National Monument · Alabama

Trails in Russell Cave National Monument

3 named trails · 2 miles · 1 with the Park Service's own write-up. The lines, trailheads and points are the Park Service's; the write-ups are the Service's own words; the climbing is read from USGS elevation along each line.

3 trails, A to Z.

Boardwalk

0.1 mi one way · 662 ft–668 ft · hiking

Visitor centers

Along the way Gilbert H. Grosvenor Visitor Center

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

Cutoff Trail

0.1 mi one way · about 40 ft of climbing · 729 ft–766 ft

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

RUCA Nature Trail

0.9 mi loop · about 350 ft of climbing · 670 ft–1,006 ft

Take a Hike on the Russell Cave Nature Trail the Park Service's write-up

30-60 Minutes · dogs allowed

If you’re looking for more of an adventure, you can sidestep onto our 1.2-mile hiking trail just off the boardwalk on your way out to the cave shelter. This mossy and sometimes broken in places, asphalt loop offers an escape to nature as you walk among the native trees and plants that line the path. This trail is steep and can be strenuous for some, so be prepared with proper shoes and water.

A shorter, .2-mile cutoff trail can be found on either side of the loop trail, taking hikers on a flat, dirt path along the middle of the mountain before rejoining the main trail.

If hiking during the spring, summer, or early fall, be on the lookout for snakes and always check for ticks after being outside near long or overgrown grass.The hiking trail is open from 8:00AM CT to 3:30PM CT to ensure that all visitors have a chance to finish their hike before closing the front gates.

Accessibility The asphalt that paves this trail was placed in the 1960’s and is therefore broken up in several places along the path that require maneuvering over rocky terrain. The overall elevation gain is about 400 feet with steep switchbacks. Moss regularly grows on the trail and can make the path slippery throughout the year. There is not currently an audio tour of the trail. There is not a braille version of the informational signs along the trial.

This hike on nps.gov

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

1 more mapped segment without a name is on the map, not in the list.

About these trails

The lines are the National Park Service's public trails layer, the trailheads and the waterfalls, views, peaks and historic places along them the Service's public points of interest, read 2026-10-14 and simplified for the map. The write-ups are the Service's own "things to do", unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the park's own site before you go.