North Plateau, Cold Springs and Mountain Mist Trail Loop

Rainbow Mountain Loop Trail is a loop trail where you may see beautiful wildflowers located near Madison, 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 ...

Stephen's Gap is a 150 foot cave in North Alabama protected by the Southeastern Cave Conservancy. It is important note that a free permit is required to visit Stephen's Gap. Directions, parking instructions, and safety tips are distributed after your permit request is granted, but the Google address for Stephens Gap for GPS devices is 8408 County Road 30, Woodville, AL. Park in the designated p...

Cathedral Caverns - The Pride of Alabama -- Located in northeastern Alabama, Cathedral Caverns offers an easy look inside an underground system of caverns. The primary trail is well-developed and wheel-chair accessible for most of its 2.9 mile length. The Caverns features many impressive sights. Notable features of the caverns include: An entrance measuring 25 feet tall and 128 feet wide belie...

As Tumbling Rock Cave is a private property owned and controlled by SCCI, a permit is required to access the cave.  Permits can only be applied for online here, and once granted, SCCI will provide the exact location of the cave.  Caving is not only an inherently dangerous activity due to difficult navigation, lack of light, and hypothermic conditions, but caves are also extremely sensitive envi...

Around 5pm, we hiked down the only clearly marked trail that departs from the parking lot. The path begins with gentle switchbacks and great views of the forest, occasionally passing by small waterfalls, sinkholes, and caves; and arriving at the Hurricane Creek crossing (log with handrail) after about 2 miles. After the crossing, the terrain levels out, following Turkey Creek for 1.5 miles as t...