Directions: From Cherokee, AL, at the junction of US Hwy 72 and Natchez Trace Parkway, go north on the Natchez Trace Parkway for 9.8 miles to the parking area for Rock Springs Nature Trail on the right.

Description: Situated along the Natchez Trace Parkway, just north of the Tennessee River, this idyllic wooded area holds a 20-minute nature trail that follows Colbert Creek to Rock Springs. The creek is intermittently dammed by Beavers, crating an impressive wetland abounding with a variety of resident and wintering birds. The edges of the wetlands hold an abundance of orange jewelweed, which attracts hubdreds of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds each fall. Careful inspection of of the area has turned up several species that are only vagrants to Alabama in clusing Black-chinned and Rufous hummingbirds. Check the Natchez Trace Parkway in sping and early summer for neotropical including White-eyed, Yellow-throated, and Red-eyed Vireos as well as several breeding wood warblers such as Hooded and kentucky warblers and Louisiana Waterthrush. These waters also support the huge, but rarely seenHellbender - the largest species of salamander in North America.