DeSoto Falls Trailhead-Working Vehicles — Attraction in Fort Payne

While camping in Desoto State Park (May 2021), we made a trip to the Desoto Falls. As we heard it was busy on the weekends, we chose Tuesday to go to avoid the crowds. The picnic area at the top of the Falls does not open until 9 am, so we decided to hike the Desoto Falls Overlook Trail located outside the park first. The short, but rocky trail to the overlook was well worth the effort. At the end of the trail was a small rock outcrop that formed a smooth platform, just barely big enough for two adults to stand side by side. From this rock, you can view Desoto Falls from above. The Falls sit nearly center in a bowl of jagged rock cliffs and drop 104 feet into a large lake in the canyon below. The view was humbling.

After our hike on the overlook trail, we headed to the Desoto Falls picnic area to view the falls from the top. The picnic area has three levels to view the falls: From the top, looking over the dam, is the historic, but now defunct, A.A. Miller Dam built in 1925 for the first hydroelectric power in Alabama. Above the dam is a lake where visitors can swim, kayak, and canoe.

There is a set of concrete steps leading down from the top to the middle overlook. Each step is decorated in colorful reflective tiles, some spelling words of a famous naturalist, John Muir, a reminder that “Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul.” In the middle are a series of broad falls whee the water pools and channels before its final descent. Follow the path around the rocks and down to the lower overlook where you can see a ribbon-like side view of the 104-foot drop of the falls into the canyon. There is a trail that takes you to the bottom of the falls, but we did not do...

DeSoto Falls is a beautiful place to visit and is tucked away by a good hike. One route allows you to go to the overlook area and see above the quarry, and the other takes you down towards the water itself. Once you arrive to your destination it's definitely worth it. The water deep and colder the farther out you get which is nice during a hot summer day. I highly recommend swimming or tubing to the waterfall and going under the waterfall before you leave!

The hike is moderate, and definitely has you crawling over some rocks here and there so beware of that if you aren't able to do so it may be a tough hike but for most it's...

There is parking for over 20 car at the trailhead on 613 . Google will take you directly to it. the pink trail taking you to the base of the falls. 2 miles RT. moderate to difficult hike but well worth. just a little hike into the pink trail it will split , the left is pink and white .this will take you to the Ice cave then meet the pink trail almost by the river. the pink and blue trail take you to the over look .this trail s about .8 mile...