About Russell Cave National Monument
Russell Cave National Monument is an archeological site with one of the most complete records of prehistoric cultures in the Southeast. In the 1950s, archeologists uncovered a large quantity of artifacts representing 12,000 years of use in a single place. Although you cannot go in the cave, the discovered artifacts help bring to light many cultural developments of phenomenal human journeys.
Plan a Visit
Core visitor information on this page is sourced from the National Park Service. NPD proximity sections use NPS reference coordinates and straight-line distance. Local source bundle updated Sep 27, 2026. View the official NPS page.
Weather & Conditions
The weather in Bridgeport, Alabama is mild. The average temperature in the winter is in the low 50's. The average summer temperature is in the high 80's. We receive about 50 inches of rain each year. Snowfall varies, but only lasts a few days per event.
NPS Reference Location
Park state / territory membership: Alabama. This map uses the National Park Service reference coordinate. It may represent an administrative or reference point rather than a park entrance, trailhead, visitor center, or the nearest access point. Use the official NPS directions below when planning travel.
Operating Hours
The park is closed on New Year's Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. All operating hours are in central time and the main gate into the park closes at 4:30 pm.
Activities
Current Alerts
The last section of boardwalk is closed for ADA accessibility. Sorry for the inconvenience.
Getting There
Russell Cave National Monument is located at 3729 County Road 98 in Bridgeport, Alabama. It is situated in the northeast corner of Alabama, just south of the Tennessee state line.
View Official DirectionsContact & Address
The NPS-listed address may be an administrative office, visitor center, mailing/contact location, or other park facility rather than a park entrance.
Topics & Themes
Things To Do
View the Russell Cave Museum
Temporary exhibit on display
View the Russell Cave Film
Russell Cave Film 7 minutes
Pack a Picnic and Make a Day of it
Learn about what activities are and are not permitted while visiting the park.
Take a Hike on the Russell Cave Nature Trail
Adventure up the strenuous 1.2-mile nature trail to see the plants and landscape that prehistoric people would have been interacting…
Earn Your Russell Cave B.A.R.K Ranger Badge
Bring your pet along with you and earn your own B.A.R.K. Ranger tag.
Become a Russell Cave Junior Ranger
Work through activities to learn about Russell Cave and earn your Junior Ranger Badge today.
Visitor Centers
Gilbert Grosvenor Visitor Center
Begin your exploration of the park in the visitor center. Pick up a park brochure for more information about the cave shelter and hiking trails.…
Nearby National Park Service Sites
These sites are ordered by straight-line distance between NPS reference coordinates. This is useful for comparison, but it is not road mileage. Trails, parkways, rivers, and distributed units may extend far from their reference point.
Nearby Cities for Trip Planning
These cities are ordered by straight-line distance from the NPS reference coordinate. They are comparison starting points, not official park gateways or road-distance estimates. Trails and other distributed units may extend far beyond this reference point.
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