Things To Do

101 East Laurel Street
Scottsboro, AL 35768

At The Unclaimed Baggage Center, you never know what you’ll find when you shop in the only store in America with contents of lost and unclaimed luggage from all over the world – all for sale at a fraction of their original value. The serendipitous collection of goods (over 7,000 new items stocked daily) includes tech gadgets, adult & children’s clothing, jewelry, sporting equipment, electronics, luggage, and much, much more.

The Museum’s goal is to bring honor and dignity to the lives and cases of nine black teenagers who were wrongfully convicted of a crime in 1931.

Recently recognized by Only in Alabama as the best hike in the state.

The Walls of Jericho hike is an 6.6-mile, out-and-back trail generally considered a challenging route. This is a very popular area for birding, camping, and hiking, so you’ll likely encounter other people while exploring. Estimated time of completion is 5-6 hours. Bring plenty of water and food!

Cathedral Caverns State Park is a publicly owned recreation area and natural history preserve located in Kennamer Cove, about 5 miles northeast of Grant and 7 miles southeast of Woodville near the Jackson/Marshall County border. The cave mouth is an astounding 126 feet wide and 25 feet high. The public portion of the cave extends along 8-foot-wide wheelchair-accessible, concrete walkways for approximately 3,500 feet and has some 2 miles of paths; another 2,700 feet extend beyond the end of the pathway. You can also explore 5.5 miles of hiking trails among the 493 acres of land.
Note: there is a fee to enter the cave

Goose Pond Colony Resort is another Jackson County waterfront destination worthy of your visit. Rent a watercraft, take a dip in the pool or grab a bite to eat at The Docks seafood restaurant and steakhouse. Located on the banks of the Tennessee River’s popular Lake Guntersville and situated among the picturesque Cumberland Mountains, Goose Pond Colony Resort awaits your arrival. The municipally owned resort brags two beautiful 18 hole championship golf courses, comfortable lakeside cottages, lodge, relaxing waterfront campground, walking trail, full service marina, meeting facilities and several on site eateries.

Russell Cave is Alabama’s First National Monument noted for human stories that have been unearthed through the discovery of remarkable art, technology, and debris that represent over 10,000 years of human use in a single place.

One of Alabama’s best-kept secrets, the overlook at Weathington Park has beautiful views of the Tennessee River, especially at sunset. The park is also a good spot for taking photos, picnicking and walking the park’s trails. The .25 mile loop is well paved and has very little elevation change. On-site bathrooms available.

Experience this 1.5-mile out-and-back trail near Pisgah, Alabama. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 45 min to complete.

Buck’s Pocket State Park is a publicly owned recreation area located on Sand Mountain, two miles north of the Grove Oak community where you can camp, hike and ATV. The state park occupies 2,000 acres that flanks a natural canyon pocket of the Appalachian Mountain chain along South Sauty Creek. The upstream tributary is located on the east side of Guntersville Lake and the park is known for the sweeping views of its rugged, seemingly untouched landscape from the heights of Point Rock. An outdoor adventurer’s dream come true; find thrills climbing the peak of the Point Rock, trail riding on over 8 miles of off-road paths, riding seasonal whitewater, or scaling down an 800-foot Canyon.

This is a PRIVATE waterfall cave, owned by the Southeastern Cave Conservancy and a permit is required to access the premise. For that reason, planning ahead is paramount if you plan to visit the waterfall. There is a 1-mile hike required to access the waterfall cave. Taking into consideration the hike time, and exploration time once at the cave visitors can expect to spend 3-4 hours. This is considered a moderate hike, and minimum caving experience is highly recommended. The SCCI is a caving conservation organization and donations are highly encouraged.

Note: Anyone without a permit will be considered trespassing.

Sauta Cave is home to the largest bat emergence east of the Mississippi. Every evening from June-August more than 250,000 endangered Gray Bats emerge from the cave to the delight of hundreds of tourists. The cave is located in Jackson County, seven miles west of Scottsboro on HWY. 72.

Note: If you can go during a full moon with no cloud obstruction, you will get a much better view of the bats. Conversely, cloudy nights with low light can make this a lack luster experience.

Local produce fresh from the Jackson County Mennonite Community.

Located at 1505 Hwy 71 Section, AL

April – September, Open 9:00-4:30, closed Wednesday afternoon and Sunday

October – November, Open 9:00-4:30 Friday and Saturday only (November 25 closing date)

Cash only and modest dress requested.

With more than six miles of surveyed passage, it offers beginning and experienced cavers alike a true wild cave experience. Tumbling Rock Cave is one of Alabama’s longest caves and features countless stalactites and stalagmites throughout.

The Paint Rock River is a quiet, peaceful river that winds through the beautiful hills of North Alabama. Take your time and relax and when you’re done, they will pick you up and bring you back to where you started your relaxing day.

150 acres of apples, peaches, nectarines, pears, berries, and cherries. Fresh cider starting in September made with a secret recipe.

Driven Luck Circuit is a family owned and operated drift track designed and inspired by Japanese culture. The 1/4-mile track is proudly located in Bryant, Alabama. It is believed to be the first drift specific track in the eastern U.S.

Long known and loved by caver explorers, Neversink is considered by many to be the classic pit. A beautiful 162 foot open air pit that can only be reached using vertical caving skills.

The Veterans Memorial Park of Jackson County honors all service members and veterans, especially those from Jackson County who sacrificed their lives for our freedoms. Information panels describing US military history and wars provide educational opportunities, especially for our children. The Patriots Walkway honors our military Patriots, with special recognition of Alabama-born Medal of Honor recipients for their heroic actions. Military equipment displays draw attention to equipment used in military conflicts. Each day at sunset TAPS is played, followed closely by lights coming on throughout the Park.

Located in Scottsboro, directly on Lake Guntersville, Jackson County Park has many amenities. They have a large, shaded park for the kids to play, watercraft rentals, covered pavilion, RV campgrounds, primitive camping, newly built cabins, a small store equipped with everything you need to enjoy a day on the lake, snow cones, and KC’s BBQ. They offer full day and half day rentals for pontoon boats, jet skis, kayaks and stand-up paddle boards. Call ahead to rent a boat as they rent out quickly on the weekends during nice weather.

Lakeshore Watercraft Rentals
2300 County Park Road 35769
256-609-2847

The Graham Farm & Nature Center is a 491-acre educational farm nestled within the pristine Paint Rock Valley of Jackson County. The center serves as an educational outreach location for the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. Multitude of outdoor opportunities: 8.5 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails, birding, glamping and more.

In Fackler, Alabama, the Rock Animal Zoo consists of odd-shaped rocks painted to look like chickens, cows, turtles, elephants and more. The “zoo” was started by Leonard Dawson in the 1970s, and his family continues the tradition of painting rocks along the property to look like animals. Located on County Road 32, the zoo can be tricky to find but is well worth the effort. It’s the only zoo where you get to pet the animals.

These rolling fields sit alongside one of the most diverse freshwater ecosystems east of the Mississippi. The 323 acre tract of land on the Paint Rock watershed is owned and maintained by the Nature Conservancy and is a favorite spot on the North Alabama Birding Trail.

This property is owned & managed by The Nature Conservancy of Alabama and the 3.9 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Paint Rock, Alabama is open for public access from dawn to dusk. The full 4-mile hike could take several hours to complete, but note that the falls are located roughly 2 miles in. This is considered a moderate hike. The sinkhole at mile 2 is amazing. You can climb down to the bottom, which can be quite tricky and not recommended for young children.

This is a 2.3-mile loop with a steady elevation of over 400ft. The 360-acre property is on Keel Mountain with 200 acres open for outdoor recreation from dawn to dusk. With a stunning waterfall halfway through, hikers can expect to be on the preserve for roughly 2-3 hours. This is considered a moderate hike, however after a good rain the mud can quickly make it difficult.

Best Hiking Spots in Jackson County categorized as either an easy stroll, moderate or difficult hike.

Riders come from all over the country to enjoy the scenery and the routes in Jackson County. The Annual Trail of Tears Commemorative Motorcycle Ride begins in Bridgeport and concludes in Waterloo every third Saturday in September. 2 of the top 10 motorcycle routes in the state cut through the heart of Jackson County, the Guntersville Lake Route from Scottsboro to Langston (32 miles) and the Paint Rock to Estillfork Route (29 miles) have some of the most beautiful scenery and fun routes.

Nature lovers will enjoy the 10 public trails in Jackson County listed on the Alabama Birding Trail. Landscapes range from blazing fields of wildflowers, and towering forests of oak and hickory to vast sheets of open water.

Northeast Alabama is ideal for cycling adventures both long and short, with miles and miles of wide-open low-traffic farm roads interspersed with scenic views of the Tennessee River and its tributaries and coves. Adding to the picturesque charm of the rural countryside are towering ridges that provide a dramatic backdrop to the farmland as well as a serious challenge for those brave enough to pedal to the top! With deep history (some of which dates back 10,000 years) and charming towns, the Alabama Mountain Lakes region is an intriguing and inviting landscape for exploring by bike!

The Bridgeport Depot has been restored and now houses the Bridgeport Area Historical Association offices, a museum of local artifacts and railroad memorabilia, and records that go back to 1807. Open: Thursday – Friday 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. and Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

The Historic Bridgeport Walking Trail, a 600-ft. walking bridge across the Tennessee River, begins near the historic railroad depot.

116 Soulard Square
Bridgeport, AL 35740

The Stevenson Railroad Depot Museum is located in downtown Stevenson, Alabama, situated between the tracks of two major railroads. The museum houses a collection of military, agricultural, Indian artifacts, railroad, pioneer life and other local memorabilia. The largest of these artifacts is the historic depot building itself which was built in 1872 and listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

The Scottsboro Freight Depot is one of three remaining pre-Civil War depots in Alabama. Located at Corner of N Houston and E Maple Streets. Built by the Memphis and Charleston Railroad in 1861, the Scottsboro depot saw active service for 132 years.

Cultural and historical museum. Jackson County history from 8,000 B.C. to the 1930s. Neo-classical house, pioneer village, 1868 Jackson County Courthouse. Genealogy research center.

Downtown Scottsboro is known for its historic charm, with many well-preserved buildings dating back to the early 20th century. The area exudes a nostalgic atmosphere and features classic storefronts, architecture, and vintage signage. It is a hub for shopping and dining. Visitors can explore a variety of boutique shops, antique stores, and locally-owned businesses.

The district hosts a variety of community events throughout the year, such as Trade Day, Salsa on the Square and Jingle Bell Square.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places

Constructed by the Union Army in the summer of 1862 and expanded in 1864, using soldiers and freed slaves, Fort Harker was built on a broad hill a quarter mile east of town. It overlooked Crow Creek and was well within firing range of Stevenson’s strategic railroad lines, supply depots and warehouses.

Site of annual Civil War Reenactment

Camp Maranatha is a wonderful place for your next retreat. The 210 acre property has scenic hiking trails, water front access to a beautiful lake, horseback riding, a large indoor gymnasium. Comfortable lodges (bunk bed style) sleeping arrangement.

You don’t have to be a Boy Scout to visit this beautiful destination. They allow other people/groups to hike on their property and they also rent out the camp. If you want to do a day hike, you need to call ahead to let them know the dates you’d like to come, then sign a waiver upon arrival. There is seasonal waterfall you can hike to that is best seen during the winter months, plus two small caves. If you’re feeling ambitious, there’s a 10 mile out and back trail that takes you to Pisgah Gorge Falls.
The Pinnacle is another popular hike on this property that takes you to the highest point in Jackson County with incredible views of the Tennessee River.

Address: 2867 County Rd 24, 35769

For day hiking, contact duane.southers@scouting.org.
For group booking contact kathy.mertz@scouting.org.

Morgan’s Cove at Buck’s Pocket State Park houses a small boat ramp. Here, the banks are very calm and down the trail you will find a kid friendly rope swing. The sunrise from Morgan’s Cove is stunning.

AL-146, Scottsboro, AL 35768 (Physically located in Skyline, AL)
Jackson County has some of the best hunting our state has to offer. With a vast landscape ranging from mountains and streams to lakes and limestone covered valleys, Jackson County is home to an abundance of different wild game species. The most popular of those species hunted here in Jackson County is the whitetail deer. The James D. Martin wildlife management area located in Skyline offers 60,732 acres of public deer hunting as well as several other species including turkey, squirrel, rabbit, and racoon.

Two air conditioned gyms, an indoor walking track, an indoor pool, three outdoor basketball courts, a fenced playground area, skate park, and a splash park.

Family bowling center with 20 lanes, bowling leagues, parties and events.

Find the latest movies and showtimes at Hollywood 10 Cinema, a movie theater in Scottsboro, AL.

Much of the inside of the Rock Store has been restored and it now houses a treasure trove of artifacts from the days of the Skyline Farms Project, such as the first phone to ever be used at Skyline and furniture made by those who lived in the colony.

Open by appointment only.

802 CR 25, Scottsboro, Al 35768

Artifacts and memorabilia dating back to the 1800s of early life in the oldest town in Jackson County.

Open by appointment only.

Located in Bob Jones Community Center
13455 County Road 8 Woodville, AL 35776
(256) 776-2860