Fern Cave National Wildlife Refuge, National Wildlife Refuge near Paint Rock, Alabama
Fern Cave National Wildlife Refuge is a federally protected area in northern Alabama built around an underground cave system that drops through multiple levels connected by deep shafts and canyons. The land above ground consists of forested trails and open areas that visitors can walk through.
The area was placed under federal protection in 1981 after researchers identified it as one of the most important winter shelters for gray bats in the country. Since then, access to the cave itself has been restricted to keep the interior conditions stable for the species living there.
The refuge takes its name from the American hart's-tongue fern, a rare plant that grows inside the cave where light and moisture create conditions unlike anything found on the surface. Visitors exploring the grounds above can see how the surrounding forest transitions into open limestone terrain.
The cave entrance is closed to the public, but the trails on the property are open and can be walked without a guide. Warmer months are a good time to visit, since wildlife above ground tends to be more active then.
The cave is one of the very few places in the United States where the American hart's-tongue fern actually grows underground, making it as notable for botany as it is for bat protection. Both species depend on the same steady temperatures and high moisture found deep inside.
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