Russell Cave National Monument

After driving through Bridgeport, Alabama on US 72 for many years and noticing signs stating that Russell Cave National Monument was only five miles off of the highway, I finally visited the monument in mid-November, 2012.  The National Geographic Society purchased the land around the cave and donated it to the American people in 1961.  The visitor center is named for the long-time editor of National Geographic Magazine, Gilbert H. Grosvenor.

Gilbert H. Grosvenor Visitor Center

Inside the visitor center is a museum area with archaeological exhibits, a small gift shop, and a museum with an excellent 8-minute video presentation about the human history of the cave.

Alabama State Champion Blue Ash (on right)

While the cave is over seven miles long, it has been closed to visitors for several years.  However, adjoining the main cave to the north is a cave shelter that was created by a partial collapse of the cave roof thousands of years ago.  Archaeologists have found evidence that the cave was occupied for long periods of time over the last 12,000 years.  A short boardwalk leads from the visitor center to the cave shelter.  Ranger Antoine provided an enjoyable and educational guided tour.  His description of the invention and use of the atlatl was very interesting.  He has written and produced a video presentation about the atlatl that is available on the park website.  The entrance sign contains a depiction of a hunter using an atlatl.

Creek running in to Russell Cave

Boardwalk to cave shelter

Cave shelter

Shelter opening faces east

View from outside the cave shelter

There is a two mile paved loop trail up the the side of Montague Mountain.  The trail climbs about 600 feet to an elevation of about 1300 feet and provides some wonderful views of Little Mountain across the valley.  Several interpretive signs have been placed along the trail to aid visitors in learning more about the plants and animals in the area.

Paved trail leading up from the boardwalk

The leaves have obscured the trail

There is a bench, so I must still be on the trail

Another bench beyond the rock garden

Some of the trees still had vibrant leaves

Life is tenacious as illustrated by this tree
growing out of a rock

This is not a trial I would plan to attempt during the fall after a soaking rain as there were some fairly steep sections that would be very slick when covered by wet leaves.  With a combination of cultural, historic and scenic attributes, Russell Cave is definitely worth visiting.

The park website is http://www.nps.gov/ruca/index.htm.