DeSoto State Park/LRC Waterfall Circuit Drive-Hike

DeSoto Falls

- From the park sign, keep driving past the lodge road, past the country store, and follow the signs for , proceeding towards Mentone on CR 89.

- After a few miles you will encounter an intersection atop the mountain, with an electrical substation on the right. Turn right, following the signs, passing the substation, and entering the DeSoto Falls parking area. The falls is located at 34.54889N, -85.59056W, that's 34 32' 56”N -85 35' 26”W.

- From the parking area, head towards the dam, and you will see the short concrete path to the top overlook. More adventurous persons can somehow reach the bottom of the falls, but we have a busy schedule.

Azalea Cascades/Laurel Falls/Lost Falls

- From DeSoto Falls, go back the way you came and return to the main park area, proceeding just slightly past the little store/info center in the park, and locating the Azalea Cascades Boardwalk parking area on the right. Park.

- Follow the boardwalk until it ends. There's Azalea Cascades. This area, along with both the orange, red, and blue trails, are wildflower hotspots during the spring.

- Turn around, and locate the trail on the boardwalk side of the creek heading uphill. It should be blazed either red or orange.

- Hike up the hill, keeping a close watch for a trail on your right. It has either a red or orange blaze. Follow it through a big rock cut and uphill. Soon you will encounter the orange trail, and when you do, turn left. Proceed past the trail leading to the campgrounds, staying to the left when you meet it, remaining on the orange trial. Follow the orange trail around ¼ to ½ a mile, keeping a close eye out for a concrete “rock” on your left that says “Laurel Falls”. Follow the side trail to the falls.

Laurel Falls

- Return to the orange trail, resuming your previous direction, and hike another ¼ to ½ a mile looking for a similar “rock” that says “Lost Falls”, and follow that side trail.

Lost Falls

- Return the way you came.

- Return to your car.

** Take note, the blue trail is much more scenic, but much longer and more strenuous, and additionally, Laurel Falls is difficult to reach from it, ignoring that neither Laurel or Lost falls are labeled on the blue trail. Both the orange and blue trails lead to a lovely rocky area with lichen and moss upstream from Lost Falls. Also note that the area around both falls is slick and dangerous. Keep an eye on yourself and your children/pets. The orange trail is very rocky.

- Return to the parking area the way you came, grab a drink and maybe a snack. Remove the pebbles from your shoes, and get ready to hit the last two falls in DeSoto State Park.  

Indian Falls

- Okay, here's the hard one. Look across the street from the parking area. See that fenced building? It is a sewage treatment plant. Suppress your disgust and walk towards it, crossing the street carefully, being sure to look both ways and hold hands.

- You'll notice a sign pointing right towards “Indian Falls”, go right. There's another sign at the end of the fence pointing left towards “Indian Falls”, go left. See the bridge? Cross it. Enjoy the falls.

Lodge Falls

- Go back to your car.

- Get in. Start it. Exit the parking area to the right, heading away from the store. Keep an eye out for a road on the left with a sign for the lodge. Go to the lodge.

- Park in front of the lodge. Behind the lodge's hotel segment to the left of the lodge is “Lodge Falls”, which can be reached by walking down the concrete walkway of the hotel, then crossing the stream and following the signs. It is hidden somewhat, but if you ask in the lodge, they'll help you.

Little River Falls

- Go back to your car.

- Get in. Check mirrors. Start it. Exit the parking area, and head back the direction you originally came from, towards the intersection of AL-35 and AL-89.

- When you reach the intersection, turn left, and continue until you reach a bridge. The falls should be visible from the bridge.

- Immediately after the bridge, there is a parking area to the right, where you should pull in. There is a composting toilet that will smell during the summer.

- On the river side of the parking lot, there is a paved walkway down to the !top! of the waterfall. There is a way to the bottom besides jumping, ask around or look carefully and you should be able to find it.

- There is additional parking on the opposite side of the street.

Gregg's Two Falls

- Go back to your car.

- Exit the parking area turning left onto AL-35.

- After re-crossing the bridge, turn left onto AL-176, which is the first part of the Little River Canyon Parkway/Canyon Rim Road

- Continue on AL-176

- Just after running into CR-255, there will be a guardrail over Wolf Creek. Located about here: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=34.37068,-85.662199&ie=UTF8&ll=34.370822,-85.662138&spn=0.008802,0.019226&z=16&iwloc=addr

- I don't think you can park legally here, might want a driver?

- From the guardrails, the falls are reached via a "trail" on the left side of the downstream guardrail.

Grace's High Falls (probably highest in Alabama)

- Get back in car and continue down AL-176.

- Continue to the location shown on this map: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=N+34%C2%B0+21.469+W+085%C2%B0+40.646&ie=UTF8&ll=34.355766,-85.668769&spn=0.017608,0.038452&t=p&z=15

- There is a marked pulloff with a little wooden stand for Grace's High Falls. The falls are across the canyon, and only flow during wet periods, because of a dam upstream of the falls.

- Photo at: http://waterfalls.szulecki.com/al/greggs.html

Johnnie's Creek Falls

- Return to car.

- Continue down AL-176 until the intersection (w/bathroom) where 148/257 starts. The roads are number funny, but you want the road that stays with the canyon. If you lose the canyon, turn around. The road gets crappy up here.

- The falls are on private property, do not try to visit them. They are located just dowstream from the bridge across the creek, and are visible around here: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=34.297225,-85.702694&ie=UTF8&ll=34.297501,-85.702715&spn=0.01762,0.038452&t=p&z=15&iwloc=addr

- Photo at: http://waterfalls.szulecki.com/al/johnnies.html

Yellow Creek Falls

- Return to car.

- Continue down 257/47 (may also be signed 43, consult map, http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=%2B34%C2%B0+17'+50.01%22,+-85%C2%B0+42'+9.70%22+(34.297225,+-85.702694)&daddr=34.223371,-85.726147&hl=en&geocode=CU_kgajc_8jXFYlVCwId2kfk-g%3B&mra=mi&mrsp=1&sz=14&sll=34.22479,-85.716276&sspn=0.035271,0.076904&ie=UTF8&ll=34.222306,-85.724688&spn=0.035272,0.076904&t=p&z=14)

- Stay on 47.

- At intersection with AL-273, turn right.

- After crossing Lake Weiss turn right onto CR-365.

- In winter Yellow Creek Falls should be visible across finger of lake. Look for old bridge pier. Falls are on private property.

Conceptual Maps for entire hike at: http://waterfalls.szulecki.com/al/desotodt.html