There's a swimming area above the dam, and several people were launching kayaks and paddleboards to go up river (kayak rentals not available on weekdays). A lot of rocks so be careful with ya ankles. I look back at this experience now and think how crazy it was that we accomplished this adventure. "Two gorgeous waterfalls. This difficult to follow trail is seldom traveled on, so keep your bearings and if you get stuck/lost, head down to the river and just follow it upstream to the falls. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 42 min to complete. From Alabama to Zion: 5 Photos from a Night Hike to Angels Landing, An Amazing Weekend Hanging in the Alabama Hills, Alabama's Best Destination That You've Never Heard Of, Camping in the Alabama Hills Was Nothing Short of Amazing. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Although the falls wasnt running a lot trails where still decent. Waking up to a front-row view of Mount Whitney will forever be one of my favorite memories. Pretty easy trail, other than rocky terrain. This is the easiest of the 3 trails, but still has beautiful views at its end. This site might be gone, but who will save whats left? Theyve started charging $4 parking so be prepared for that. It was exhausting and treacherous. Perks include free parking and free admission. It has become a place of refuge and rest for our family and we have been blessed to have the opportunity to make countless memories in this extraordinary area of the state. We immediately began down an extremely steep grade with just enough clearance on either side of the kayak. A. Miller Dam. This is one of my favorite spots in northeast Alabama. .25 hike to lower falls and .75 to the upper falls. The descent from Icebox Cave to the connection to the River Trail was steep and filled with rocks and roots, but worth it for the extra beauty this trail provides. We would love to host your next mountain getaway to Mentone, AL! Review tags are currently only available for English language reviews. I would call it moderate but the view of Desoto Falls was spectacular. Just take your time and choose your footing wisely. From here, you begin to understand the magnitude of the falls. In the winter and early spring the water level is high. The sound of the falling water created a tranquil feel as we navigated our way down this path. 50 steps, anddown to the railed overlook. We visited the falls on a cool and misty day in March when the water was high and the crowds were You can see why the sound of the river drew us to explore a little further. Nice place to bring a picnic lunch; good bathrooms. The view is from the top of the falls. If you have time you can also visit Laurel Falls and Lost. $20.00 + $12.55 shipping. There is a $4 fee. If you see a large boulder and power lines you are in the right place. The hike to the bottom of the falls is worth it. This weekend was filled with football, food, and outdoor fun. My hope is that someone will read this and do something to prove me wrong for future generations. Some on the trail was waterlogged from recent rains, but that made the falls even more stunning. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. We carried it along the overgrown trail until we ran into some hikers coming the opposite way who proceeded to tell us they had gone the wrong way. The rocks and roots make this trail moderate, but its a pretty easy hike. Loved this trail. There are no water hook-ups, electric hook-ups, or dump sites. There is no overflow parking or parking alongside the road, so plan to arrive earlier or later in the day. Saw a large turtle one time. Heading south on AL Hwy 89, take a left turn on Dekalb Country Road 613. Here you can see the waterfall spilling 35 feet into a pool of water surrounded by lichen-covered rocks and trees. Definitely bring a lot of water, it is easy to get dehydrated just as I did! There is a safety rail around all of the viewing areas. Location: 34.551712, -85.596281. For paddle shack hours, rental prices, & more info, seewww.alapark.com/kayak-little-river, Official Web site of Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, 2023 Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, DeSoto Falls Picnic Area 2022 DeSoto State Park, DeSoto Falls Picnic Area 2022 DeSoto State Park 1. The amount of water going over the falls depends on the amount of rainfall. Places to sit and easy to access. When you're exploring the wilderness, it's better to be safe than to be a statistic! We brought one kayak among the three of us so that two could be carrying the kayak while the third assisted through the difficult terrain. Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. I looked up to see what was like the worlds largest rain cloud repeatedly dumping every drop of water it could contain directly on top of me. Nice walk down stairs (love the mosaic tile artwork on the risers) to see the falls up close. DeSoto Falls is separate from DeSoto State Park for anyone wondering. My assumption is possiblely. This quickly became a favorite for our family. Check out our website at www.littlerivervacay.com for more information about Lazy River Cottage in Mentone, AL, just steps from DeSoto Falls and DeSoto Falls Trailheads. A little wet in spots, but the falls were spectacular! This leads us to my million-dollar idea: Lets bring a kayak! I looked online to see if anyone had done this before, and besides one professional riding his yak from the top of the falls to the bottom, I could find no evidence this had been done before. Its a good thing this trailhead is just a short walk from Lazy River Cottage. In regards to the other reviews about the difficulty in finding the trail - theyve recently added signs that take you directly to the base of the waterfall, so dont worry about that anymore. In North America, he was the first European documented to have seen the Mississippi River. What you are likely to find when you open the capsule is that the beautiful vistas and scenery are encroached upon to an extent where postcards will be your only glimpse of what this beautiful place looked like. From Helen GA, take U.S. 75 North for 8 miles, then turn right onto U.S. 129 North. $118,000. DeSoto Falls is one of the tallest and most visited waterfalls in Alabama; Named for Spanish explorer Hernando De Soto, the 107 foot waterfall & the picnic areais part of DeSoto State Park on Lookout Mountain. Vintage 1965 Chevy Corvette 1991 kit printed on bottom 1/25 SEE PICS. But this may not be your top pick if youre seeking moderately challenginghiking trails in North Georgiaor those breathtaking scenic views the Blue Ridge Mountains are known for. for being a Partner to the Alabama State Park System! We would love to host your next mountain getaway to Mentone, AL! It is a very popular trailhead and many weekends the parking area is full early in the day. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 42 min to complete. You do not have to pay to park at this trailhead location. Both trails start at the same place, following the pink trail markers on the trees. Easy to access and beautiful. Follow us on our Facebook and Instagram social media pages @littlerivervacay for more updates and pictures. Trail is easy to follow and the waterfall is beautiful. Some care more about the ease or beauty of the hiking trail. At the park you might want to arrive early, parking was packed and it's $4. The DeSoto Falls are located in Lumpkin County in the Chattahoochee National Forest DeSoto Falls Scenic Area. But for older hikers like us take your time. Single Kayaks $15/hr.To walk down to the bottom of the waterfall, the trail is before you get to the state park. Life vests & paddles are provided with kayak rentals. It's a little complicated to find if you don't follow . However, Im not sure there is a definitive lesson to be learned. One of our favorite things about this area of the state is all of the beautiful rock formations. We did all 3 trails. It was a good workout going back up the hill. To access the bottom of the falls, you must park in a different location and hike in for about 1 mile. Once we got to the falls its a great place to swim or just sit and relax. This can be a full day trip for the family if you choose to walk down to the bottom of the falls. Very rocky. One of the most popular waterfalls near Helen GA, DeSoto Falls is extremely accessible, with the smells of breakfast cooking and the sounds of laughter from the campsites echoing along the trail. I would recommend driving to the picnic area at the top of the falls first. You come around the corner of the steps goting down from the parking area and there it is!Surprisingly wide (it had been raining the prior three days) and actually spectacular. For a more private an intimate view, there is a pull off on the side of the road and trail access. We hiked both trails. We plan to go back this fall when the colors are changing to take more pictures to share with you and hope to be able to take a little more time next time to soak in all of the beauty for a little longer. This is a popular trail for hiking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. You can only get Bottom Dollar from Gambit, and possibly Trials of Osiris. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. The round-trip hike will be approximately 2.2 miles. Anna Ruby Falls. The campground is situated along Frogtown Creek with at an elevation of 2,080 feet above sea level, under a dense forest of deciduous and evergreen trees. Launch boats at the boat ramp above the A. No overnight camping allowed, & trails close at dusk. Not hardy a flat spot on the entire hike. I will definitely be taking my kayak next time to paddle around under the falls. more. Easy hike with some elevation & a fully charged waterfall. 100% of travelers recommend this experience. There wasn't much water going over the falls this day, but the scenery and falls are still impressive. It was a struggle to idle near the flume as the strong current pushed me away. Date of experience: August 2020. At the bottom of the descent, the Bluff Trail merged into the River Trail leading us to follow the pink trail markers once again to get to the DeSoto Falls Basin. Some folks focus on the sheer beauty of the waterfall. We could hear the repetitive sound of water crashing growing louder and louder. Are there any restrictions as to where they can go? No charge except for the $4.00 per vehicle parking fee. Loved it. It is not possible to view the entire falls at once at this site, but the view is still stunning. We highly recommended closed toed shoes with good gripping soles for the uneven terrain. Things to bring: Plenty of water and/or sports drink, snacks/lunch, hiking poles/staff (optional), sturdy shoes (open toe shoes are not recommended), WEATHER: Please be sure to dress appropriately according to seasonal temperatures/weather. Email. We visited the falls on a cool and misty day in March when the water was high and the crowds were Beautiful location. 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