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Alabama
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Alabama State Parks

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USA Parks
Alabama
Northeast Region
Rickwood Caverns State Park
Rickwood Caverns State Park © Matthew Gordon / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Rickwood Caverns State Park near Warrior, Alabama, USA
Yellowhammer © stateparks.com
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RICKWOOD CAVERNS STATE PARK
RICKWOOD CAVERNS STATE PARK
370 Rickwood Park Rd
Warrior, Alabama   35180
(lat:33.8749 lon:-86.862) map location

Phone: (205) 647-9692
Toll Free: 800-252-7275
Reservations: 205-647-9692
Email: park email button icon
Experience the thrill of Rickwood's miracle mile of underground caverns! The 260 million-year-old limestone formations, blind cave fish and underground pool are just a few of the natural wonders exhibited in the colorful cavern. The park features an Olympic-size swimming pool, snack bar, picnic area, large and small picnic shelter, hiking trails, playground, campground and gift shop.

Rickwood Caverns is a recognized member of the National Caves Association, and offers more than a mile of living geology. The caverns themselves were water-formed during the Mississippian period over 260 million years ago. Rickwood Caverns still contains active "living formations," as mineral-laden water droplets build colorful structures and flowstones. Rickwood Cave reveals that it was carved from an ocean bed - shell fragments and fossils of marine life are clearly visible along the cavern ceiling and walls. Many curiosities are featured on guided tours of the "miracle mile" at Rickwood Caverns State Park.

Group Cave Tours: Special groups of 20 or more (school, civic, commercial organizations, etc.) during seasonal tour schedule can be arranged for by appointment.
History of the Area
Located in Warrior, Alabama, the park was opened to public use as a state park in 1974. The main attraction is an underground limestone cave estimated at around 260 million years old. This cavern showcases formations of stalagmites and stalactites created by water erosion over centuries.
Passes
Annual Entrance Permit passes are available for year-round entry to the park for Individuals, Families, and Seniors. Passes allow access to picnic area, hiking trail and children's playground at no additional charge and expire one year from date issued.
Camping
Rickwood provides 13 developed campsites, 9 of which are landscaped and can accommodate trailers and motor homes of any size. Campsites are patrolled 24 hours, and comfort facilities include restrooms, seasonal showers, and dumpstation.
Meeting Rooms
Snack Bar dining area is available as a meeting room when not open to the public.
Swimming
Rickwood's Olympic size swimming pool is open from 10 a.m. - 5:45p.m. daily from Memorial Day until usually the first week in August and then weekends until Labor Day.


Location
Rickwood Caverns State Park is located near Birmingham, Cullman and Gardendale

Picnicking
Rickwood's picnic area offers tables, grills, shelters and plenty of shade trees. Shelters are available by reservation (starting November 1st for following calendar year), suitable for company picnics and family reunions. Hiking trails and children's playground are available nearby. Rickwood's small pavilion is perfect for family get-togethers. Shelters include lights, electricity, water, tables and a barbecue grill.
Geocaching
Alabama State Parks recognizes Geocaching as an opportunity for additional outdoor activities for individuals and families at our parks.

To ensure the safety of our guests and to maintain proper management of our natural resources a geocaching policy was established, which requires that all geocaches hidden in Alabama State Parks be permitted.

Before hiding any geocaches please review and submit a signed permit to the Park Manager at each State Park. After the Park Manager or designee receives and reviews the permit you will be contacted for disposition.
Trails
1. Fossil Mountain Hiking Trail: A 0.8-mile loop trail featuring a variety of fossils, suitable for all skill levels.

2. Cave Tour Pathway: This is not exactly a hiking trail but offers an adventurous walk through the underground caverns; length varies based on tour chosen.

3. Overlook Tower Trail: Short yet steep 0.5-mile hike leading to an overlook tower with panoramic views of surrounding areas.

4. Quarry Loop Trail: An easy and flat one mile long path that loops around the old quarry site in Rickwood Caverns State Park

5.The Lower Creek Trails are two separate trails each about half-a-mile long following along Five Mile creek offering beautiful water sights

6.Upper Creek Trails also follow alongside Five Mile creek but offer more challenging terrain over their combined one-and-half miles distance

7.Rickwood Ridge Nature Preserve has several interconnected trails totaling approximately three miles which traverse various habitats including hardwood forests and limestone glades.

8.Bat Observation Deck Accessible via short walking paths from either campground or picnic area where visitors can observe bats emerging at dusk during summer months

9.Swimming Pool Walkway leads directly from campgrounds to park's swimming pool providing convenient access without need for driving

10.Picnic Area Paths connect different parts of large picnic area allowing hikers leisurely strolls between meals or activities

Visitor Comments, Memories and Reviews
June 22 Best workout! by LSU Fan Mom
park review stars; one to five June 8, 2013-My family and I planned a camping trip around spelunking, or at least the city dwellers version of spelunking, which just means visiting caves. We spent a week camping out at various primitive camp grounds, and going on numerous cave tours. Rickwood caverns gets 5 stars! The tour guide was absolutely wonderful, Alabama Fan Bat Man, was a hoot! I think the family enjoyed the guide as much as the cave! The cave itself was awesome, and really felt like we were spelunking. The stairs were a doosie, but I would do it again, and again!
January 8 by RandyJ
park review stars; one to five I was probably 12-14 years old when I last visited Rickwood Caverns. I think the admission price back then was about 75 cents.. of course that has been over 40 years ago. I recall the blind cave fish, the pools in the caverns, and the swimming pool being fed from the cave water. I hope to have a family gathering there when the weather warms a bit. Now I have grand children who need this experience. I visited there with the cub scouts and again with our Sunday school class. It was a popular church wide outing.
September 28 Fall Family Outing by The Crowe, Chase and Carters
park review stars; one to five Our family went a couple of years ago and we are planning to come back in October. We had a blast then and look forward to another great time. Our kids are older now and we have added a few to the group so i know the younger ones will enjoy it as much as the older. See you soon!!!!!
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Directions
1. Start by heading northwest on 24th St N toward 3rd Ave N.
2. Turn right onto Richard Arrington Jr Blvd N.
3. Use the left two lanes to turn slightly left onto I:20 W/I-59 S ramp towards Tuscaloosa/Downtown.
4. Merge with I:20W/I-59S and continue for about a mile.
5. Take exit 124B for Interstate65N/Interstate22 towards Huntsville/Nashville.
6. Continue straight to stay in this lane until you reach Exit number123 (Arkadelphia Road).
7. Turn Right at Arkadelphia road then take immediate Left into Finley Boulevard West.
8. Stay Straight till you see Junction of Daniel Payne Drive where you need to make slight right turn.
9. Follow signs for US78 west / Jasper which is approximately half miles away,then merge with it after turning slight left.
10. After around six miles keep an eye out signboard indicating AL269 North/Jasper; Take that exit & follow signage instructions further.

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Alabama
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Alabama State Parks

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