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dismals canyon retreat weekend

tomorrow, the year is half over. this year has flown by exceptionally fast. the weather lately has been very hot... and i'm getting out of town this weekend with alison and 6 of our close friends. we are going to dismals canyon. the name is strange. the canyon is actually named for the illuminated phenomena known as dismalites.

there's nothing dismal about it. it is located in north central alabama. we will be setting up a camp site comprised of four tents, and a central cooking station at the scout camp site. we will be getting there friday afternoon, and leaving sunday afternoon. lots of great food and beer will be coming with us. it has an illustrious history, and was once the hideout location for arron burr, and some notable outlaws. here are some images from the canyon floor.


Here's what their site says about the canyon:

Intentionally private, Dismals Canyon - in keeping with its pristine surroundings - offers a quiet and unspoiled oasis in Alabama’s last secret hiding place. A secluded wilderness filled with natural phenomena tucked deep within the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains.

NPSAs one of the finest examples of the ecological and geological features composing our Nation's Natural History - Dismals Canyon was designated a "National Natural Landmark" in 1975 by the National Park Service - one of only 587 in the United States and its territories.

Dismals Canyon - located in Northwest Alabama - is not a State Park or National Park. It's an 85 acre Natural Conservatory privately owned and operated. Offering Romantic Cabins, Secluded Campsites, Hiking, swimming and more. Development has been designed for tranquility and serenity and does not include big concrete RV pads/parking, man-made swimming pools, or Goofy Golf Courses, etc. Recreation is exploration of the natural environment.

Your visit is a step back to the time when the earth was clean and the water was clear. Aside from the necessary clearing of the trails, the area is now - as it has been for centuries - completely natural.


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