Blowing Wind Cave NWR (Decatur)
Blowing Wind Cave NWR lies just above the Sauty Creek embayment of TVA's Guntersville Reservoir, 7 miles west of Scottsboro, Alabama. The refuge consists of upland hardwoods and limestone rock out crops. The cave has a double entrance, upper and lower, and is critical habitat for endangered gray and Indiana bats. The cave serves as a minor hibernation area for Indian bats and historically as a major maternity cave for gray bats.
Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge (Gulf Shores)
The Bon Secour NWR consists of 6, 700 acres of wildlife habitat lying directly west of Gulf Shores, Alabama on the Fort Morgan peninsula of south Alabama. The refuge was established by congress in 1980 to serve habitat for non-game birds migrating south in the fall and north in the spring. The migration paths from Bon Secour lead south to lower Florida, the Caribbean, Mexico and Central America.
Choctaw National Wildlife Refuge (Jackson)
The Choctaw National Wildlife Refuge is located in southwest Alabama along the Tombigbee River approximately 80 miles north of Mobile. The Refuge was established in 1964 on lands aquired by the Corp of Engineers in conjunction with the Coffeeville Lock and Dam project. The 4, 218 acre refuge encompasses approximately 1, 802 acres of lakes, sloughs, and creeks, 2, 265 acres of bottomland hardwoods, and 151 acres of croplands and moist soil units.
Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge (Eufaula)
Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1964, on the Walter F. George Reservoir (Lake Eufaula) in cooperation with the Corps of Engineers (COE). The reservoir resulted from impoundment of the Chattahoochee River between Alabama and Georgia. The Refuge, lying on the upper reaches of the reservoir, consists of 11, 184 acres. There are 7, 953 acres in Barbour and Russell Counties, Alabama, and 3, 231 in Stewart and Quitman Counties, Georgia.
Alabama River Lakes Claiborne (Hayneville)
Claiborne Lake is the most primitive of the Alabama River Lakes. Nestled in Alabama's southwest hill country, the lake encompasses over 60 miles of the Alabama River, stretching from the Claiborne Lock and Dam to Millers Ferry Lock and Dam. Although the lake remains mostly within the original river banks, Claiborne provides extensive opportunities for water-related recreation, such as boating, fishing, swimming and skiing. There are also plenty of good sites for picnicking, camping and hiking.
Alabama River Lakes Dannelly (Hayneville)
Dannelly Reservoir boasts an area of about 27 square miles and a shoreline of more than 500 miles. Since opening in 1974, the lake and its surrounding parks have become a recreational center, offering excellent fishing, skiing, boating and hunting.Designed for year-round use, Dannelly has numerous campgrounds, boat ramps, beaches and picnic areas. The lake offers bass, bluegill, catfish, crappie and other species, creating a true anglers' paradise.
National Forests in Alabama (Montgomery)
Mountains in Alabama? You may be surprised to learn that this Deep South state actually has peaks over 2, 000 feet tall. Many of them are within the National Forests in Alabama. Elevations vary significantly in Alabama's four national forests, dropping to 100 feet in the Coastal Plain.Alabama's four national forests offer an assortment of recreation experiences. You can find a place whether it be in developed recreation areas or a quiet spot away from everything.
Selma to Montgomery March Byway (Montgomery)
Journey through history along the trail that marks one of the major historic events in 20th-century American history, the Selma to Montgomery March in 1965, led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Talladega Scenic Drive (Heflin)
In northeast Alabama, the Talladega Scenic Drive is the best and easiest way to view the state's natural treasures from the comfort of your automobile.
Little River Canyon National Preserve (Fort Payne)
Little River flows for most of its length atop Lookout Mountain in northeast Alabama. The river and canyon systems are spectacular Appalachian Plateau landscapes any season of the year. Forested uplands, waterfalls, canyon rims and bluffs, stream riffles and pools, boulders, and sandstone cliffs offer settings for a variety of recreational activities. Natural resources and cultural heritage come together to tell the story of the Preserve, a special place in the Southern Appalachians.
Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge (Decatur)
Cahaba River NWR is one of nation's newest National Wildlife Refuges, the 540th in fact. Established May 13, 2002 for the purpose of protecting and managing a unique section of the Cahaba River and land adjacent to it. Cahaba River NWR is home to five federally listed species including the Cahaba shiner, goldline darter, round rocksnail, and cylindrical lioplax snail. Currently, the Refuge is 1, 120 acres but planned acquisition efforts will bring the refuge up to 3, 500 acres.
Alabama River Lakes Woodruff (Hayneville)
R.E. "Bob" Woodruff Lake stretches along 80 miles of the Alabama River and has an area of about 20 square miles. As its level fluctuates minimally, the lake is an ideal spot for recreationists. Woodruff Lake offers such activities as fishing, boating, water skiing, picnicking, camping, swimming and hiking. The project features 11 parks that are well facilitated for visitors. Conveniences at the parks include beaches, campgrounds, picnic areas, trails and boat launching ramps.
Black Warrior And Tombigbee Lakes (Demopolis)
The Black Warrior and Tombigbee Rivers have been important commercial waterways since the earliest settlers moved inland and built homes along the riverbanks. Today . . . historic sites, picturesque terrain, and abundant recreational opportunities welcome visitors year-round to the 457 mile-long project in western Alabama. Six lakes (Bankhead, Holt, Oliver, Warrior, Demopolis, and Coffeeville) are host to 35 Corps-operated recreation facilities. Visit our web site for more information.
Wilson Lake (Muscle Shoals)
Historic Wilson Dam was constructed during 1918-1925 as part of the World War I effort. The dam is adjacent to the cities of Florence and Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Wilson Lake contains 15, 500 acres of surface water and is 15.5 miles long. The waters below Wilson are known as the "Smallmouth Capital of the World" for the trophy smallmouth bass caught there.
Bear Creek Watershed Lakes (Muscle Shoals)
Featuring a total of four small lakes ranging in size from 670 to 4200 surface acres and scenic floatways, the Bear Creek watershed area offers excellent recreation opportunities. These resources are located in northwestern Alabama near the communities of Russellville, Phil Campbell, and Haleyville and are also easily accessible from the Sheffield, Muscle Shoals, and Tuscumbia areas. Smallmouth and largemouth bass are among the sport fish inhabiting these lakes.
Pickwick Lake (Muscle Shoals)
Pickwick Lake reaches into portions of three states: Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee. A canal links Pickwick to the Tombigbee Waterway, which provides access to the Gulf Coast. Spanned by the historic Natchez Trace Parkway, Pickwick is 55 miles long and has 43, 100 acres of surface water. Smallmouth, largemouth and spotted bass, white crappie, and sauger are among the prominent sport fish in the lake.
Fern Cave National Wildlife Refuge (Decatur)
Fern Cave NWR was purchased in 1981 to provide protection for the federally endangered gray and Indiana bats. It consists of 199 acres of forested hillside underlain by a massive cave with many stalactite and stalagmite-filled rooms. The cave has five hidden entrances with four occurring on the Refuge. Fern Cave contains the largest wintering colony of gray bats in the United States with over one million bats hibernating there in the winter.
Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge (Decatur)
Wheeler NWR, located along the Tennessee River between Huntsville and Decatur, was established in 1938 to provide habitat for wintering and migrating birds. Considered the easternmost Refuge in the Mississippi flyway, this 34, 500 acre Refuge attracts thousands of wintering waterfowl each year and supports the southernmost and Alabama's only significant concentration of wintering Southern James Bay Canada geese. It also serves as winter habitat for the State's largest duck population.
Guntersville Lake (Guntersville)
Guntersville Lake is more than 75 miles long and provides 67, 900 surface acres making it the second largest lake in the TVA system. The lake is located in Jackson and Marshall counties in Alabama and Marion County in Tennessee. Nearby towns include Guntersville and Scottsboro, Alabama, and South Pittsburg, Tennessee. Guntersville is noted as one of the best largemouth bass fishing lakes in the region.
Tims Ford Lake (Muscle Shoals)
Located in southern Middle Tennessee between the towns of Lynchburg and Winchester, Tims Ford Lake is more than 34 miles long and has 10, 600 surface acres at normal summer water levels. TVA completed Tims Ford Dam and Lake on the Elk River in 1970 for power generation and flood control. The lake collects rainfall from a 529-square-mile watershed. Principal fish species are crappie, largemouth bass, sunfish, channel catfish, and blue catfish.
Wheeler Lake (Muscle Shoals)
Wheeler Lake was created in 1936 as one of the first major dam projects on the Tennessee River for flood control, power generation, and navigation. The lake is 74 miles long, has 1, 063 miles of shoreline and a surface area of 67, 100 acres. Nearby cities include Huntsville, Athens, and Decatur, Alabama. Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, which encompasses 34, 500 acres, is a major feature of Wheeler Lake. White crappie, largemouth bass, and sunfish are among the principal sport fish.
Normandy Lake (Muscle Shoals)
Easily accessible from Nashville and Interstate 24, Normandy Dam is located on the Duck River in Middle Tennessee. The lake is 17 miles long and offers 3, 160 acres of surface water. Nearby towns include Tullahoma and Manchester. Principal fish species in Normandy Lake include green sunfish, largemouth bass, longear sunfish, and bluegill.
Russell Cave National Monument (Bridgeport)
For thousands of years bands of prehistoric Indians came to the area we know today as Russell Cave. The cave provided a shelter. The surrounding forest provided food, tools, and fuel for their fires. Occupation of the cave shelter continued from the earliest known people to inhabit the southeastern United States, until the time of European explorers. The story of the inhabitants of Russell Cave is one of adaptation and survival. These people left behind clues to their way of life.
Selma To Montgomery National Historic Trail (Tuskegee)
The climax to the decades-long voting rights crusade in Alabama erupted in March 1965 as Civil Rights activists converged on Selma, Alabama. The final push to achieve a nationwide solution to the disenfranchisement of African Americans came as the result of three strategically planned marches, the first of which took place on March 7. Nearly 500 marchers proceeded through the streets of Selma and across the Edmund Pettus Bridge where they were faced by scores of Alabama State troopers.
Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site (Tuskegee)
The sky was the limit--literally! After the successful flight of Orville and Wilbur Wright in 1903, Americans of all races were stung by the love bug of flight. In the late 1920's and 1930's African Americans in great numbers began their love affair with flight. They learned the basics of flight on either American soil or abroad, and created their own flight schools and clubs.
Sauta Cave National Wildlife Refuge (Decatur)
Sauta Cave NWR (known as Blowing Wind Cave NWR until 1999) is a 264 acre Refuge purchased in 1978 to provide protection for the federally endangered gray and Indiana bat and their critical habitat. The cave provides a summer roosting site for about 200, 000 - 300, 000 gray bats and a winter hibernaculum for both the gray and Indiana bats.
Horseshoe Bend National Military Park (Daviston)
On the morning of 27 March 1814, General Andrew Jackson and an army of 3, 300 men consisting of Tennessee militia, United States regulars and both Cherokee and Lower Creek allies attacked Chief Menawa and 1, 000 Upper Creek or Red Stick warriors fortified in the "horseshoe" bend of the Tallapoosa River. To seal off the bend of the river, the Upper Creeks built an incredibly strong 400 yard long barricade made of dirt and logs.
Watercress Darter National Wildlife Refuge (Decatur)
Watercress Darter NWR, near Bessemer, Jefferson County, Alabama, was established by the Service in 1980 to provide protection for the endangered watercress darter. Although the Refuge is only about 23 acres of ponds, mixed pine-hardwood forest, and a residence, it contains Thomas Spring, the original quarter acre pond where the species was described. A second pond was constructed on the Refuge in 1983 to provide additional darter habitat. The Refuge is unstaffed and administered by Wheeler NWR.
Key Cave National Wildlife Refuge (Decatur)
Key Cave NWR, about 5 miles southwest of Florence, Alabama, was established in 1997 to ensure the biological integrity of Key Cave, Collier Cave, and the aquifer common to both. Key Cave has been designated as critical habitat for the endangered Alabama cavefish (Speoplatyrhinus poulsoni) and as a priority one maternity cave for the endangered gray bat (Myotis grisescens). Collier Cave, located approximately 1.