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. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. From there, the difficulties began. But I would say its moderate as far as the terrain. This is a place where you can go and connect with nature and your friends and family. Photos (982) Directions. From romantic getaways to campgrounds where you can sleep under the stars, Dahlonega Dahlonegas historic public square is the hub of the countys thriving tourism industry, and residents enjoy the citys charm as much as visitors do. 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. (7 miles from the main park area, near Mentone, Alabama). Ducking under trees that fell over. For a more private an intimate view, there is a pull off on the side of the road and trail access. The campground is situated along Frogtown Creek with at an elevation of 2,080 feet above sea level, under a dense forest of deciduous and evergreen trees. Ten feet from the base, I was overwhelmed. You can see why the sound of the river drew us to explore a little further. There is a 14-day stay limit for camping at DeSoto Falls, with a maximum of 2 vehicles per campsite, and dogs must be leashed at all times. My assumption is possiblely. I talked to my friend who has visited the falls several times and he said I was insane. The wooden bridge is a picturesque spot from which to see the rhododendron, mountain laurel, and other North GA wildflowers growing along Frogtown Creek. Although the falls wasnt running a lot trails where still decent. 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). 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. Heading south on AL Hwy 89, take a left turn on Dekalb Country Road 613. 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. DeSoto Falls is separate from DeSoto State Park for anyone wondering. Quiet hours 10pm to 6am. Now that weve proved its possible and completely worth the pain and effort, hopefully others will follow. The meaning of GET TO THE BOTTOM OF is to find out the true reason for or cause of (something). You will have to contact Desota State Park to make sure. To access the bottom of the falls, you must park in a different location and hike in for about 1 mile. We wanted to share with you some of the beauty found just steps from Lazy River Cottage at the three hiking trails found at the DeSoto Falls Trailhead. It was pretty rocky in places but its no trouble with proper footwear. We had lunch and both ordered BLTs which were on white bread and were very good. The one-mile descent takes you throughold growth pines and along small streams with bridges to cross. There are lots of rocks to navigate! The serene beauty of Mentone, AL along with its close proximity to Chattanooga, Huntsville, Birmingham,and Atlanta drew us in. If you like photography, pack your camera because, there are treasures at every turn to capture. My hope is that someone will read this and do something to prove me wrong for future generations. Reservations are required to camp in this campground: Call 1-877-444-6777 or visit www.Recreation.govfor more info. I pondered these personal preferences as I made the 1.9-mile hike to see DeSoto Falls, a series of two waterfalls situated in a rhododendron-lined forestalong Frogtown Creek. Vintage 1956 Ford F-150 with Box 1/25 SEE . Desoto Falls: God's Country!! November 2, 2019. I've lived in Alabama for two years now and still wonder how I just found this cave-waterfall combo. From packing the bags to arriving at Zion. Definitely a hike for kids, they loved the ice box cave and would highly recommend the bottom bluff overlook trail. Discover the history of the area around DeSoto Falls in Dekalb County, Alabama. Look out for a pond about 30 minutes away on your drive back for a spectacular display of lilly pads and aquatic life. For more information, visitJack Anthony's "Waterfalls of North Georgia". The River Trail is more straight forward with less views to see on the way down the incline, while the Bluff Trail is a little steeper and has a small wet weather waterfall and Icebox Cave to enjoy on your way to or from the DeSoto Falls Basin. Didnt see much wildlife, just birds. The descent from Icebox Cave to the connection to the River Trail was steep and filled with rocks and roots, but worth it for the extra beauty this trail provides. Getting to the bottom of it - Idioms by The Free Dictionary. 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. The .15-mile Lion's Eye interpretive trail near the visitor center and . They also had rental kayaks and that was our 1st time doing that activity and the kids LOVED it. Merritt McKinney The stairway leading towards the falls has some nice colored glass affixed to each step, which adds a bit of eclectic art. Highly recommended. Park rangers were rappelling off a rock which was cool as well. This is well worth the hike down if youre considering staying at the top or coming down to the bottom. Your adventure can be up to 4 miles round trip or as long as you want to make it! Explore this 2.3-mile loop trail near Fort Payne, Alabama. Highly recommend! Water began to pummel down on top of me and fill my kayak as I battled to get as close as possible. We took the River Trail (pink) down to the falls and bluff/ice cave trail (pink/white) back up. I would paddle as hard as I could to get even closer. During the summer and fall, the water level is much lower & sometimes dry. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. CROV002. I only visited The area. Its not too far of a hike down, but can be a bit confusing if you dont have the Trail routes planned as there is the river trail and another trail option. Well kept by the US Park Service. It is not possible to view the entire falls at once at this site, but the view is still stunning. Saw a few other hikers but relatively quiet. for being a Partner to the Alabama State Park System! From here there are two trails. It will go on my list of all-time greatest trips. There are also some hiking trails that you can get lost in for a short period of time. View of the Desoto Falls and Basin from the river side. Show more Show more Desoto Caverns , Alabama. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash. There is a strenuous hike that takes you to a place where you can have a full view at once. Just challenging enough without being overly strenuous. We took turns paddling out to observe the waterfall and eventually had to carry the kayak back to the truck. Our familyhasspent as much timeas possible on Little River by Desoto Falls ever since. It looked like a rough trip down and also getting in and out of water required climbing on stones. Beautiful bluffs and a gorgeous waterfall. The DeSoto Falls Campground is open 24 hours a day, but quiet hours are from 10pm to 6am. This bit of extra distance will separate you from a lot of the weekend crowd and will expose you to two more waterfalls, in addition to Cherokee and Hemlock Falls. Follow us on our Facebook and Instagram social media pages @littlerivervacay for more updates and pictures. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 48 min to complete. DeSoto State Park Color Trail Map(Page 1 PDF), Desoto State Park Color Trail Map (Page 2 PDF), DeSoto State Park Basic Park Map including trails(PDF). $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 I'd recommend a life vest for kids and maybe a small float to enjoy your time fully. I've been three times within six months and I wouldn't mind heading back again! I didnt take pictures of the steep part going up as I was taking it one step at a time myself. little rainy so the falls were huge! The lodge was built as part of the CCC, so its old, but very nice. Had sunny weather and the water was inviting of a swim. Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. 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. Not hardy a flat spot on the entire hike. The view is from the top of the falls. - See 207 traveler reviews, 240 candid photos, and great deals for Mentone, AL, at Tripadvisor. They can be made through the National Recreation Reservation Service online at www.Recreation.gov, or by calling 1-877-444-6777. Can be tricky to find the trail at times, but like the description says, following the river will lead you there. 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. Loved it. Small fee to park. There are two trails that take you to the DeSoto Falls Basin, the River Trail & Bluff Trail. Should you need to take a break, there is a bench part of the way down the trail for you to stop and rest. Enjoyed all 3 trails, which were all well marked. This is a popular trail for hiking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. Driving Directions to DeSoto Falls: DeSoto Falls are located in Lumpkin County, in the Chattahoochee National Forest DeSoto Falls Scenic Area. 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. There were boulders to climb over, large rocks, roots, steep inclines and declines. The view of the falls from the basin was spectacular!! 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. DeSoto Falls Overlook is a 0.45 mile one way hike with moderate terrain. flickr/GRYGRGN. The rocky area is a little hard to navigate, but that can be expected. View estimate history. Definitions by the largest Idiom Dictionary. One of the most popular waterfalls near Helen GA, DeSoto Falls is extremely accessible, with the smells of breakfast cooking and the sounds of laughter from the campsites echoing along the trail. Fairly busy but it was a Saturday during spring break. (7 miles from the main park area, near Mentone, Alabama) Located just off the Lookout Mountain Parkway, the waterfall is reached via a . Places to sit and easy to access. So, almost a mile in and out. It had rained overnight so it was damp this morning but we had no trouble with mud. Awesome, just awesome! Must swim to cool off. 100% Recommend going down to the base of the falls vs the view from the top (Assuming you only have time for one, otherwise why not do both haha). Trails lead to 2 different falls on Frogtown Creek. The steps are well marked and easy to negotiate. Would like to look into that further. 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. Lots of cool rocks. Really liked this trail! No charge except for the $4.00 per vehicle parking fee. We made it. Remember that waterfalls and rocky summits can be dangerous. Yep, us too. It's a little complicated to find if you don't follow . No conditions reported in the past 7 days. The trail is fairly simple with some rocky spots and a little steep. The main visitor entrance to DeSoto Falls in Mentone, AL provides easy, paved trails along the upper rim of the falls. Please see our website for driving directions. 90% of travelers recommend this experience. 3. I believe if pets are on a leash, there is no problem. Definitely suggest to go down to the bottom. In the winter and early spring the water level is high. . From Helen GA, take U.S. 75 North for 8 miles, then turn right onto U.S. 129 North. 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