Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 48 min to complete. Pretty easy trail, other than rocky terrain. If you like photography, pack your camera because, there are treasures at every turn to capture. Other available amenities include picnic tables, fire rings, vault toilets, lantern posts, and a dumpster for bagged garbage. Fingers crossed! The main visitor entrance to DeSoto Falls in Mentone, AL provides easy, paved trails along the upper rim of the falls. Dahlonega-Lumpkin County Chamber & Visitors Bureau, 2023 - Dahlonega-Lumpkin County Chamber & Visitors Bureau, Rediscover Dahlonega's Gold With No Rush. I didnt really get that feeling on the DeSoto Falls trail, whose amenities seem more geared to families who want to picnic or camp and have a relatively short, easy hike afterwards. Hike back up is a little tough. Desoto Falls: God's Country!! Learn about Little River, an outstanding water source with its clear water & plant & animal life. Nice place to bring a picnic lunch; good bathrooms. The river trail was peaceful to walk along and the geology here is fascinating. Never try to climb waterfalls or get close to a ledge to get a selfie. The lower falls is .3 miles down stream from the trail head, the second is .75 miles upstream. Heading south on AL Hwy 89, take a left turn on Dekalb Country Road 613. Discover the history of the area around DeSoto Falls in Dekalb County, Alabama. Ducking under trees that fell over. It has become a place of refuge and rest for our family and we have been blessed to have the opportunity to make countless memories in this extraordinary area of the state. $$ - $$$ American Cafe Vegetarian Friendly. Grab the essentials for a good time and hea Little River Falls is a popular site within the Little River Canyon National Preserve, a 12 mile long, 600 ft deep canyon.The 45-foot falls can be accessible from two different vantage points either via a paved but steep path from the parking lot down to an overlook, or by driving to a higher lookout on Canyon Rim Drive (the easier of the two). Beautiful trail to bottom of falls but NOT easy. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. DeSoto State Park-Fort Payne, Alabama. We stood here a long time enjoying the sounds and the overall beauty. [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. Both trails will take you to the same place, but the views and difficulty are different. Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use. There is nearby parking but you will not be able to go below the falls. Yep, us too. There were boulders to climb over, large rocks, roots, steep inclines and declines. It is completely worth being able to paddle right up to the massive chute of water! Hiking Sitton's Gulch is a great option for those who want to get a little more distance than what the 2.1 mile Waterfalls trail has to offer. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 42 min to complete. Cool cave as well. Thirty feet out from the base, I became drenched by spray. Location: 34.548962, -85.593051. text and photos by Hope Cross; lead photo by Jason Dominy. It looked fairly difficult and something I might not want to try. Enjoyed all 3 trails, which were all well marked. GREAT trail! From here you park your car then head towards the power line clearing area and can follow multiple trail routes down to the base of the falls depending on how many miles you want to go or different things you want to see. DeSoto Falls is separate from DeSoto State Park for anyone wondering. Hiking down to the base of the falls is well worth it and pretty simple. We took the Basin trail to the bottom of the falls & swam for a couple hours. Its tough so be prepared and bring friends to help. Now that weve proved its possible and completely worth the pain and effort, hopefully others will follow. To reach the falls from Dahlonega head north on GA9 / Morrison Moore Parkway for 13 miles, then turn left onto US-129 for 4 miles. From Blairsville GA, take U.S. Highway 19/129 South for 17 miles. I talked to my friend who has visited the falls several times and he said I was insane. Watch your footing! 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. Whether you stay for a night or an entire week, a Dahlonega visit means restful nights with charm and hospitality for those looking for a soothing escape. Pisgah Church Road (one-half mile before reaching the junction of US19 and US129 at Turner's Corner) marked by a US Forest Service sign indicating Waters Creek Campground. There is a $4 fee. The lower falls is .3 miles down stream from the trail head, the second is .75 miles upstream. There was a small fee to park. We did Ice Box Cave on the way to the falls and went the other way on the way back. Let's get the hard part out of the way first. 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. 2023 The Outbound Collective - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy. We happened upon thisbest-kept secret in North Alabama in 2017 when looking for a place to spend quality time with family. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 52 min to complete. The hike to the bottom of the falls is worth it. HOURS: Open 24 hours a day. They can be made through the National Recreation Reservation Service online at www.Recreation.gov, or by calling 1-877-444-6777. You can only get Bottom Dollar from Gambit, and possibly Trials of Osiris. DeSoto Falls is one of the tallest and most visited waterfalls in Alabama; Named for Spanish explorer Hernando De Soto, the 107 foot waterfall & the picnic areais part of DeSoto State Park on Lookout Mountain. Lots of rocks and roots. Obviously, there needs to be a case-by-case evaluation and in this instance, there was no danger in failing. From Lazy River Cottage, it is a short walk on County Road 613 (DeSoto Falls Road) to the parking area at the DeSoto Falls Trailhead. Good hike. Desoto Falls Bottom and Bluff Overlook Loop, Crockford-Pigeon Mountain Wildlife Management Area. Saw a few other hikers but relatively quiet. No conditions reported in the past 7 days. It will go on my list of all-time greatest trips. I didnt take pictures of the steep part going up as I was taking it one step at a time myself. Anna Ruby Falls. Go during the Fall and thetrees are boasting all the reds, oranges, and yellows of the season. can be launched in the picnic areaat the boat ramp. Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. This is a popular trail for hiking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. 90% of travelers recommend this experience. $20.00 + $12.55 shipping. Well worth the trip. Would like to look into that further. Ver enjoyable. This site might be gone, but who will save whats left? We brought one kayak among the three of us so that two could be carrying the kayak while the third assisted through the difficult terrain. Places to sit and easy to access. We took the River Trail (pink) down to the falls and bluff/ice cave trail (pink/white) back up. .25 hike to lower falls and .75 to the upper falls. It is one of the most visited waterfalls in North Georgia. This is my favorite kind of trail. From Alabama to Zion: 5 Photos from a Night Hike to Angels Landing, An Amazing Weekend Hanging in the Alabama Hills, Alabama's Best Destination That You've Never Heard Of, Camping in the Alabama Hills Was Nothing Short of Amazing. Learn about Little River, an outstanding water source with its clear water & plant & animal life. Overlook trail was the easiest and was a great view of the waterfall from a distance. Hope this helps. You are going to want shoes with good ankle support. Reservations are required for DeSoto Falls camping. Drive up Lookout Mountain and pull into the parking lot off of AL Highway 35, near Road 861. We came after a period of heavy rain and the falls were great. Though there is some elevation gain, the Marble Mine Loop isquite an easywalk. We initially paid and parked at the dam area which is very nice and you can swim in it. The DeSoto Falls are located in Lumpkin County in the Chattahoochee National Forest DeSoto Falls Scenic Area. Lots of cool rocks. We were so excited to go that we forgot our rain gear and long sleeves but we were thrilled with the falls and so happy to be there. Made the trip with a 9 and 5 year old and they didnt miss a beat! For a more private an intimate view, there is a pull off on the side of the road and trail access. DeSoto Falls is one of the tallest and most visited waterfalls in Alabama; Named for Spanish explorer Hernando De Soto, the 107 foot waterfall & the picnic area is part of DeSoto State Park on Lookout Mountain. It took us about 1.5 hours to hike through all 3 trails. Typical state park food, not spectacular but not bad either. Great rock formations and views. Pretty rocky west good shoes to protect ankles. Took the overlook trail there and back and then went to lower trail. We were NOT disappointed in the least and this is our new favorite (semi) local falls. Small fee to park. We hiked both trails. Other than accessibility, there are a lot of other factors that play into the relative popularity of a given GA waterfall. Easy hike with some elevation & a fully charged waterfall. No charge except for the $4.00 per vehicle parking fee. Read on for our guide to the DeSoto Falls Scenic Area, including some history of the area, an overview of the trail, and driving directions. What does getting to the bottom of it expression mean? We also took a lot of breaks. He said that the hike was more like a climb up a steep mountain with impassible rocks and thick tree coverage. Shot with a DJI Mavic 2 Pro and GoPro Hero 7. Our family has spent as much time as possible on Little River by Desoto Falls ever since. These trails are labeled Moderate to Strenuous Terrain. Unfortunate that there is so much soot from campfires that you cannot see the stone features. Adventure Hike-DeSoto Falls Basin. Everyone was still spaced out pretty well. I thoroughly enjoyed this trail! Caney Creek Falls. What a blessing to get to experience such beautiful scenery! Reservations are required to camp in this campground: Call 1-877-444-6777 or visit www.Recreation.govfor more info. If you are up for the challenge, lug a kayak to the base of DeSoto Falls. Using a GPS or Phone to navigate to Desoto State Park & DeSoto Falls can be unreliable. The blue dot on the map above is Lazy River Cottage. However, you cannot comprehend the sheer size of the waterfall from its crest. If youd like to get to the base of the falls and not just the viewing platform there is actually a pull off area before the pay for parking area that you go to and can park. Life vests & paddles are provided with kayak rentals. We made it. During the summer and fall, the water level is much lower & sometimes dry. When you get to the falls the water is cool and relaxing. Just make sure to be careful while hiking around this area because the rocks can be very slippery. It is not possible to view the entire falls at once at this site, but the view is still stunning. If you have time you can also visit Laurel Falls and Lost. Redfin Estimate for Lots 1, 2,3,4 Desoto St. $14,036. We encourage anyone who loves the Blue Ridge region to learn about theLeave No Traceprinciples ofresponsible environmental stewardship. I've been three times within six months and I wouldn't mind heading back again! The only access to DeSoto Falls viewpoints is from DeSoto Falls Picnic Area (side view), Overlook trail (front view), & River trail (bottom view) Please stay on trails and avoid accessing private property. Some folks focus on the sheer beauty of the waterfall. Location given at time of registration. They also had rental kayaks and that was our 1st time doing that activity and the kids LOVED it. Heading south on AL Hwy 89, take a left turn on Dekalb Country Road 613. The hike was well worth the sure footed effort to get there. No conditions reported in the past 7 days. Follow us on our Facebook and Instagram social media pages @littlerivervacay for more updates and pictures. The round-trip hike will be approximately 2.2 miles. As with all outdoor events, if it is stormy or very poor trail conditions, we may have to cancel. I definitely recommend this trail, especially if you're not in the mood for the longer, more strenuous lower trail that goes from the trailhead down to the shore across from the bottom of the falls. Their Non-Peak Season (when no water is available in the campgrounds) lasts from 11/1 to 3/31, and costs $10 per night or $20 for the double site. I would recommend driving to the picnic area at the top of the falls first. Its relatively easy, and there are benches lining the path and spots to stop and rest as needed. It was wet and leaves all over the trail, but you could still easily see the trail. This leads us to my million-dollar idea: Lets bring a kayak! I looked online to see if anyone had done this before, and besides one professional riding his yak from the top of the falls to the bottom, I could find no evidence this had been done before. Water source with its clear water & plant & animal life spots stop. 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