October 2015 Alabama State Parks E-newsletter

Alabama Department of Conservation & Natural Resources sent this bulletin at 10/14/2015 10:35 AM CDT

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October 2015 Alabama State Parks Newsletter

The crisp mornings, the delightful afternoons, the #Fallcolors.......leaf season is here again!
Any time is a good time to visit an Alabama State Park, but the Fall in north Alabama is truly spectacular. We look forward to this each and every year and we invite you to visit our parks along the Fall Color Trail. To learn more about the beauty of our parks during the fall season check out this great video.

From primitive campgrounds and rustic cabins to
convenient cottages and hotel lodge rooms, we provide accommodations that will make your stay as comfortable as you want. Use our online reservations tool to search and book your fall vacation.

Early Fall season is packed with family-friendly events and activities at many of our state parks. Scarecrows, haunted hikes, fall festivals, 5K trail runs and even Bikes on the Beach......we have you covered. Check out the events section of alapark.com for detailed information.

We are excited to announce our First Annual Scarecrow Trail at Lake Guntersville State Park. Located next to the beach pavilion, the path along the lake will be filled with decorations sponsored by local businesses and organizations. Don't forget about our Fall Festival on the 17th and Haunted Forest Trail every weekend in October.

Join us October 16th and 17th for the annual Wind Creek Fall Carnival. Thanks to many sponsors this has grown into an outstanding family-friendly event. Featuring a pumpkin carving contest, a 5K run/walk and a campsite decorating challenge, this will be fun for all.

DeSoto State Park staff & volunteers will host a great afternoon of fun and games on October 31st. for their annual Spookapalooza; Pumpkin Decorating, Halloween Bingo, bobbing for apples, moonbounces, slides, & more! This is a free event, open to the public and great for all ages!

The haunted cave tour at Cathedral Caverns State Park is always a thriller. This adrenaline tour takes place the last three Saturdays of the October and is not recommended for children or the faint of heart. Load the car with friends and visit the cave......if you dare!

Some of our smaller parks have great events planned for the Fall season. Scarecrows in the Park at Frank Jackson State Park is a great example of how park volunteers can improve a state park. The Camp Fear Halloween event at Lake Lurleen State Park provides great camping discounts and hayrides for the kids.

We are exited to offer events and activities for our equestrian groups. The Great Pumpkin Treasure hunt at Oak Mountain State Park is a great way to learn about mounted orienteering....almost like geocaching on a horse. Thanks to the Birmingham Chapter of the BCHA for supporting this event.

During these historic times of legislative challenges, adversity and contingency plans we remind ourselves of the positive impact the Alabama State Parks have on people and communities. As we move forward, we remain focused on our mission statement: To acquire and preserve natural areas; to develop, furnish, operate and maintain recreational facilities; and to extend the public's knowledge of the state's natural environment.

To help the state parks in our battle to secure a long-term legislative funding solution, visit the Alabama State Parks Partners Coalition website and while you are there show your support with the purchase of a T-Shirt.

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