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This Mossy Forest In Alabama Transforms Into A Bioluminescent Wonderland At Night

Light up the night sky.
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Hidden deep in Alabama, there's an enchanting forest that holds secret magic. At twilight, the woods sparkle with bioluminescent light, a natural phenomenon that occurs in only a handful of places around the world. Dismals Canyon offers a bioluminescence night tour where you can watch as your surroundings glow with what looks like scattered blue stars. 

Located in Phil Campbell, AL, Dismals Canyon is approximately a two-hour drive from Birmingham. It was named after the bioluminescent creature that lives there, called dismalites. 

These dreamy critters can also be found in the state of Georgia and are close cousins to a similar bug found in New Zealand and Australia. 

When darkness starts to fall, these glow worms begin sparkling amongst the moss that covers the trees and rocky terrain in the canyon. 

Bring a flashlight and look carefully for these little guys inching across the canyon walls. During peak season, it will appear as though the forest is aglow with blue-green fairy lights. 

The Dismalite light show is strongest during the spring and fall seasons. Reservations for the guided night tour of the area will open after May 18.

The canyon is known for its captivating natural beauty and is considered a hidden gem in Alabama. The glowworms thrive in the state's humid and unique landscape.

According to Alabama Local, these tiny creatures even resemble star-shaped flowers under a microscope.

The canyon staff offers four tours per evening with up to 20 people in a group. The tour typically lasts about 45 minutes, and reservations are required before arrival.

This luminous adventure belongs at the top of your Bama bucket list. You can wander by waterfalls and watch the forest sparkle with bioluminescence. 

Dismalite Guided Night Tour

Price: $10 for adults (rates may vary)

When: Reservations available after May 18, 2020.

Address: 901 County Rd. 8, Phil Campbell, AL

Why You Need To Go: You can watch as Dismals Canyon transforms from a mossy forest into a glowing wonderland. 

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