks again for the suggestions...

[Nalgene Ninja]

this site is so awesome and helpful----
i remembered this weekend is opening for gun season....how will this limit anyones activities...whe re is it safe to hike and camp and will there be an increase of people in the campgrounds because they will be hunters trying to get an early start

http://www.outdooralabama...s/BlackWarriorMap2009.pdf
This weekend should be safe in the Sipsey (22nd). Next weekend (and any hunting weekend), wear orange and stay on the trails.

....several folks have recomenned sipsey or bankhead to hike and camp in, but are there any good palces where one can car camp...
also, are there any places in TN that folks might recommend....try ing to stay under 3 hours....
this site is awesome, thanks again for the suggestions...

3 hours takes away Tn's better options like Savage Gulf and Fall Creek Falls SP. Nickajack Lake looks nice. Have you considered Cloudland Canyon in GA? Matthew went last year and really enjoyed it.

[Joshua Szulecki]

There are some easy car camping areas in Sipsey. The most notable areas where close-to-car camping is common are at the Borden Creek trailhead, and Wolf Pen camp. We've talked about car camping in and out of Sipsey in the following threads:
http://www.alatrails.com/...ndex.php/topic,416.0.html
http://www.alatrails.com/...ndex.php/topic,315.0.html
http://www.alatrails.com/...dex.php/topic,1009.0.html

We've talked about problems with camping in Sipsey in a few threads as well. But, as NN noted, you should be clear this weekend, and the only real issue is clogged campsites.
http://www.alatrails.com/...ndex.php/topic,321.0.html
http://www.alatrails.com/...dex.php/topic,1131.0.html