The primary attractions to this area are the two waterfalls along Frogtown Creek, which lead from the wooden bridge across from the Host Site. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash. You'll see the DeSoto Falls entrance on your right. Theres a decent area for parking and a pay for parking box. If you're looking to camp somewhere with exceptional hiking and beautiful waterfalls, Southeastern Tennessee locals know not to look further than Lookout Mountain. 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. For me, this was the perfect difficulty level. Everyone was still spaced out pretty well. In North Georgia, the Mountain Views are all but gone. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 48 min to complete. Had sunny weather and the water was inviting of a swim. Hike back up is a little tough. It was beautiful with lots of great scenery along the way to the falls! Note that this area is separate and several miles from the state park. Not hardy a flat spot on the entire hike. Well marked and maintained, beautiful views, perfect weather. Life vests & paddles are provided with kayak rentals. The rocky area is a little hard to navigate, but that can be expected. 50 steps, anddown to the railed overlook. The park has toilets and a store that sells shirts and drinks in a bottle. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. 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). Show more Show more Desoto Caverns , Alabama. The trails will be on the left. DeSoto State Park-Fort Payne, Alabama. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. This leads us to my million-dollar idea: "Let's bring a kayak!" I looked online to see if anyone had done this before, and besides one . You can choose Bluff trail or River trail. What a blessing to get to experience such beautiful scenery! Little Falls, also referred to as Martha Falls and the Hippie Hole by the locals, is a popular swimming hole a part of Little River Canyon National Preserve, located along the state line of Alabama and Georgia. We knew we would eventually have to lug the heavy kayak back up the path we struggled so hard to bring it down, but now was the time to reap our reward. The area to kayak was beautiful. So KEY THING: from the pull-off there are TWO trails that have been worn, one is a bit more obvious and leads to the left, this is the WRONG path. It is a difficult type hike with lots of rocks to navigate. Want to report conditions for this trail? Vintage 1956 Ford F-150 with Box 1/25 SEE . Youll proceed along a paved road that connects the parking lot to the DeSoto Falls camping area, where youll reach the wooden bridge that brings you to the trails. Beautiful chilly day nice for hiking. Fingers crossed! Didnt see much wildlife, just birds. To see the falls from the front, drive back a couple hundred yards on the road you came in on to the small parking lot at the trailhead. Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. Wear sneakers with grooved soles or hiking boots. The bottom of DeSoto Falls offers a less trafficked and less touristy view of the magnificent waterfall. Location given at time of registration. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash. November 2, 2019. 98% of travelers recommend this experience. This is a place where you can go and connect with nature and your friends and family. The DeSoto Falls are located in Lumpkin County in the Chattahoochee National Forest DeSoto Falls Scenic Area. I like climbing over rocks and roots though. Getting to the bottom of it - Idioms by The Free Dictionary. Set out on an adventure hike with DeSoto State Park staff to the bottom of one of Alabama's tallest waterfalls, DeSoto Falls! According to historical reports, a plate of armor once used by the explorer was discovered at the base of the falls in the 1880s. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. Drone video from a visit to DeSoto Falls and the Welsh Caves in Mentone, Alabama. View of the Desoto Falls and Basin from the river side. Print/PDF map. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. If the weather is questionable, please call the park before you leave home to check if the hike is still on (256.845.0051), Using a GPS or Phone to navigate to Desoto State Park & DeSoto Falls can be unreliable. I don't know how true it is that you can pick it up from Trials, but I have seen some reports so we can't rule it out just yet. Especially on this day it was very hot and barely any shade. Yep, us too. Best view of Desoto falls from end of trail. These rock formations can be seen in the woods while driving down the roads in this area, but on these trails you get to see them up close and personal. 100% of travelers recommend this experience. I thoroughly enjoyed this trail! Very scenic and lovely. We initially paid and parked at the dam area which is very nice and you can swim in it. "Two gorgeous waterfalls. We hiked the river trail and the waterfall was amazing In the winter and early spring the water level is high. We were surprised at the huge gap in the fencing that would allow children, pets, and people with no brains to access the flat rocks between the first and second cascades. It looked like a rough trip down and also getting in and out of water required climbing on stones. Small fee to park. Reservations are required to camp in this campground: Call 1-877-444-6777 or visit www.Recreation.govfor more info. Watch your footing! Overall this trail is easy because of the short distance. Desoto Falls: God's Country!! You can hike the easy 0.3-mile Helton Creek Falls Trail to see Helton Creek, two waterfalls, and a 100-foot vertical drop. We visited the falls on a cool and misty day in March when the water was high and the crowds were If you see a large boulder and power lines you are in the right place. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. Great afternoon hike. We stood here a long time enjoying the sounds and the overall beauty. Just challenging enough without being overly strenuous. .25 hike to lower falls and .75 to the upper falls. From packing the bags to arriving at Zion. By: There are some picnic tables about which were in use by families. Theyve started charging $4 parking so be prepared for that. A. Miller Dam & the upper falls can be seen by visitors of all abilities, but the lower or main waterfall requires a walk down 50 concrete stairs to the overlook. From there, the difficulties began. Highly recommended. [Updated September 30, 2021] Some experts suggest there are as many as 700 waterfalls in Georgia, although many of these remain remote and inaccessible to all but the hardiest of bushwhackers. Pretty easy trail, other than rocky terrain. Very rocky. Single Kayaks $15/hr.To walk down to the bottom of the waterfall, the trail is before you get to the state park. It took us about 1.5 hours to hike through all 3 trails. There is nearby parking but you will not be able to go below the falls. The lower falls is .3 miles downstream from the trail head, the second is .75 miles upstream. Great hike. Opportunity to swim once you are there if interested. We visited the falls on a cool and misty day in March when the water was high and the crowds were Beautiful location. In North America, he was the first European documented to have seen the Mississippi River. We walked deep into this rock feature and enjoyed the cooler air inside. Put this review in a time capsule and open it up in 20 years. Making the less than 1 mile trek at sunrise and in the rain didn't help, but the view and sandwich (bring your own) at the base of the falls is worth it. We hiked from here along the relatively easy and well-marked upper trail back towards the river until we reached some truly awesome overlooks where we could see the falls from the front. The waterfall was beautiful from the recent rain. These trails are labeled Moderate to Strenuous Terrain. 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. He said that the hike was more like a climb up a steep mountain with impassible rocks and thick tree coverage. $200.00 per adult Ultimate 100 mile Helicopter Tour in Chattanooga 13 Recommended Adventure Tours from $300.00 per adult 2.5-Hour Tour in Downtown Chattanooga 171 Recommended Walking Tours from $129.00 per adult Derailed: Trolley Tour and Train Ride in Chattanooga 25 Recommended Rail Tours from $57.05 per adult There is no overflow parking or parking alongside the road, so plan to arrive earlier or later in the day. Moderate 4.2 (629) DeSoto State Park. AMENITIES: One flush facility with warm shower, 4 chemical flush facilities, and drinking water from faucets centrally located in campground. They are huge and each beautiful in its own way. Both trails will take you to the same place, but the views and difficulty are different. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. But because we tried what others said would be too much work, we experienced what no one else ever has. Visit DeSoto State Park staff at the Millers Bend Paddle Shack located in the DeSoto Falls Picnic Area to help you begin your scenic kayak trip up the West Fork of Little River. The Outbound works best with JavaScript enabled. We enjoyed seeing all the vacation cabins and rentals and some of the properties were decorated for the holiday and the glow from them was cozy and inviting and really got us in the mood for the season. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. This quickly became a favorite for our family. Anna Ruby Falls. Vintage 1965 Chevy Corvette 1991 kit printed on bottom 1/25 SEE PICS. Great rock formations and views. Stair access is easy to maneuver. Connected by shaded brick sidewalks, shops, galleries, restaurants, and Stay up to date on everything dahlonega has to offer! I've lived in Alabama for two years now and still wonder how I just found this cave-waterfall combo. The trail is fairly simple with some rocky spots and a little steep. The serene beauty of Mentone, AL along with its close proximity to Chattanooga, Huntsville, Birmingham,and Atlanta drew us in. Caught the colors of fall. Adventure Hike-DeSoto Falls Basin. No conditions reported in the past 7 days. No overnight camping allowed, & trails close at dusk. It will go on my list of all-time greatest trips. How far is the hike to the swimming area? Beautiful trail to bottom of falls but NOT easy. Free shipping for many products! A beautiful forest filled with tumbling creeks and gnarly, leathery-leafed rhododendron. For those with no motility issues, there are viewing areas that require steps. That's why we send you the best local adventures, stories, and expert advice, right to your inbox. Pink blazes River trail, 200ft drop from the start, leads right to the bottom of the falls along the river, all level terrain, but rocky and rooty in some areas. Annual Pass to DeSoto Falls Picnic Area(PDF file). 96% of travelers recommend this experience. We are in our 70's and found it difficult, but not too difficult. Fee: Free, pre-registration is required so to know how many to expect. As I enter my sixth decade as a traveler and professional photographer, I cant begin to tell you the cost of expansion that Ive seen in these pristine areas. There is a $4 fee. A lot of rocks so be careful with ya ankles. Its easy to follow and beautiful scenery. The historic A. Length 2.3 miElevation gain 196 ftRoute type Loop. more, State Parks Mountains Nature & Wildlife Areas Waterfalls, Rappelling Adventure in Fort Payne Little River Canyon, Nickajack Bat Cave Kayak Tour with Chattanooga Guided Adventures, Chattanooga Make-Your-Own Custom Candle Crafts Class, Chattanooga's North Shore & Coolidge Park Guided Segway Tour, Swincar Backcountry Tour in Chattanooga (90min), Private Helicopter Lookout Mountain Tour from Chattanooga, Derailed: Trolley Tour and Train Ride in Chattanooga, Chattanooga "C-Block Prison Break" Escape Room Admission Ticket, Historic Downtown Chattanooga Segway Tour, Private Helicopter Tour of Downtown Chattanooga, Murder & Mayhem Haunted History Walking Tour, Chattanooga: City Trolley Tour with Coker Automotive Museum visit, Family-Friendly Ghost Tour in Chattanooga. Today, these North Georgia waterfalls are part of the 650-acre DeSoto Falls Scenic Area. You can also sometimes catch sight of Grace's Hi Little River Canyon is a loop trail that takes you by a waterfall located near Fort Payne, Alabama. Heading south on AL Hwy 89, take a left turn on Dekalb Country Road 613. So beautiful and I felt safe doing this hike alone. It looked fairly difficult and something I might not want to try. If you have anyone with mobility problems, there are places that they can view the falls. Good hike. GREAT trail! In the northeastern corner of Alabama on Lookout Mountain, near the town of Mentone, in DeSoto State Park, you find the most magnificent waterfall in Alabama, DeSoto Falls. From here, you begin to understand the magnitude of the falls. $$ - $$$ American Cafe Vegetarian Friendly. A lot of things to see along this trail. Just make sure to be careful while hiking around this area because the rocks can be very slippery. Youll see the DeSoto Falls entrance on your right. The views from here are awesome, even though you cannot see the falls from the front. more. Our GPS took us up a steep, twisting mountain road with crumbling pavement/shoulders and sheer drops; we discovered later that there are better routes. We drove all the way to the state park then had to back track to the falls a little ways back toward the main road. Can be tricky to find the trail at times, but like the description says, following the river will lead you there. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Follow that for 11 miles (merging with U.S. Hwy 19 along the way) and you'll see the DeSoto Falls entrance on your left. Its a little complicated to find if you dont follow separate directions as your GPS may not get you there directly depending on where you are coming from. Enjoyed all 3 trails, which were all well marked. 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. And, legend holds, the site where a piece . Discover the history of the area around DeSoto . Took the overlook trail there and back and then went to lower trail. Some elevation and sketchy rocks but overall easy to moderate. 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. Water began to pummel down on top of me and fill my kayak as I battled to get as close as possible. Loved this trail. We took turns paddling out to observe the waterfall and eventually had to carry the kayak back to the truck. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. Would like to look into that further. The sound of the rushing water of Little River drew us slightly off path across some large rocks to a few surprise adventures to see some additional spectacular views of Little River. Hike the easy-to-moderate half-mile trail from the parking lot to the foot of the falls, and you just might agree. Should you need to take a break, there is a bench part of the way down the trail for you to stop and rest. This is a popular trail for hiking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. Hope this helps. Hiking down to the base of the falls is well worth it and pretty simple. I am so glad we ventured a little further out from Martha's falls which was our primary destination. However, you cannot comprehend the sheer size of the waterfall from its crest. There were boulders to climb over, large rocks, roots, steep inclines and declines. Easy hike with some elevation & a fully charged waterfall. Learn about Little River, an outstanding water source with its clear water & plant & animal life. We hiked both trails. Carrying the kayak back up the mountain was even tougher than coming down. The swim to the waterfall wears you out. As an avid hiker who adores waterfalls for the peace, serenity, and energetic cleansing they provide, I generally prefer places that offer a sense of being immersed in the wilderness. Beautiful hike today. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. The wooden bridge is a picturesque spot from which to see the rhododendron, mountain laurel, and other North GA wildflowers growing along Frogtown Creek. Lots of mountain Laurel which will be beautiful in a few months. However, Im not sure there is a definitive lesson to be learned. According to legend Spanish armor belonging to the Spanish explorer Hernando De Soto or one of his men was found near here which led many to believe that the expedition passed through this region in 1540 in their attempt to find gold. There is access to the West Fork of Little River, over 35 miles of trails, and more waterfalls in the main park area of DeSoto State Park, which is located 7 miles away from DeSoto Falls area. Desoto Falls Bottom and Bluff Overlook Loop, Desoto Scout Trail North via Backcountry Trailhead, Little River Canyon National Preserve Backcountry. The blue dot on the map above is Lazy River Cottage. From Dahlonega GA, follow U.S. Highway 19 north for approximately 18 miles and youll see the DeSoto Falls entrance on your left. The one-mile descent takes you throughold growth pines and along small streams with bridges to cross. Did both trails to the falls, loved it! Overall DeSoto Falls is beautiful and recommend for a short day trip. 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