2009 November 7, Saturday, Hiking in the Dismal Canyon

Lora, Marcus, Madison, and I went hiking in the Dismal Canyon in Phil Campbell from 12:00-4:4-PM.

We ate some snacks before we began our walk into the canyon.

We stopped at the entrance to take pictures, paid to enter the park, and began our journey down into the canyon.

Stopping for Pictures

Dance Hall

There was a sign posted that read:

Dismals Canyon leaves nothing…  Take nothing…

Dismals Canyon is a natural landmark registered with the department of Interior $1,000 fine for the removal or defacement of rocks, plants, or animals.

We started our descent down this wooden ramp and several flights of wooden steps into the canyon. 

Long walk down into the canyon

Along the way we saw Rainbow & Phantom Falls, Grotto, pulpit Rock, Kitchen, Stovepipe, Indian head rock, Temple Cave, fishing hole, Champion tree, weeping bluff, secretly falls, the Chickasaw Indian’s for secret rituals used dance hall, fat-man’s Misery, Witches cavern, and Burr’s hideout. 

Grotto In 1925, the Girl Scouts built the small pool to your right for drinking water.     

Phantom Falls There is no waterfall behind you but the rock picks up the sound of the actual falls 250’ downstream and throws the echo down to this spot, which is only 10’ around.

Weeping Bluff The water that seeps from this bluff is said to be tears shed by the canyon for the loss of its only true friend the Chickasaw Indians.

SECRET FALLS the water creating these falls flows from an underground mountain stream that opens onto the earth's surface about 3/4 of a mile upstream. 

The Chickasaws Indiana’s for secret rituals used DANCE HALL this well camouflaged area protected from the sun and the elements. 

A tight squeeze

Witches Cavern  a strange and beautiful labyrinth of moss and fern-covered boulders with a large colony of dissimilates resides.

Fat Mans Misery The narrow opening 16” wide between the two boulders was the original entrance to the canyon floor.

Crossing the creek

We walked about three miles and we met Steve Meiji (wearing a black Harley Davidson jacket & chaps) and two of his lady friends (one wearing an orange Haley Davidson Jacket and chaps and the other woman wearing a black jacket and chaps) 

Steve helped Madison & others across the creek to Dance Hall.

He gave me his email and I sent him some pictures. 

We saw several small white mushrooms growing on the side of trees.

We exited the canyon by crossing a swinging bridge.

Crossing the swing bridge

Natchez traces the devil’s backbone dismal canyon serves ad the hideout for many other infamous outlaws who robbed and murdered travelers on the devil's backbone.    

When we finished our walk we stopped in at the museum where we saw 

A statue wearing a white, red, and black feather headdress. We saw a tan lamp with a pair of tan boots for a base. We saw a statue of a baker holding a basket with ready-to-eat mac & Cheese on top,  and a blackboard sign that read Specialties Coffee $1.49, Brownies $2.89 and Brownie bites for fifty cents. We saw a wooden clown, a Totem pole with Indiana faces A red Drink coca cola machine, and a popcorn machine. There were all kinds of gadgets hanging from the ceiling. 

Indian Headdress, Boot Lamp

Totem Pole

Dismals Store

For supper Hubby brought home barbecue from Thomas Pitt.