Dismals Canyon: A National Natural Landmark

In a town called Phil Campbell, there is a hidden canyon that is one of the most beautiful, unspoiled places left in Alabama. It is called the Dismals.

The Dismals began millions of years ago and was created by natural forces, such as erosion and earthquakes. Artifacts have been unearthed that proves that all known cultures of Stone-Age man have resided there. Various American Indian tribes such as the Paleo, Pueblo, Chickasaw and Cherokee, made Dismals their home in the past as well as notorious outlaws such as Aaron Burr.

At the start of the tour, you see a natural pool carved into rock at the top of Rainbow Falls. As you make your way into the canyon via wooden stairs, mist from the waterfall spreads into the canyon. It’s like stepping back into time as you wind your way along Dismals Branch to the swinging bridge and then to Burr’s hideout. Along the way, you can see natural bridges, grottos, ancient hemlock trees, glowing worms called “dismalites” and much more. The path follows the branch for a long way, passing such spots as Phantom Falls, Fat Man’s Misery, Temple Cave, Weeping Bluff and the Champion Hemlock tree. In all, it is about 1.5 miles of trail.

All through the canyon, you will find such diversity of flora. According to their website, “More than 350 different species of Exotic Flora have been identified by botanists exploring the Dismals…” including Canadian Hemlock, a variety of maples, witch hazel, mountain laurel, Virginia creeper, sassafras, and more.

But the strangest thing you might see are the dismalites, a species of glowworm unique to only a few places on Earth. Seen only at night, flashlight tours are given after hours for those who want to witness one of nature’s true marvels. As the website explains, the dismalites “are the larvae stage in the life of an insect called the fungus gnat "Arachnocampa luminosa" that emits a bright blue-green light to attract food, in the form of other flying insects”.