Fern Cave National Wildlife Refuge, established in 1981, consists of 199 acres of forested hillside underlain by a massive cave with many stalactite and stalagmite-filled rooms. The cave has five hidden entrances with four occurring on the Refuge. Access to is extremely difficult and has been described as a vertical an
Maybe — confirm before you go.
This U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service site may charge a fee your pass covers — confirm before you go.
- Fee type Fee unknown — The fee structure here is unconfirmed.
- Source Find on Recreation.gov ↗
- Last verifiedJuly 6, 2026 · Check
- Official pagewww.recreation.gov ↗
- Contact 256-353-7243 · wheeler@fws.gov
Common questions
Quick Yes / No / Depends answers for Fern Cave National Wildlife Refuge — always confirm with the managing site before you go.
Depends Does the America the Beautiful pass work here?
Maybe — This U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service site may charge a fee your pass covers — confirm before you go. Check with the managing agency before you go.
Yes Can you fish at Fern Cave National Wildlife Refuge?
Yes — fishing is one of the listed activities here. You’ll need a valid state fishing license.
Yes Are there hiking trails?
Yes — hiking is one of the listed activities at Fern Cave National Wildlife Refuge.
Yes Can you watch wildlife or birds here?
Yes — Fern Cave National Wildlife Refuge is a spot for wildlife and bird watching. Keep your distance and never feed animals.
Depends Can you bring a dog?
Often restricted to protect wildlife — many refuges limit or prohibit pets. Check this refuge before you go.
No Are drones allowed?
No — launching, landing, or operating drones is prohibited on National Wildlife Refuge land.
Nearby sites
Sauta Cave National Wildlife Refuge
CheckThis U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service site may charge a fee your pass covers — confirm before you go.
NPS Photo / Mary Dawson National Park Service Russell Cave National Monument
ConfirmedFree entry — there is no entrance fee here, so you won’t need your pass to get in.
