Reviews of Russell Cave National Monument (Park)

Chad Browning

Family fun

Aaron Fields

Breathtaking and historic

Andrew Hamm

love... to anyone thats thinking about going its totally awesome \

ben cushman

Amazing!

Ellie Star-bright

This place is peaceful and a good learning experience for the little ones

Chase Moulton

The ranger was nice and helpfully

Denise Maire

I went here years ago and loved it the people were great and the scenery was amazin. Enjoy you're time I know I did.

Jeni B

Beautiful

Joe Barnosky

Great historical site with hiking path. Only wish the cave was more accessible.

Shelby Hartman

Very nice and peaceful place to take the family or go on elementary school field trips. Very educational and fun for kids.

Caleb Cunningham

Great place for a short, quiet walk. You can take the longer paved trail up the hillside if you like the challenge.

Mail Curator

Easy walking access to a archeological cave site and visitor center with various finds. No fee to enter Park when we visited. This is NPS 100th Anniversary and many with admittance fees may be free on certain dates. Check wow.nps.gov. #taildraggertour

Aaron

Very interesting place to visit. Liked it!

Serena McBrayer

Pretty cool place!

Christopher Alphin

Beautiful! The Rangers were very helpful and knowledgeable as well.

Kortney Allen

Great for nature walks and information on history.

Kaitlyn Coleman

Very interesting museum

Jamie Richards

We had a great time

gr hafford

A foot note about the history of humans on the southeast in the US. We need more education in this area. The place fills in some of that. Early native Americans used this place during winter months. Many generations are represented in the findings. There is a very informative film in the visitors center.

Mc KitKat

I love caves. Employee was friendly, kids had fun doing the ranger books with her. & the nearby dog neighbors were friendly.

Steve Markos

I am a travel writer for National Park Planner and I visited Russell Cave National Monument in February, 2014. Russell Cave is located in the northeast corner of Alabama, not far from the Tennessee/Alabama state line near the town of Bridgeport. Created in 1961, the monument preserves a cave shelter that was inhabited off and on for nearly 9000 years. Artifacts dating all the way back to the Paleo-Hunter period of the southeastern United States have been found in the cave. The park includes a Visitor Center with a small museum. A picnic area is located near the Visitor Center. Guests are welcome to visit the cave shelter on their own or on a Ranger guided tour. Currently tours are offered daily at 11 AM, but times can change so be sure the check the park’s Guided Tours web page for the latest schedule. Tours lasts about 30 minutes. In addition to the cave tour, there are two trails in the park, though one is just a shorter version of the other. As one of the less involving parks in the National Park system, visitors can be in and out of Russell Cave National Monument in one to three hours. For complete information on the park, please visit National Park Planner (npplan).

CCA LYNC

Long drive to find a closed gate at 3:00PM. They don't seem to know their posted sign says 4:30PM CST!

Johnny Murphey

Quiet, simple place to go walk and relax. Beautiful.

Angela Akins

Love it.

Mike James

Interesting for its historical significance. Nice hiking loop

Kaylynne Porter

It was FABULOUS I DEFINETLY RECOMMEND IT!!!! IT WAD VFGCGFVBJHGHCDFGHBNMSMKJFHYGTVGEH MFJKNHGFDSRDCVBNMKJGFTDESRDVBHJKMKJBTDERSDTRYNHGVDRRDGBKJXSDFVBHBVCXDRFGVBJNBVCR SO AMAZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GO GO GO!!!!! GET UR TIKETS NOWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Shelia Simmons

Nice place to visit

Russell Gann

I thoroughly enjoyed my visit. The rangers are wonderful to answer any and all questions. It's nice place to learn about ancient populations and how they lived in North America.

Hanna Dunlap

It was an neat experience to see where Native Americans lived long ago. It is well worth the drive and the rangers were so friendly and taught us many things of yester-year.

Silas Griffin

not much there

Mary Kate Brandon

Great rangers at the park. they are happy to share information about the park. Worth the drive off the beaten path.

Michael Koratich

Great hidden treasure in north Alabama. Cave is interesting but the trees are fantastic.

Koelker12 .

Pulled over here on as a quick detour while on a road trip. Worth the quick stop. Really interesting cave with some neat history, and friendly rangers.

Paula Suveges

So much history here. It's amazing to learn how native Americans lived and how they were treated. Our National Park System is preserving history for us.

Michelle Abner

Snake show was very interesting. We were able to hold some of the snakes! Park is well kept. Staff is friendly. I was disappointed that the cave is closed off even more now than in years past. You can't walk into the cave at all and the life-like display depicting the daily lives of the Indians was gone.

Brittney Mcillwain

My daughter went on a field trip (4th grade) it was really neat learning about the different sounds n how they lived back in the day. The cave was beautiful n massive.

Gregory Stiller

This wasn't on my list until I hit I-24. Saw a sign for Russell Cave 24 miles. Could not resist that little bit of mileage. After going 600 plus already this day. Little damp out. Couldn't go to Cave. My Health stinks. Ranger was informed and helpful.

kelly gilton

It is a most wounderl site to visit and they have great hiking trails. As you see the water going into the cave it's just amazing.

James Jones

Free. Nice nature trail.

Stephanie Wilson

Great little place to kill some time and wonderful hiking trail. It is steep if you take the hiking path and not the nature path but there’s a path for everyone to enjoy! We loved it, Myself and three kids. Would definitely go again just for the workout. Museum is small but lots of history and there’s a 7 minute video to watch which was very informative and held my family’s attention. We came home and learned more about the monument for homeschool. It is free but there’s a donation box at the exit if you’d like to donate!! Very clean. Very kept up place! Nice and quiet too.

Jody Kelly

Me and Taylan Waylan William loved it it's beautiful place

Mike D. KELLEY

Really great family nature hike! Not too long sms very visually appealing. I removed a star as normally there are statues at the end of the hike exhibiting what life was like very long ago and detailing how our ancestors lived; however, upon our visit the statues were being serviced. Nothing wrong with that but a sign or heads up BEFORE the hike knowing this would have better prepared the little ones to whom we built up the experience. All in all still highly recommend the place for a visit.

Jacob Mcdaniel

1st time visiting this park today. Today was a very educational day on 1st Cave Dwellers. So inside the little welcome center is very educational and the people are real friendly and very helpful. The park is a very nice park, Nice Walkways through the park. Some of the uphill climbs a little tough. Nice overlook of the cave and cavern. Then after that you can take a nice little walk through the park. They also have a nature trail, And placards describing each area. Lots of plant life and also placards describing plant life. So it is a very peaceful place to visit very relaxing.

Oscar Hernandez

A must see monument and very nice area

Anna Parker

Nestled in mountain regions off the beaten path an amazing place with so much history

Dana Morrison

I like it but I think it could have been better if you could have went a little father up inside the cave

John M. Hart

Nice place to visit, really enjoyed it!!!

David Myrick

What a beautiful place! Rangers were very knowledgeable and friendly. Hiking trails are fairly steep but provide awesome views. Can't wait to go back when everything is blooming.

Kenneth Skinner

Knowledgeable staff, and passionate about where they are. Didn't have time to make the trails, but I did see the rest. It's a good motorcycle ride from Chattanooga, great place to be the excuse destination if you're itching for a ride. I suggest going through new hope as well, beautiful amazing ride.

Leslie Moore

Very interesting, love to visit places that are historical

Joann Stewart

Closed due to the government shut down!

Kevin Cronin

Senic and very interesting cave and information gift shop. Well marked trails, paths, and walkways. Short walk to view the cave, no entrance to explore deeper into the cave. Guessing for safety. Great history of the area. Well worth taking a detour and a walking break from driving.

Misty Merilien

Great educational experience, beautiful park, and it's free!

caroline colwell

If you haven't visited Russell Cave, then you are missing out on a jewel of history and nature located in Bridgeport Alabama.

kevin stifter

Super interesting spot. Off the beaten path. Fun staff.

Jason Browning

Neat place to visit! Have a picnic or just go hiking!

Anthony Pippin

This is a very pretty place. The visitor center has interesting displays and loads of information about the cave and its history. We didn't watch the short movie but it is available. The staff was very friendly and helpful. We took the short hike on the boardwalk to the cave. Very easy and well worth the trip. The boardwalk is wheelchair accessible. There are plenty of picnic tables available. If you go be prepared, there is no food available. If you want to eat/picnic while you're there, bring everything you'll need with you.

Kiera Keating

Where would you find good facts about this place?

Holly Hathcock

They always have some amazing events for children and adults. Not only that they are free to the public. We go every year to the Slithery Sliders. We will now be adding Birds of Prey to our annual events!

Darlene Daniel

Plenty of trail marking to the caves. Fun exploration.

Sheila Conlon

Will be back.. This is a National Park so lots of trails to explore with the right shoes :).

Andy James

This was a fascinating off the beaten path historical monument. The artifacts on exhibit were cool and the opportunity to learn about the various early cultures that used the caves

Josiah Thompson

It's really cool and the location is great

Elliot Echlov

Very small area with a large cave. Fascinating historical information about the people who lived in the area 10-12,000 years ago. The cave is about a 5 minute walk from the visitor's center. There is also a 1.2 mile nature path which is a bit challenging for younger kids. Has several picnic tables, running water, and vending machines. No camping facilities.

Yvette Skinner

I enjoyed the visit to the cave, museum, and especially the steep hiking trails. Off the beaten path but worth the visit. Only access via paved roads from the south. Afterwards tried to drive north to hook up with roads in Tennessee but ran out of blacktop and turned around after encountering only gravel roads.

Victoria Corne

Very nice place

Tisha Bowes

It is beautiful and peaceful.

Shannon Blosser

Great!! Can't wait to go back

Janida Bonham

Small national park in a rural setting. The rangers were so nice and helpful. Great stop.

Dollene Ray

Being a monument, there are no cave tours. However, the small museum and trail are nice. Great detour from driving and a wonderful look at history.

Lee Van Put

Great spot with an incredible history and fascinating collection of artifacts dating to over 10,000 years old. Very knowledgeable and friendly staff. Definitely worth a visit.

Jeannie Lane

Nice little hike up the mountain.

sweet pea

Awesome

Mike Foster

The cave is kind of a letdown, but they have chiggers on the nature trail so put on DEET or equivalent.

Sheila Cunningham

Interesting little spot, the rangers were knowledgeable and helpful but there weren’t a lot of artifacts to look at and you aren’t allowed to walk in the cave.

Katheryn Telles Q.

Beautiful place :)

Dian Gensamer

The scenery was beautiful, the park well kept, and the Rangers knowledgable. Picnic tables and trash receptacles are plentiful. The trails are somewhat precipitous but interesting. The cave, movie, and museum are well worth the trip.

J Damon Brown

It's a pretty cool site. However you're only allowed in the mouth of the cave. There is also a cool nature trail to hike through the woods. Bring your own snacks though as they only have a drink vending machine onsite. Also ZERO cell signal are the site but it picks up about 100 feet from the visiter center.

Christy Wilkerson

Not too much to see as far as the cave itself, but there were some pretty cool hiking options. Good place to visit if you're in the area. Oh, and they are dog friendly, just no dogs allowed in the building.

Carolin Pollock

Nice walk out to the cave. It's elevated board walk in the woods. You cannot access the cave beyond the observation platform. There is a nice nature trail as well.

Sarah S

It seems a lot of people have mixed feelings about Russell cave. We really enjoyed it. It isn’t an all day stop but it is something really interesting to see and experience. It is probably an hour long stop. We loved being able to look around and understood why we couldn’t enter the cave. Maybe one day they will open it up and if they do we will definitely go back to experience that.

Tim Stoops

I was very disappointed to find the walkway into the cave is gone. In its place there is an ugly orange fence blocking off an artifact dig. There are no more led tours. The lower entrance to the cave is absolutely massive with a gravel creek bed that I would have loved to have been able to stand on and take pictures of the entrance, but that is not allowed. Would be a simple feat to make a little trail down the hill to the creek. There's only one place to even take a decent picture of the entrance. Such a shame that they limited the experience so much. The exhibit and the employees were great, but I couldn't get over the fact at how disappointed I was over the Management of the cave itself.

Cody Garrard

Great staff, very informative and helpful. Awesome place to visit, easy access to cave

Peter Kane

Beautiful location, but don't expect to go into the cave very far.

Michael Andrews

A very nice experience. Relaxing.

Joan Spencer

Enjoyed the welcome center, history, trails, and the cave

Craig & Cath

Very interesting. Staff was great!

Russell cook

. 5 mile hike to beautiful look at history

Kyle Sallee

Great for the history nut or spur of the moment trip

Diane Smith

We loved it

Shane Cross

Overall it was kinda cool. Decided to make the drive here for my national park stamp. I wish you were allowed to get closer to the cave and stream, that would have gotten 5 stars. The hiking train was nice.

Jesse Blackmon

Really cool place to stop and look.

June Grimes

Raining but staff extremely friendly and helpful.

Nancy McEntee

I am not a lover of caves but this place is absolutely beautiful. Huge opening fantastic setting..lots of history except for any Civil War stories. Friendly, knowledgeable, fun staff. Bring your Natl Park passport.

Debra Duvall

Nice little stop. Good for a short hike.

Timothy Ford Malone

The Trails and museum are worth the trip. It is off the beaten path but is well marked.

Wendy Ranta

Pretty area, easy access, worth a visit

myjeepzia

It looked great from outside We didn't get to go through the gates because of the government shutdown The countryside is beautiful, I'm talking about before you get to the Russell cave We will try again when the government Will open

Marty Kent

Good little museum and well maintained path and trail up and down the mountain. Great park rangers.

Holly Hughes

We had a great time today! Charlie & Jessie Mato-Totela taught us how to make flutes. They were very informative and it was a lot of fun!! After making our flutes, we took the beautiful, short trail to the caves. I love reading the placards and seeing the squirrels and wild animals play just feet away. It was a truly delightful day. I can't wait until y'all have another event!!

Elizabeth Franks

Easy walk to the cave. I'm happy to see that there are still free fun educational things for families to do. Double check the hours before you head out. We made that mistake once.

Rebekka Mehl

We really enjoyed our time here. We learned a lot. The site was both historical and natural.

Christy Harding

Love this place so educational and interesting

Topher Kersting

First, a warning: If you are looking to visit Russell Cave to go caving, you will be disappointed, as this isn't that kind of cave. Russell Cave was home to indigenous Americans for over 10,000 years, and the cave, visitor center, and rangers do an exceptional job informing visitors about what we have learned about these peoples. There is a short video in the visitor center, playable upon request, then there is a short wheelchair-accessible hike to and through the main chamber of the cave. Most days at 11 a.m. there is a prehistoric weapons demonstration, which is well worth seeing. My daughter loved doing the Junior Ranger program and earning her badge. There are two other hiking trails through the park grounds, both of which are worthwhile.

Thomas Kent

You cant go in the cave but it has a greag nature trail that takes about and hour to complete.

MinibeeMad

Facinating! So cool. If even if you don't care much about prehistory, the cave itself is beautiful and the museum is short and sweet. Rangers very friendly and helpful. A great quick trip not far off the main highway. If you are an archaeologist this is one of those places that you just HAVE to visit at some point in your life. Love

Karen Gulrich

Great side trip when visiting northern Alabama. The hike to the cave is easy (wooden boardwalk) and the scenery is fabulous! It had rained for several days when we visited so the water in the creek/stream was in full force and gave us quite the show! Great area to visit.

Erin Frye

Great off map adventure on our way home to Ga.

Veronique Vanhooren

Small national monument . You can 't go in to the cave .

Tina Warren

Amazing place plenty of historic info