Griffin Falls

Griffin Falls

Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 0.5 miles roundtrip
Entry Fee: Free

Griffin Falls is a waterfall south of Fort Payne. It is a beautiful tall waterfall that falls off a sheer cliff. 

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Griffin Falls is located an hour and 15-minute drive southeast from Huntsville.

Google Griffin Falls, look at the map above for directions!

Trailhead/Parking Lot

The parking lot is not well marked but it is the first parking lot you come to if you are coming from Hwy 68. It is big enough for a few cars. 

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Trail

The trail is not marked but is easy to follow. The trail is a rough uphill battle but is very short. There are several beautiful boulders covered in moss and a creekbed that follows alongside the trail.

Griffin Falls

Pictures do not show how tall this waterfall is. The waterfall falls in a v-shape in the cliffside and flows down a sheer cliff down onto the rocks below. There is a path that leads to the top of the waterfall.

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Railroad Bed Trail

Railroad Bed Trail

Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 1.5 miles roundtrip
Entry Fee: Free (Donation Box Available)

Railroad Bed Trail is a local trail that follows an old railroad bed.

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Railroad Bed Trail is a local trail here in Huntsville. The Trailhead is located along Bankhead Parkway at the Land Trust of North Alabama parking lot.

Click here for directions on Google!

Trailhead/Parking Lot

The parking lot is well marked with plenty of parking spaces. The trailhead is in the back of the parking lot and is well marked.

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Railroad Bed Trail

This is a fairly narrow trail that takes you down to the creekbed and back around crossing over the creekbed again. Around the creekbed, you can see where they build up the land for the old railroad bridge. 

Waterfall

If you follow Railroad Bed Trail, you will come across a waterfall. You can also access this waterfall by following Wildflower Trail. There are a couple more waterfalls if you follow the creek downstream. After you hit the waterfalls, find the trail “Alms House” and follow it back to the cars.

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Holmes Chapel Falls

Holmes Chapel Falls

Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 0.5 miles roundtrip
Entry Fee: Free

Holmes Chapel Falls is a waterfall in Bankhead National Forest. It is a very easy waterfall to find.

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Holmes Chapel Falls is located an hour and a half’s drive southwest from Huntsville. It is located in Bankhead National Forest

Google Holmes Chapel Falls, look at the map above for directions!

Trailhead/Parking Lot

The parking lot is not well marked but is a bulldozed area that can fit a few cars. It is located at the top of the hill and there is a clear unmarked path behind the mound left from the bulldozer.

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Path

The path is incredibly short. It’s maybe 100 ft to the top of the waterfall. Once you get to the top of the waterfall, you can follow the path off to the left to go down a steep incline to get to the bottom of the waterfall.

Holmes Chapel Falls

It is beautiful at the bottom of the falls. Take time to walk around behind it and a bit downstream!

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Parker Falls

Parker Falls

Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 2 Miles
Entry Fee: Free

Parker Falls is a beautiful and serene waterfall located in west Bankhead National Forest.

This area is part of dispersed recreation in Bankhead National Forest. There is NO MAINTAINED TRAIL. Please note that dispersed recreation sometimes has a "social trail" that you can follow. Some of these are easy to follow and some of them you cannot follow. Please note that these trails can change very quickly and may be easy to follow one season and completely overgrown the next. Always bring a map, compass, and GPS with you while hiking Bankhead National Forest.

If you are still using your phone for navigation. You should at least buy a power bank.

Bankhead Map
Buy a printed map here.

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Parker Falls is only an hour and a half southwest of Huntsville.

Google Parker Falls or look at the map provided above!

 

Parking

There are a few dirt pull-in parking spots that fit a few cars. If these are taken, you can park alongside the road. 

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Trail

There is no trailhead marking but only one trail is provided by the parking lot. This trail will take you over a mile through tall pines, down to the top of a creekbed. Follow the creek downstream. You will come across a small waterfall. You will need to cross the stream and make your way down the waterfall to the left (looking downstream). It is steep and slippery so be careful!

Unnamed Waterfalls

There are about 5 small waterfalls back to back. Follow these waterfalls down where the creek meets the Parker Branch. After you find the main Parker Branch, follow the water upstream to Parker Falls.

Parker Falls

It can be very difficult to see Parker Falls from different angles or up close. You will need to cross the stream on slippery rocks in order to get closer. Be careful and if you can, grab a stick or use a hiking pole for balance.

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Coal Mine Falls

Coal Mine Falls

Difficulty: Difficult
Distance: 1.5 miles roundtrip
Entry Fee: Free

Coal Mine Branch Falls is a secluded waterfall in the Bankhead National Forest. It is a hard “trail” to follow but leads to a beautiful waterfall.
NOTE: Please know that this is how I got to the falls. I have seen other guides that went a different way!

You must catch these waterfalls after heavy rain.

This area is part of dispersed recreation in Bankhead National Forest. There is NO MAINTAINED TRAIL. Please note that dispersed recreation sometimes has a "social trail" that you can follow. Some of these are easy to follow and some of them you cannot follow. Please note that these trails can change very quickly and may be easy to follow one season and completely overgrown the next. Always bring a map, compass, and GPS with you while hiking Bankhead National Forest.

If you are still using your phone for navigation. You should at least buy a power bank.

Bankhead Map
Buy a printed map here.

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Coal Mine Falls is located an hour and a half’s drive southwest from Huntsville. It is located in Bankhead National Forest

You cannot just Google Coal Mine Falls, click here for directions!

Trailhead/Parking Lot

The parking lot is not well marked but is almost at the loop at the end of the road. The trailhead is marked with a single sign that reads “314”. There isn’t very much parking, but there are very few people who hike this trail.

Field

After hiking maybe 100 yds, you will come to a field. There is a path around the outside of the field to circle it clockwise. Follow the path. When you get to the end of the field (pictured) TURN LEFT INTO THE BUSHES. If you are looking at a map, straight will take you to the main river, but we are trying to get to the creekbed that leads to that river. You will go through 50 ft of bushes and instantly see an opening that leads downhill.

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Steep Hill

After you go through the bushes, you will come across a very steep hill. Be careful working your way down this hill. Be sure to check for snakes for every step and remember that they love to hang out under logs. At the bottom of the hill is a stream. Head downstream to the waterfall.

Top of the Waterfall

After following the creek downstream you will come across the top of Coal Mine Falls. If you follow the ridge to the right, you can find a hill down to the bottom of the falls.

Lower Coal Mine Falls

Down at the bottom of the waterfall, you can make your way to the beautiful pool at the bottom, enjoy the scenery, and if its summer, swim.

Upper Coal Mine Falls

Upper Coal Mine Falls

Return to the top of Lower Coal Mine Falls and head upstream following the main creek the entire time. You may have to cross the stream a few times, cross over downed logs, and climb a little to get there, but the waterfall is beautiful and worth it. Head back out the way you came in.

Upper Coal Mine Falls

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