Hike to Stephens Gap
2 Miles
Photography, Hiking
Intermediate
Year Round
Out-and-Back
Short and easy hike to a huge 150ft cave with a waterfall. Stephens Gap is an unreal experience and a must-see hidden gem in Alabama.
The hike is 2 miles round trip. It starts from the open space where you park. (Details on where to park when you email in the permit). There is a sign labeled as the trailhead. Trail is easily visible, but just in case you can't follow it, they have marked it with yellow flags on trees. The trail and area was recently purchased by the SCCI and is still being worked on.
There are two entrances into the cave - A walk down entrance and an entrance to rappel. The cave can be very wet and slippery and the walk down entrance can be pretty steep so watch your step. The cave features a natural pedestal to stand on which is great for pictures and is also a great spot to rappel onto. There is about a 30ft drop off the backside of the pedestal so be careful getting up and down. The cave can be very loud if water is flowing.
For rappelling directly onto the pedestal, there is a keyhole that if you rappel into, will drop you directly onto the pedestal. The keyhole is a small hole on the upper side of the pit.
Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations.
Reviews
Overall rating:
Wow! An amazing hidden treasure!
I finally made the trip to see this incredible hidden gem after first finding out about it through the Outbound. Wow, was I speechless. This hidden jewel in the southeast (Alabama, of all places) is a must see for any adventure photographer. But I hope that this wonderful place will continue to stay hidden and preserved for years to come so that it won't be over run by tourist. The people who work with you in getting the permit to explore this site were extremely helpful. The best advice I received is the best light is at 11:00 AM. Believe me, they weren't lying. Wow!
Beautiful, but be careful!
This place is absolutely beautiful. We got a permit and signed waivers a few days in advance. We were the only people there on a week day. We had the place all to ourselves and it was magical. We went after a week of heavy rain which including the night before our arrival. This made the trail very slippery. What would typically be an easy hike, was more difficult because of the slippery conditions. The water was rushing through the cave today and literally every inch of the place was soaking wet. I loved seeing it this way! Additionally, I wouldn't bring children.
Epic Cave
Stephens Gap cave was my first caving experience in Alabama and it was simply incredible. The hike to the entrance of the cave was a decent workout considering the short distance that it covered. The steep path down into the cave is super slippery and my friend actually fell pretty hard, but was lucky to not get hurt. Be sure to wear good shoes (hiking boots are best) and just take each step cautiously. It helps to have free hands too. Once down at the bottom of the cave, it is possible to take in the scale of the large room. The roof towers about 40-50 feet overhead and the waterfall plunges about 70 feet down to a lower section of the cavern below. The light is best around mid-day, and you can get some incredible sun-rays which Edward Day did a great job of capturing in this adventure. There is also a campsite near the mouth of the cave which looked spacious enough for a 2-3 person tent. Although I completely skipped over the hike to the cave, it is beautiful in its own right too. You hike up a narrow valley that is full of shade and wildflowers in the summer. Definitely enjoyed this adventure and I am already planning on coming back with more friends.
