DeSoto Falls is one of the tallest waterfalls in Alabama. The 107-foot falls, part of DeSoto State Park on Lookout Mountain, gets its name from Spanish explorer Hernando De Soto.
DeSoto Falls
Little River is the only river in the U.S. that flows for almost its entire length atop a mountain. It runs through the town of Mentone, Alabama and into Little River Canyon. DeSoto Falls cascades on the West Fork of the Little River.
After a drop from the historic A. A. Miller Dam, the river flows down the upper and lower falls. Plummeting into a round canyon, this scene creates an awe-inspiring landscape.
The dam was built in 1925 for northern Alabama’s first hydroelectric power plant.
Trails
There are two main areas to view the waterfall – DeSoto Falls Picnic Area and the DeSoto Falls Trailhead.
DeSoto Falls Picnic Area
The picnic area is off the Lookout Mountain Parkway, just seven miles from the main DeSoto State Park area. There is an easy path for views of the dam and upper falls. To see the lower falls, visitors must walk down 50 concrete stairs to an overlook.
DeSoto Falls Picnic Area
2024 Price: $4 per vehicle
The picnic area overlook gives a side view of the falls.
In addition to the waterfall, the picnic area offers picnic tables, grills, a small boat ramp, and art. Just next to the parking area, there is a mosaic of the waterfall.
I loved the beautiful mosaic on the stairs. Brittney Hughes and Linda Munoz designed the piece, titled A River Runs Through It. There is even a quote from John Muir.
Note: There are limited parking spaces, and the area fills up quickly on weekends.
DeSoto Falls Trailhead
The trailhead has two primary trails – the Overlook Trail and the River Trail. A short Bluff Trail splits from the River Trail to hug the bottom of the sandstone bluffs. These trails are considered moderate to strenuous.
The 0.7-mile River Trail follows a steep slope to the Little River and heads upstream to the DeSoto Falls Basin. Here visitors can view the falls from ground/river level.
We hiked the 0.5-mile Overlook Trail which leads to an overlook facing the falls.
This is the best view in my opinion because you can see the full length of the waterfall.
If you are interested in waterfalls, there are 5 more available in DeSoto State Park and an additional 3 in nearby Little River Canyon National Preserve.