Alabama Waterfalls: A little gift.

[Joshua Szulecki]

Note: I'm slowing writing a more detailed version of this list. See: http://www.alatrails.com/...dex.php/topic,1434.0.html

Hey folks,

Here is a outdated copy of my list of known or rumored Alabama waterfalls.

Probably around 15 that I know of aren't on there, just because I can't remember where I put the information, or because I just found out about them recently. Most of it is in my head, so...

Bankhead National Forest & Sipsey Wilderness - Winston & Lawrence

Counties
- Upper Caney Falls - (*)
- Eagle Creek Falls -
- Sougahoagdee Falls -
- Kinlock Falls -
- Auburn Falls -
- Fall Creek Falls -
- Lower Caney Falls -
- Unnamed Falls on Caney Creek Tributary Between Upper & Lower Caney-
- Shangri-La Falls -
- Collier Creek Falls -
- Coal Mine Branch Falls -
- Little Ugly Creek Falls (upper & lower) -
- Deer Skull Falls -
- Upper Hemlock Creek Falls (may not exist)
- Lower Hemlock Creek Falls -
- Wolfpen Creek Falls -
- Upper Turkey Creek Falls -
- Lower Turkey Creek Falls -
- Parker Falls -
- Parker Cascades -
- Unnamed Falls by Sipsey Pavillion 1-
- Unnamed Falls by Sipsey Pavillion 2-
- Unnamed Falls by Sipsey Pavillion 3-
- Quillian Cascades -
- School House Falls -
- West Bee Branch Falls -
- East Bee Branch Falls -
- Feather Hawk Falls -
- Upper White Creek Falls - (THIS is the one in "Alabama's Canyons" with the pool beneath it)
- Lower White Creek Falls -
- Walker Falls -
- Hurricane Branch Falls -
- Fountain Falls -
- Payne Creek Falls -
- Clifty Creek Falls -
- King's Cove Falls -
- Unnamed 100ft Waterfall -
- Falls on Lick Branch -
- Mize Mill Falls -
- Unnamed Tributary Falls off Turkey Foot Creek 1 -
- Unnamed Tributary Falls off Turkey Foot Creek 2 -
- Unnamed Falls Below Lower Caney Creek Falls -
- Devil's Well Cave Waterfall -
- Clear Creek Falls (bloop, bloop, in Lake Smith) -
- Little Roadside Falls Above Kinlock -
- Kinlock Chute -
- Jay's Secret Falls (you'd NEVER find these ones, there are three in a T format, and don't ask, I'm not telling ) -
- Seifried's Secret Falls (in a cove) -
- Waterfall on trail into West Bee Branch Canyon -
- The five seasonal falls on side streams along Eagle Creek -
- Davis Creek Falls (Sipsey) -
- Davis Creek Box Canyon Falls (Sipsey) -
- Holmes Chapel Falls (trib to Rush Creek)-


Claiborne Lake - Clarke/Monroe Counties
- Gullet's Bluff Falls -
- Silver Creek Falls -
- Unknown Falls on Silver Creek (p)

DeSoto State Park/Little River Canyon/Lake Weiss - DeKalb County
- Azalea Cascades -
- DeSoto Falls - (*)
- Grace's High Falls -
- Gregg's Two Falls -
- Johnnie's Creek Falls (p) -
- Indian Falls -
- Laurel Falls -
- Little River Falls - (*)
- Lodge Falls -
- Lost Falls -
- Yellow Creek Falls (p) -

Dismals Canyon
- Rainbow Falls -
- Secret Falls -

Talladega National Forest - All Falls Talladega County
- Cheaha Falls -
- Devil's Den Falls -
- High Falls -
- Salt Creek Falls -
- Shinbone Falls (near Shinbone Store)
- Hopeful Falls (near Camp Mac Lake)
- Nimblewill's Twin Falls (off Pinhoti near reservoir) -

Other Alabama Waterfalls North of Birmingham
- Ragsdale Falls (p) -
- Gulf Creek Falls (p) -
- Thompson Falls (p) -
- Ghost Creek Falls (p) -
- Unnamed Cascade on AL-227 -
- Unnamed Cascade on AL-68 -
- Escarpment Falls -
- Cinderalla Falls -
- Creek House Falls -
- Mardis Mill Falls -
- Butler Falls -
- Ditto Falls -
- The Fall Off -
- Griffin Falls -
- Little Falls -
- Quarter Creek Falls -
- Seven Falls -
- Short Creek Falls -
- Swindell Falls -
- The Falls -
- Welcome Falls (P) -
- Waterfall Creek Falls (Cane Creek Preserve) -
- Malone Branch Falls (Cane Creek Preserve) -
- Yellowwood Falls (Cane Creek Preserve) -
- Johnson Falls (Cane Creek Preserve) -
- Karen's Falls (Cane Creek Preserve) -
- Upper Pisgah Falls -
- Lower Pisgah Falls -



Other Alabama Waterfalls South of Birmingham
- Davis Falls (p) -
- Upper Davis Falls -
- Upper Upper Davis Falls -
- Weaver Falls (p) -
- Falling Rock Falls -
- Falls on Corn Creek -
- Wetumpka Falls -
- Satan's Garden/Great Falls -
- Hidden Falls -
- Chewlaca Falls (a) -
- Peavine Falls -
- Noccalula Falls -
- Longwood Falls (a) -
- Cedar Creek Falls -
- High Shoals Falls -
- Rendalia Water Falls (p) (I think this one is BS)-
- Rock Falls -
- Tallapoosa Falls (historical?) -
- University Falls -
- Village Falls -
- Mills Falls on Savage Creek in Cahaba WMA-
- Goggins Falls on Jessee Creek in Cahaba WMA-
- Fake Falls on US-280 -

Total: >120 natural non-seasonal, natural seasonal, and unnatural "waterfalls" by my definition in the state of Alabama.

KEY
(*) A must see waterfall
(a) Artificial
(p) Known to be on private property, may or may not be visitable.
(u) A rumored fall

- Joshua Szulecki / Simulposted to "Alabama Waterfalls" Flickr Group -

[Lostsheep]

Cool Joshua. That's a good bit of data you have there in regards to the falls. Glad to hear somebody is keeping up with some of it.

[toph]

There is no waterfall between upper and lower Caney that I'm aware of.  There's a feeder creek waterfall that joins in the pool at lower caney and several seasonal falls downstream of the lower.

I think the cave waterfall you are referring to is called the "Devil's Well".  Good luck finding someone to tell you where it's located...the locals keep that one very close to the vest.  From what I can tell of the sketchy pictures I've seen, to get to it requires a rappel into the cave of what looks to be about 80-100 feet through a pretty small entrance.

I'm curious about these:

- Little Ugly Creek Falls 1
- Little Ugly Creek Falls 2
- Deer Skull Falls
- Upper Hemlock Creek Falls - (*)
- Lower Hemlock Creek Falls -

Once you turn off of Eagle Creek onto Little Ugly, the first really significant waterfall you come to is Deer Skull Falls (which also has a little side feeder fall).  If you climb up above Deer Skull, there is a cascade of about 20-30 feet:

Alabama Waterfalls: A little gift.

Is this cascade what you are referring to as #1?  If so, is #2 above that?

As well, I wasn't aware of an upper and lower Hemlock...I thought there was just the one unless you are talking about one of the 1-3' drops below this one:

Alabama Waterfalls: A little gift.

If these others do exist, I've got more work to do myself!

[Joshua Szulecki]

Toph,

Both of those controversies are related to word of mouth or published information that I'm relying on, not visual confirmation, and hence should be taken with some skepticism.

Little Ugly Creek Falls 1 would be the one above Deer Skull. Little Ugly Creek 2 is one I'm not sure about, I know there is another waterfall in the area from word of mouth, but I've never seen it. It may also be the side falls to Deer Skull that has been referenced as the third Little Ugly waterfall.

As for Hemlock... I list two Hemlock falls because besides the one you posted a photograph of, Seifried shows a totally different waterfall in Alabama's Canyons than the one you've posted, claiming it is on Hemlock, too. One with a really cool, round plunge pool. If you own the book, see pages 38 and 39 for the photograph. Which direction did you come from on Hemlock, and how far did you get. I believe the waterfall Seifried shows in his book to be upstream from the one you posted, but I've never seen it with my own eyes.

As for Caney... I've seen what I think is a wet weather cascade of about 4-5ft between the falls. I don't think you've seen it because it has either been dry, or because it is between where you travel down and the creek, and thus not visible. I don't remember seeing a stream on that side of the creek, so it may just have been seepage that I saw. I don't have a picture, but I can tell you that it is opposite a steep gulley on the side of the creek closest to CR-2, closer to Upper Caney Creek Falls. it was dripping when I saw it, but it looked like it flowed.

As for "Devil's Well"... All I know about it is that it is called "Devil's Well" and it is located somewhere in the northeastern section of the wilderness. As I am not a climber, nor do I have any real interest in going in a cave that requires ropes, I haven't bother to make a serious search for it. Personally, I hate secrets on public property, but this is one that I'm interested in keeping secret, because of the vandalism that has already occurred, and the danger the spot poses. I've seen unclewayne_bama's photos on webshots at: http://outdoors.webshots....m/562612138iJJZUr?start=0

[Joshua Szulecki]

Toph,

My question is hidden in that post... Which way did you approach that Hemlock Falls you have a picture of? My understanding is that the really pretty one in Seifried's book is upstream of the one you have a picture of.

[SteveO]

Just a FYI, I trekked to Peavine Falls at Oak Mountain yesterday and it was really flowing. Biggest flow I have ever seen there.

[Joshua Szulecki]

SteveO,

Surprisingly, since the falls are usually pretty low most of the year, Peavine Falls was the first waterfall that really perked up. A lot of that is the nature of Peavine, which is on a highly seasonal creek with what appears to be a fairly low base level, but a pretty decent amount of water rushes through there after rain.

Some of the waterfalls up north could still use a little more water, but most of them are doing really good now. The stream levels have recovered, and now we are just working on getting the soil nice and wet, and recovering the water lost over the last few years. Of course, the latter will probably take years, but...

Thanks for the report!

[Joshua Szulecki]

A minor update:

1) I've added a few falls that have come to my attention since posting, or I forget previously. They are mostly in Bankhead and Talladega NF, and Cane Creek Preserve, but there are some others.
2) I can clear up the confusion about the Little Ugly/Deer Skull Falls stuff... There are three "waterfalls" at the site, Deer Skull Falls is the first and is on your right at the site, which nomenclaturally SHOULD be Little Ugly due to streamflow, but common usage trumps logic. The second and third are the same waterfall, which I'm calling upper and lower Little Ugly Falls, because the falls are actually split level, and there is enough of a separation between the drops that I'm okay splitting them or keeping them together.
3) I can also point to a recent thread to show the other Hemlock Falls Waterfall. http://www.alatrails.com/...ndex.php/topic,828.0.html I have to assume that either people are finding Wolfpen Falls and calling it Hemlock for the tall one Toph showed, or nobody is approaching in the direction that is required to clear the deadfall and get to this waterfall. Anybody got a picture of Wolfpen Falls?

[McDowra]

on your #2 I have a question. You have the 2 falls at deer skull   and a third waterfall on up little ugly about a 2-4 tenths of a mile up stream. Which are you calling which?

[Joshua Szulecki]

Crud.... I forgot about the one above...

The way I've been visualizing it is as follows...

This is Deer Skull Falls: http://www.szulecki.com/i...lides/EagleCreek0039.html
This is Upper/Lower Little Ugly Falls: http://www.szulecki.com/i...lides/EagleCreek0045.html
There is an unnamed cascade ABOVE Deer Skull Falls.

This is my interpretation based on what I've seen published and un-published, even though it is technically incorrect, because the one called Deer Skull Falls is actually on the main branch of Little Ugly Creek, and SHOULD be called Little Ugly. However, local naming trumps my logic, so Deer Skull it is. I am calling Little Ugly Falls (the side falls, which is larger) Upper and Lower because there is a decent staging of the waterfall, and it is described as two waterfalls in some sources.

I've never heard a name for the cascade/waterfall upstream on little ugly.

[cwhiker]

  : Joshua, thanks for reminding me of how many waterfalls I have yet get to and shoot  so when my husband complains I am telling him its all your fault. hehehe

[Joshua Szulecki]

I finally got a little done on my waterfall report for Alabama, which will probably be my last work on the subject.  I hope to work on it some more in the coming days. It is going to be a detailed listing of all the waterfalls in Alabama, with whatever information I have on them, and photographs where I have them, and links to places where you can find images of those I don't have pictures of. Since there are well over a hundred waterfalls that I already know of, it could take a while, but I want to get it done now while I can.

[McDowra]

I finally got a little done on my waterfall report for Alabama, which will probably be my last work on the subject.  I hope to work on it some more in the coming days. It is going to be a detailed listing of all the waterfalls in Alabama, with whatever information I have on them, and photographs where I have them, and links to places where you can find images of those I don't have pictures of. Since there are well over a hundred waterfalls that I already know of, it could take a while, but I want to get it done now while I can.

I think you have all the info for a great book! We have a great book on Canyons why not one on waterfalls?

[Joshua Szulecki]

McDowra,

I decided a while back I wasn't going to do a book, because I don't want to dedicate the time to hiking and re-hiking the falls to make trailguides, and to taking pictures. Besides, I'm still not sure when I can get back to Alabama.

Basically, what I'm going to do is put the information I have in a format that will allow somebody else to put out better free resource from it. I'd prefer it turn into a free resource than a paid book that wouldn't make any money for me anyway.

[cwhiker]

Joshua,
 what are you calling the Parker Cascades one  down stream of Parker falls or the set up stream of Parker falls

[Joshua Szulecki]

Parker Branch is a gap in my listings. There are several cascades and waterfalls that aren't on here just in that section of Sipsey. In this case it is the cascades BELOW Parker Branch Falls.

Keep in mind that this isn't a list of the waterfalls I have visited, many of these are word of mouth, and I've added them because they aren't published anywhere, or aren't well-known, or known at all. I'm missing some, particularly in Sipsey, where there are almost too many to keep track of.

[McDowra]

Joshua,
 what are you calling the Parker Cascades one  down stream of Parker falls or the set up stream of Parker falls

Learn something new everytime i read these forums! How far upstream is the cascade?

[cwhiker]

Joshua,
 what are you calling the Parker Cascades one  down stream of Parker falls or the set up stream of Parker falls

Learn something new everytime i read these forums! How far upstream is the cascade?

There are two up stream the first one is not far about a five minute walk if my memory serves. The second one is a bit further up stream just before you come to small section of private property well marked with forest boundary signs. if you go to my web site and look under Parker Branch the photos one and two are of the first set and photo four is of the second set.    

[Miner]

I hope to get to shoot a few of these this fall and winter. I really love to shoot in Bankhead.

[WolfVanZandt]

Wow. You can just go on and on listing waterfalls in Alabama. I didn't see the falls at Rock Mills.

The weekend before last I went down and took pictures of the nice little waterfall at River Falls near Andalusia. It's a 15 - 20 foot fall that's easy to access. Going from Evergreen to Andalusia, in River Falls, just before you cross the Conecuh River, take the road to the left and drive past a tire dealership.Take the right and drive over a wooden bridge. The road becomes dirt there. Park on the right side of the road and there's a trail just a ittle furter up that leads to the waterfall.

There's also a nice little waterfall below Fairfax, Alabama on the Moon property (I don't know if they'll still allow people on the property to look at it). It's about 10 feet and it's on a branch that flows into Osnippa Creek.

There are some spectacular falls near Five Points, Alabama on property owned by the Harmon's (of Harmon Trucking). I don't know if they'll let you on they're property but I've seen the falls on a brochure by the Lanett Chamber of Commerce.

There is also a small cascading waterfall on the campus of the Alabama Special Camp for Children and Adults (ASCCA) near Jacksn Gap A friend of mine and I found that one and they extended the boardwalk around the fishing lake to go up into the woods to it.

I plan to take some photos of the fall on Silver Creek as soon as I can (maybe this weekend if my sore jaw will allow it). The many Alabama waterfalls south of the fall-line fascinate me. Is there so many waterfalls south of the fall line in any other state? In fact, I don't know of a waterfall in Georgia south of the fall line, despite that honkin' huge ravine near Lumpkin.

If I can manage to get a digital camera, I plan to go county by county and scout out as  many falls as I can.

Thanks for the list Joshua.