Looking for stunning waterfalls tucked into lush forests and rocky canyons? I’ve explored trails all over Alabama, and I’m always amazed at the natural beauty waiting just off the beaten path. In this post, I’ll take you to some of my favorite spots—where sandstone cliffs, shady woods, and rushing streams come together in the most scenic ways. These waterfalls in Alabama offer epic views, peaceful hikes, and even a few hidden swimming holes—perfect for cooling off on a warm Southern day.
Waterfall Highlights I’ve Loved Exploring:
- DeSoto Falls in DeSoto State Park – I stood at the overlook here and couldn’t believe how massive and beautiful the falls were. It’s one of those spots that makes you stop and just soak it all in.
- Noccalula Falls in Gadsden – This one flows right through town, but still feels wild. I’ve watched it from the top and hiked down for different views—both are worth it.
- Caney Creek Falls in Bankhead National Forest – I took a peaceful hike through the woods to get here, and the tucked-away waterfall felt like a secret oasis. The trail’s quiet, and the reward is pure magic.
- Little River Falls in Little River Canyon National Preserve – The views here are incredible. I’ve stopped at multiple overlooks, and the combination of canyon walls and crashing water never gets old.
- High Falls Park – This one’s a bit off the radar, but it’s a gem. The natural rock bridge and turquoise pool make it feel like something out of a fairytale. I’d go back in a heartbeat.
Best Waterfalls in Alabama
Caney Creek Falls - 1.5 hours from Birmingham
Caney Creek Falls felt like it belonged in another world. The hike wasn’t long, but it dipped through woods thick with ferns and shadows, the kind of forest that makes you lower your voice even when you’re alone.
When I reached the falls, I stopped — not out of breath, just in awe. Water poured over a rock ledge in a wide, silky sheet, dropping into a shallow, mossy pool. The air felt cooler down there, the kind of quiet that wraps around you. I stood beneath the overhang and thought, This is what it feels like when a place lets you in.
After the hike, I drove into Double Springs and found a no-frills diner where I had a roasted veggie plate with cornbread and turnip greens. It smelled like home cooking and tasted like something earned.
Caney Creek Falls At a Glance
- Location: Near Bankhead National Forest, Double Springs, AL
- Trail: ~1.5 miles round trip, moderate incline
- Height: ~20 feet
- Best Time to Visit: Spring or after rainfall
- What to Bring: Hiking shoes, bug spray, respect for private property near trailhead
- Food Nearby: Chef Troy’s Talk of the Town, Double Springs, AL
Cheaha Falls - 1.5 hours from Birmingham
I started the hike to Cheaha Falls under a wide-open sky, the kind that makes even a paved road feel like an invitation. The trail followed the Chinnabee Silent Trail through tall pines and soft ground. I could hear the creek before I saw it, bubbling through rocks with a kind of eager energy.
When I reached the falls, they weren’t tall — maybe 30 feet at most — but the way they slipped over the layered stone and into the clear pool below made me pause. I sat on a warm rock, shoes off, toes in the cold water, and thought, Some places don’t need drama — they just need a little space to breathe.
Afterward, I drove down to the Cheaha State Park restaurant and had a grilled veggie sandwich with sweet potato fries. The view stretched out all the way to Georgia. The sandwich was smoky and crisp, and I stayed longer than I meant to.
Cheaha Falls At a Glance
- Location: Talladega National Forest, near Cheaha State Park
- Trail: ~2 miles round trip on the Chinnabee Silent Trail
- Height: ~30 feet over rock ledges
- Best Time to Visit: Spring for lush greens and full flow
- What to Bring: Plenty of water, trail shoes, towel for dipping
- Food Nearby: Cheaha State Park Restaurant, 19644 Hwy 281, Delta, AL
Chewacla Falls - Just minutes from downtown Auburn
Chewacla Falls was the kind of place that makes you want to stay all afternoon. Located right in Chewacla State Park, it’s easy to reach, and by the time I stepped onto the dirt trail, I could already hear the water doing its thing — tumbling off the dam, spilling into the swimming hole below.
It wasn’t a natural waterfall in the strictest sense, but it didn’t matter. Kids were jumping off rocks, families were picnicking, and I found a shaded patch where I sat cross-legged watching it all unfold. I thought, This might not be wilderness, but it’s exactly what I needed.
I grabbed lunch nearby at Byron’s Smokehouse — veggie sides galore and a cornbread muffin that tasted like sweet corn and sunshine. I sat at a picnic table out back, still damp from the mist.
Chewacla Falls At a Glance
- Location: Chewacla State Park, Auburn, AL
- Trail: Short walk from parking; trails loop through the park
- Height: ~30 feet, cascading over a dam
- Best Time to Visit: Late spring through summer
- What to Bring: Swimsuit, towel, folding chair
- Food Nearby: Byron’s Smokehouse, 436 Opelika Rd, Auburn, AL
Cold Water Falls - 1 hour from Huntsville
Cold Water Falls sits right in Spring Park, but it doesn’t feel like your typical city attraction. The waterfall was built by hand — every stone placed with purpose — and the result is a wide, curved cascade that flows with real grace.
I visited in the early morning when the mist was still lifting and the park hadn’t quite woken up. Birds called from the trees, and the sound of the water bouncing off the stones felt almost like background music. I leaned against the railing and thought, This is what happens when people work with nature, not against it.
For lunch, I stopped at George’s Steak Pit, where I ordered a grilled vegetable platter and a warm roll slathered in butter. It smelled like rosemary and smoke. I sat near the window, still thinking about how that waterfall felt like a collaboration.
Cold Water Falls At a Glance
- Location: Spring Park, Tuscumbia, AL
- Trail: Paved paths throughout the park
- Height: ~80 feet wide and ~40 feet tall
- Best Time to Visit: Spring or summer for full flow and flowers
- What to Bring: Camera, walking shoes, relaxed pace
- Food Nearby: George’s Steak Pit, 1206 Jackson Hwy, Sheffield, AL
DeSoto Falls - 10 minutes from Fort Payne
DeSoto Falls didn’t sneak up on me — it announced itself. The overlook at DeSoto State Park gave me a head-on view of water plunging 107 feet into a deep, rocky gorge, framed by steep cliffs and treetops.
I stood at the stone wall, wind pushing the mist up toward me, and thought, If Alabama has a crown jewel, this might be it. The water was white and wild, loud but beautiful, and it felt like the whole landscape had been built just to spotlight it.
After hiking some of the surrounding trails, I ate at Wildflower Café in Mentone — roasted vegetable pasta with lemon basil dressing and a slice of tomato pie. The basil hit first, bright and green, and the pie was buttery and rich. I didn’t rush it.
DeSoto Falls At a Glance
- Location: DeSoto State Park, near Mentone, AL
- Trail: Paved path to overlook, longer trails nearby
- Height: 107 feet
- Best Time to Visit: Spring and early fall for full flow and color
- What to Bring: Binoculars, camera, trail map
- Food Nearby: Wildflower Café, 6007 AL-117, Mentone, AL
Devil's Den Falls - 45 minutes from Fayetteville
The name might sound ominous, but Devil’s Den Falls is pure calm once you’re there. The hike through the Talladega National Forest started off quiet — a pine-scented trail alongside a trickling creek. It felt like the forest was watching but not judging.
When I reached the falls, they were framed by rock ledges, cascading into a clear, round pool. The whole scene was tucked into a hollow, like a hidden sanctuary. I took off my shoes, stepped into the shallows, and thought, This is the kind of silence you earn.
After the hike, I drove into Lineville and ordered a black bean burger and sweet potato chips at a roadside diner. The burger was crisp and peppery, the chips still warm, and I ate them on the tailgate with damp hair and trail dust on my socks.
Devil’s Den Falls At a Glance
- Location: Cheaha Wilderness, Talladega National Forest
- Trail: ~1.5 miles out and back (Turnipseed Trail)
- Height: ~15 feet
- Best Time to Visit: Spring or after rainfall for best flow
- What to Bring: Water shoes, towel, light pack
- Food Nearby: Homecoming Café, 86545 AL-9, Lineville, AL
Falling Rock Falls - 50 minutes from Birmingham
This one felt like a local secret. The trail near Montevallo wasn’t marked by anything fancy — just a dirt path leading into quiet woods. But after a short hike, I heard it: water slipping over limestone in a smooth, graceful curtain.
Falling Rock Falls wasn’t loud or tall, but it had presence. I walked behind the cascade, where sunlight filtered through water and turned everything golden. I stood in the hollow behind the fall and thought, Every waterfall has a front, but this one lets you in through the back door.
I stopped at Eclipse Coffee & Books on the way out for a roasted veggie panini and a lemonade that tasted like fresh air. It was quiet inside — bookshelves, soft music, and that post-hike glow settling in.
Falling Rock Falls At a Glance
- Location: Near Montevallo, AL (Falling Rock Falls Park)
- Trail: ~1 mile out and back, unmarked but well-worn
- Height: ~30 feet
- Best Time to Visit: Winter or spring for reliable flow
- What to Bring: GPS pin, shoes with grip, patience on the drive
- Food Nearby: Eclipse Coffee & Books, 1032 Main St, Montevallo, AL
Grace's High Falls - 1 hour and 30 minutes from Birmingham
Grace’s High Falls isn’t always flowing, but when it is, you don’t forget it. I heard it before I saw it — a distant thread of sound unraveling through the trees at Little River Canyon National Preserve. It’s the tallest waterfall in Alabama, but from the overlook, it felt more like a sudden gesture from the cliffs themselves.
The waterfall streamed down like a ribbon, thin but strong, disappearing into the dense forest below. I stood at the viewing platform, wind tugging at my sleeves, and thought, This isn’t the kind of waterfall you walk up to — it’s the kind you respect from a distance.
After the stop, I drove into Fort Payne and had a warm vegetable soup and cornbread at The Spot Coffee Shop. The soup smelled like rosemary and garlic, and I ate with my elbows on the table, still listening for the echo of the falls.
Grace’s High Falls At a Glance
- Location: Little River Canyon National Preserve, near Fort Payne, AL
- Trail: Accessible overlook; no direct trail to the base
- Height: ~133 feet (seasonal flow)
- Best Time to Visit: After steady rainfall; late winter through spring
- What to Bring: Binoculars, rain gear, thermos
- Food Nearby: The Spot Coffee Shop, 101 Gault Ave N, Fort Payne, AL
Griffin Falls - 1 hour and 20 minutes from Birmingham
Griffin Falls felt like I’d stumbled into someone else’s secret. The hike near Collinsville wasn’t well-marked, and I had to trust my gut (and GPS) more than once. But when I reached the falls — cascading off a rocky ledge in a burst of light and sound — I knew I was in the right place.
The water dropped fast and clean, catching sunlight just enough to sparkle. I climbed down to a boulder near the base and sat still, the rock warm beneath me. I thought, Some places aren’t easy to get to — and that’s exactly why they stay magic.
After the hike, I grabbed a veggie quesadilla at a gas station café that turned out to be surprisingly good. It was melty, peppery, and tasted even better sitting in the driver’s seat, windows down, shoes still damp.
Griffin Falls At a Glance
- Location: Near Collinsville, AL
- Trail: Unmarked trail, ~1 mile round trip
- Height: ~40 feet
- Best Time to Visit: Late winter or spring for steady flow
- What to Bring: Offline map, sturdy shoes, good instincts
- Food Nearby: Local café near AL-68 (ask a local, trust the smell)
Waterfalls in Alabama: Final Thoughts
Alabama’s waterfalls aren’t always easy to find. Sometimes they’re tucked behind trailheads that look more like logging roads. Other times they’re part of a city park with families tossing bread to ducks. But each one gave me a piece of something real — a moment I didn’t know I needed until I was already standing in it.
From the sweep of DeSoto Falls to the quiet shimmer behind Falling Rock, I felt the state’s pulse in the water, in the trees, in the red dirt under my boots. I remember thinking, This is where stillness lives — not in silence, but in places that don’t need to shout to be heard.
If you ever find yourself in Alabama, don’t rush. Take the back roads, follow the trail signs even if they’re crooked, and listen for water. It’ll lead you where you need to go.
Jump to a Spot...
- • Caney Creek Falls - 1.5 hours from Birmingham
- • Cheaha Falls - 1.5 hours from Birmingham
- • Chewacla Falls - Just minutes from downtown Auburn
- • Cold Water Falls - 1 hour from Huntsville
- • DeSoto Falls - 10 minutes from Fort Payne
- • Devil's Den Falls - 45 minutes from Fayetteville
- • Fall foliage next to a waterfall
- • Falling Rock Falls - 50 minutes from Birmingham
- • Grace's High Falls - 1 hour and 30 minutes from Birmingham
- • Griffin Falls - 1 hour and 20 minutes from Birmingham