Russell Cave National Monument

Russell Cave National Monument encompasses a total area of about 310 acres of land that lies in Jackson County, Alabama and about eight miles west of Bridgeport, Alabama. To access the park, you can use the CR 75 from US 72 and drive north for nearly a mile to CR 98 and then drive along CR 98 for about four miles north into the park.

When you get to the protected land, you will find some features that are quite alluring. For example, the national monument is an almost perfect archeological record of human habitation in the area from 6500 BC to about 1650 AD, a period called the Transitional Paleo to Mississippian cultural periods. 

This archeological record is depicted in various ways including through features and artifacts found in caves in the Russell Cave National Monument. These attractions have been protected by the National Park Service since May 11, 1961, when the place was proclaimed a National Monument.

Besides these attractions, the Russell Cave National Monument is also a favorite place for today’s visitors to enjoy recreational activities like hiking, guided cave tours, and craft demonstrations. Some of the amenities in the park to facilitate these activities include restrooms, a picnic area, museum, self-guided tours, and a visitor center.

Dogs are allowed into Russell Cave National Monument, and like other parks in the country, the park management expects that dog owners will keep their pets in line to avoid causing disruption and destruction to the park's resources. As such, dogs should always be under the immediate control of their owner. 

This includes keeping dogs on a leash or in a secure enclosure. Additionally, dogs should be well-behaved and prevented from harassing other pets, wildlife, plants, and visitors to the park. Furthermore, dog owners should clean up after their dogs and stay away from areas of the Russell Cave National Monument that are out-of-bounds to dogs.