Alabama Waterfalls

Alabama has a number of scenic waterfalls in the northern part of the state.

Azalea Cascade:

Trailhead GPS: 34.49898,-85.61779 (Talmadge Butler Trailhead Parking)

Waterfall GPS: 34.49730,-85.61985

Azalea Cascade is a small cascade on Laurel Creek in DeKalb County. The waterfall is located in DeSoto State Park. The hike to the falls is about a half-mile round trip and easy.

To visit the falls, head east from Fort Payne on AL-35 and turn left on DeSoto Parkway. Drive 5.6 miles to enter the park and park at the small lot on right at the trailhead for Talmadge Butler Boardwalk Trail. Follow the boardwalk under a quarter-mile to the end. Azalea Cascade slides down into a pool at the end of the boardwalk.

DeSoto Falls:

Trailhead GPS: 34.54929,-85.58992 (DeSoto Falls Parking)

Waterfall GPS: 34.54885,-85.59074

DeSoto Falls is a 100-foot waterfall on West Fork Little River in DeKalb County. The waterfall is located in DeSoto State Park, about 7 miles north of the main part of the park. The hike to the overlook to see the falls is very short and easy.

To visit the falls, head north from Fort Payne on US-11. At the split, bear right on Gault Avenue and go about 8.3 miles. Turn rigtht on AL-117 south and in a half-mile, turn right on County Road 613. This road becomes DeSoto Falls Road. Continue on this road a little more than a mile to the end at the parking area for DeSoto Falls. A short path leads to the top of the waterfall and an overlook.

Grace's High Falls:

Trailhead GPS: 34.35783,-85.67742 (Grace's High Falls Overlook on AL-176)

Waterfall GPS: 34.35591,-85.67939

Grace's High Falls is a 133-foot waterfall on a tributary of Bear Creek in DeKalb County. The waterfall is located in Little River Canyon National Preserve. You can only see it from a roadside overlook, so no hiking involved.

To visit the falls, head south from Fort Payne on Adamsburg Road. Drive 5.3 miles and turn right on County Road 255. In 2 miles, get on AL-176 west, which is the Little River Canyon Rim Drive. Go 1.9 miles and the overlook for Grace's High Falls will be on the left. It's a seasonal waterfall, so best to come after a good rain. At 133 feet, it's the highest above-ground waterfall in Alabama.

Indian Falls:

Trailhead GPS: 34.49898,-85.61779 (Talmadge Butler Trailhead Parking)

Waterfall GPS: 34.49849,-85.61674

Indian Falls is a 20-foot waterfall on Laurel Creek in DeKalb County. The waterfall is located in DeSoto State Park. The hike to the waterfall is very short and easy.

To visit the falls, head east from Fort Payne on AL-35 and turn left on DeSoto Parkway. Drive 5.6 miles to enter the park and park at the small lot on right at the trailhead for Talmadge Butler Boardwalk Trail. Cross the street and follow the path behind the maintenance building. A wooden footbridge goes over the top of the falls and you can scramble down the rocks to the base.

Laurel Falls:

Trailhead GPS: 34.49898,-85.61779 (Talmadge Butler Trailhead Parking)

Waterfall GPS: 34.49524,-85.62445

Laurel Falls is a 6-foot waterfall on Laurel Creek in DeKalb County. The waterfall is located in DeSoto State Park. The hike to the falls is about 1.5 miles round trip and moderate.

To visit the falls, head east from Fort Payne on AL-35 and turn left on DeSoto Parkway. Drive 5.6 miles to enter the park and park at the small lot on right at the trailhead for Talmadge Butler Boardwalk Trail. Follow the boardwalk under a quarter-mile to the end. From here, get on the blue-blazed Lost Falls Trail and hike about half a mile to the waterfall on the right.

Little River Falls:

Trailhead GPS: 34.39577,-85.62498 (Little River Falls parking)

Waterfall GPS: 34.39513,-85.62717

Little River Falls is a 45-foot waterfall in Cherokee and DeKalb Counties. The waterfall is located in Little River Canyon National Preserve. The hike to the falls is a short and easy stroll to an overlook.

To visit the falls, head south from Fort Payne on AL-35. Drive 7.6 miles to the Little River Falls parking area on the right, immediately after crossing the bridge over Little River. From the parking area, it's only a short walk down to the overlook to see this waterfall.

Lodge Falls:

Trailhead GPS: 34.49898,-85.61779 (Talmadge Butler Trailhead Parking)

Waterfall GPS: 34.49417,-85.61596

Lodge Falls is a small waterfall on a tributary of West Fork Little River in DeKalb County. The waterfall is located in DeSoto State Park. Its a short hike to the waterfall.

It's probably easiest to visit this falls from the lodge but we came from Talmadge Butler Trailhead. To visit the falls, head east from Fort Payne on AL-35 and turn left on DeSoto Parkway. Drive 5.6 miles to enter the park and park at the small lot on right at the trailhead for Talmadge Butler Boardwalk Trail. Cross the street and follow the path behind the maintenance building. A wooden footbridge goes over the top of Indian Falls. Past here get on the violet-blazed Wildflower Trail and go about a half-mile to the waterfall.

Lost Falls:

Trailhead GPS: 34.49898,-85.61779 (Talmadge Butler Trailhead Parking)

Waterfall GPS: 34.49473,-85.63181

Lost Falls is a 5-foot waterfall on Laurel Creek in DeKalb County. The waterfall is located in DeSoto State Park. The hike to the falls is about 2.5 miles round trip and moderate.

To visit the falls, head east from Fort Payne on AL-35 and turn left on DeSoto Parkway. Drive 5.6 miles to enter the park and park at the small lot on right at the trailhead for Talmadge Butler Boardwalk Trail. Follow the boardwalk under a quarter-mile to the end. From here, get on the blue-blazed Lost Falls Trail and hike just under a mile to the waterfall on the right.

Noccalula Falls:

Trailhead GPS: 34.03812,-86.02200 (Noccalula Falls Park parking lot)

Waterfall GPS: 34.04128,-86.02142

Noccalula Falls is a 90-foot waterfall on Black Creek in Etowah County. The waterfall is located in Noccalula Falls Park, a City of Gadsden Park. There is a $6 admission fee to enter the park, but you can make a short walk to see the falls without entering the park.

To visit the falls, head towards Gadsden. If coming from the north, take exit 188 from I-59 in Gadsden and follow AL-211 south for 2.8 miles and the park will be on the right. From the parking area, go right and follow the path towards the waterfall. There's good views of the falls from near the statue of Noccalula.

Poison Ivy Falls:

Trailhead GPS: 34.49007,-85.60835 (Gilliam Loop Trailhead Parking)

Waterfall GPS: 34.48656,-85.59846

Poison Ivy Falls is a tall waterfall on a tributary of West Fork Little River in DeKalb County. The waterfall is located in DeSoto State Park. The hike to the waterfall is about 3 miles round trip and somewhat difficult.

To visit the falls, head east from Fort Payne on AL-35 and turn left on DeSoto Parkway. Drive 5.4 miles to enter the park and turn right towards the lodge. Go under a mile to the end of the road at the parking area for Gilliam Loop Trailhead.

From the parking area, hike down either the Gilliam Loop Trail or the CCC Road. At the first intersection, turn left on DST Exit 1 and follow it down to the river. It's quite steep towards the end. At the river, turn right and follow DeSoto Scout Trail as it follows West Fork Little River. In under a mile, the waterfall will be on the right. This unnamed tributary is the major drainage between DST Exits 1 and 2. It's a very tall waterfall, but very much rainfall dependent. Best to visit after a heavy rain.