Dense woodlands, seasonal wildflowers and spectacular views await. DESOTO'S TRAILS FROM ALABAMA THRU TENNESSEE AND KENTUCKY. The park shares a name with DeSoto Falls, a spectacular 107 foot waterfall located less than 6 miles from the main part of the park. Featuring a lodge, country store and park trails, this 3,502-acre park is great for the entire family. Though this trail is known for its immense scenic beauty, it is studded with rocky points, and it is advisable that hikers explore the area in new hiking boots. Alabama's De Soto State Park offers about 15 miles of mountain bike trails. DeSoto State Park is a singletrack mountain bike trail in Ft. Payne, Alabama. facebook/DeSoto State Park~Fort Payne, Alabama If you enjoy hiking, biking, or any other outdoor recreational activity, you'll most certainly want to visit DeSoto State Park. DeSoto Falls is about 6 miles from the main part of DeSoto State Park, near Mentone, Alabama and is accessible by County Road 89 that goes thru the park. 5/31/2016 13 Comments Alabama's Little River is one of the few rivers in the United States that flows along a mountaintop. By Anthony W. Dillard. DeSoto State Park perches on the ridge of Lookout Mountain in northeastern Alabama, eight miles northeast of Fort Payne, DeKalb County.The park is named after Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto, who according to local legend passed through the area in 1541; most authorities, however, believe that the expedition passed well to the south. Including options for family fun, birthday parties, school groups, field trips, scouting trips, overnights, outdoor adventure, and more! Payne, AL. DeSoto Trail accross Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi. A better hike to see Desoto Falls has a trail head located before you enter the entrance fee area. Experience the best of Alabama– from world-class golf & award-winning cuisine to the best ... Educational complex featuring reception areas, meeting rooms, library, gift shop, museum, amphitheater, walking trail and more. DeSoto Falls is part of the state park, but located about 7 miles north of the main part. Directions The central trail head is accessible from DeSoto Parkway 1/2 miles from the back entrance. Hernando De Soto in Alabama De Soto Trail . 1. ... that sells shirts and drinks in a bottle. The park provides both lodging and camping, motel rooms, log cabins, rustic cabins, mountain chalets, and 94 full hook-up RV or tent campsites. . DeSoto Falls is a magnificent waterfall located in the town of Mentone near Fort Payne, Alabama. ... DeSoto Falls is separate from DeSoto State Park for anyone wondering. Cheaha’s Bald Rock and Pulpit Rock trails both have excellent views. Cheaha is the highest point in the state at 2,407 feet above sea level. Laurel Falls: This small but beautiful waterfall can be found off of the orange trail and falls about 6 feet. THE ROUTE PURSUED BY DE SOTO THROUGH ALABAMA. Waterfalls are the key feature of DeSoto State Park, located in northeastern Alabama on top of Lookout Mountain. In the 1920s North Alabama's first hydro-electric dam was built above DeSoto Falls, which supplied power to nearby Fort Payne, Mentone, Valleyhead, Collinsville , Alabama and Menlo, Georgia. The state park covers 3,502 acres (1,417 ha) of forest, rivers, waterfalls, and mountain terrain. Many suggest that trail led to the … De Soto Falls Trail System, Mentone, Alabama. Monte Sano has views of the Tennessee Valley along the Warpath Ridge Trail and its overlook. The headwaters of both the West Fork and East Fork of the Little River are in northwest Georgia on Lookout Mountain. Location: 34.550775, -85.597824. The falls and park facilities are at the end of DeSoto Falls trail, and there is even picturesque DeSoto State Park Lake to enjoy above the falls with a small fall over its dam. If traveling from the main entrances on Lookout Mountain Parkway, turn onto DeSoto Parkway. Overlooks provide views of the beautiful falls. The trail runs downhill along the power line and to the left, below the boulders. By Sandra Hughes, August 17, 2010. This page deals with DeSoto's trail between Mabila and the Great River. If time allows, explore more of DeSoto State Park with a moderate 2.3-mile loop trail called Laurel Falls and Lost Trails Loop. This trail is a bi-directional loop trail. There are some great hiking trails and six smaller waterfalls to see in the … Our park is packed with rides, attractions, and tours, there's fun for everyone. II. View maps, videos, photos, and reviews of DeSoto State Park bike trail in Ft. Payne. Birders enjoy the trail for both woodland songsters-Kentucky and Hooded Warblers, Scarlet Tanagers and Yellow-throated Vireos. DeSoto Falls, DeSoto State Park, DeKalb County One of the state’s largest falls, especially after rain. Part of the Alabama Birding Trails. There are also many smaller falls located along the hiking trails inside of DeSoto State Park. It’s a nice park but the gravel sites overall looked a little unleveled. DeSoto Falls is about 6 miles from the main part of DeSoto State Park, near Mentone, Alabama and is accessible by County Road 89 that goes thru the park. Continuing in the rustic rustic tradition of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), DeSoto State Park is nestled atop scenic Lookout Mountain. An easy trail at DeSoto State Park that's perfect for all skill levels is the Talmadge Butler Boardwalk Trail. Nestled atop beautiful Lookout Mountain, DeSoto State Park offers indoor space with a rustic and historic décor and outdoor space surrounded by scenic views, lush woods, wildflowers, and picturesque waterfalls. The … DeSoto Trail. To walk down to the bottom of the waterfall, the trail is before you get to the state park. The Highway Route The Highway Route of the De Soto Trail is intended to follow the actual trail as closely as major highways permit. The DeSoto Canyon Floor trail begins at a parking area pull-off on the road down to Desoto Falls Lake (look for the "no camping" sign). Although he never found gold on Lookout Mountain, he found "a way over rough and lofty ridges." This is one of the non-technical trails at DeSoto State Park. Visit DeSoto State Park & dine in the historic Mountain Inn Restaurant. Find the park’s main entrance at 7104 DeSoto Parkway NE, Fort Payne, 256-845-5380. For those with wedding bells during the autumn months, this resort park is considered a premier fall foliage destination for the state of Alabama. Starting on the wooden walkway from the parking lot, the eastern loop combines the Red, Orange, and Blue trails for a 2.4-mile loop that explores a mixed deciduous forest on gentle terrain. 11 likes. Desoto is home to several seasonal waterfalls that you can see when hiking along the 28 miles of trails on the park property. DeSoto Caverns is Alabama's Big Cave & More! Located just 90 minutes outside of Huntsville, Desoto State Park is a hidden gem. ... We decided to take a weekend RV camping trip to DeSoto State Park in Mentone/Ft. After visiting DeSoto Falls, we had some extra time and decided to visit the state park. These … DeSoto Scout Trail It starts from the Comer Scout Reservation, passes through the DeSoto State Park, and ends at the Little River in the Canyon National Preserve in the West Fork area. Single Kayaks $15/hr. "Wacky Park Attractions" Always something fun for everyone! Take a right onto the CCC Quarry Trail directly across from the exit of the Campground Trail (Silver Trail). More than 100 feet high, the waterfall flows year round and is part of DeSoto State Park. Take the pathway down to the falls themselves and continue down to the end of the railed section on the right for a truly harrowing view of the falls overhanging the basin with no railing. It's accessible year-round and is quite popular during the spring months. 1/2 mile past the campground entrance, you will see a parking lot on the right. When finished, you backtrack to the Country Store area at the point where you came out of the woods before. De Soto Trail Marker. This unique restaurant is located in the original Lodge built by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the mid 1930s and is nestled on a canyon-edge overlooking the West Fork of Little River. Autumn scenery can be found at DeSoto State Park at Little River Canyon and DeSoto Falls. DeSoto State Park is a public recreation area located on Lookout Mountain 8 miles (13 km) northeast of Fort Payne, Alabama. This ride is named for Hernando de Soto, one of the Spanish conquistadors who explored Lookout Mountain and Sand Mountain in search of gold in the summery of 1540. With over 20 "wacky" attractions - including our three-quarter acre Lost Trail Maze, Panning for Gemstones, and the always popular Wacky Water Golf - we're sure you'll have a great time at DeSoto Caverns Family Fun Park. Fray Doming in Coosa, 1560, Priestley Luna Papers Written by Donald E. Sheppard It took the army 40 days to march it, but is highly contested in destination. Desoto State Park is located in the foot hills of the Appalachian Mountains in the city of Fort Payne, Alabama. This 1,000-foot-long trail is one of Alabama's most popular boardwalk trails. NORTH GEORGIA & ALABAMA DESOTO'S DEEP AMERICAN CONQUEST TRAILS BATTLE of MABILA "There is a mountain range to the north of Coosa, which runs east and west. The boardwalk is 360 yards long through wooded slopes and moist forest floor. DeSoto State Park ‘s Talmadge Butler Boardwalk Trail (previous name-Azalea Cascades Trail) is also part of the Alabama Birding Trail’s North Alabama Trail (Site #47, Northeast Loop). Intro. Madison, Alabama 1,282 contributions 150 helpful votes +1. This 4.2-mile figure 8 in DeSoto State Park is one of Alabama's best kept trail secrets. The rustic cabins, motel and campsites make it easy to satisfy your family’s needs, and they create a perfect opportunity to unplug and relax for a weekend or longer. Inscription. DFCF003. A 4.5-mile segment (one way) runs through Little River Canyon National Preserve as it follows the West Fork of the Little River. Also available are a restaurant, meeting rooms, motel, chalets, cabins, campground, picnic area, nature center, hiking, pool, ADA-accessible playground, and boardwalk trail. DeSoto State Park 's Talmadge Butler Boardwalk Trail (previous name-Azalea Cascades Trail) (Site #47, Northeast Loop) allows the birder to enjoy both woodland songsters-Kentucky and Hooded Warblers, Scarlet Tanagers and Yellow-throated Vireos and displays of native wildflowers and blooming shrubs. From a boulder field, turn left onto the old dirt path. It is fairly high and well wooded, but up to this time we do not know where it begins or ends." Stop by and see falls that plunge 104 feet. The DeSoto Scout Trail is a 16-mile trail that begins at the Comer Scout Reservation (north of DeSoto State Park on CR 89). DFCF002. DeSoto State Park offers more than 30 miles of hiking and biking trails. NO. 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