Shangri-la Falls
Difficulty: Difficult
Distance: 1.5 miles roundtrip
Entry Fee: Free
Be sure to Bring: CLOSED TOED SHOES, LONG PANTS, AND GPS!!
Shangri-la Falls is a secluded waterfall in the Bankhead National Forest. There really isn’t an official, maintained trail to follow, so please keep your GPS handy. As this place has grown in popularity, there have been unofficial trails popping up. These may or may not take you to Shangri-la so do not rely solely on these unofficial trails.
NOTE: Please look through the AllTrails reviews of this. It is VERY difficult to navigate through here! Expect to use your GPS!
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.
Find nearby hikes:
Sougahoagdee Falls
Holmes Chapel Falls
Painted Falls
Make sure you pack this on your next hike.
Shangri-la Falls is located under an hour and a half’s drive southwest from Huntsville. It is located in Bankhead National Forest
You cannot just Google Shangri-la Falls, click here for directions!
Waterfall Coordinates: 34.279370, -87.306397
Parking Coordinates: 34.282917, -87.300278
Trailhead/Parking Lot
MARK YOUR CAR ON YOUR GPS BEFORE YOU LEAVE.
The parking lot is not well marked but is very apparent from the road. There is another parking lot about 100 yards before you get to the parking lot we used. It is visibly different than the first parking lot. The first parking lot looks like it had been bulldozed to keep people from driving on a road behind it. This one is smooth and the only thing blocking it is 3 verticle posts, the middle one reading “Do not block gate”
Trail
CAUTION: Do not trust the trail! Trust your GPS!
The area is old logging land and has recently been burned. This means that there is THICK underbrush, plenty of ticks, and spiders galore with NO TRAIL to follow. There are 4 different trail markers that I saw while there. The 3 lined orange stripes are actually used for loggers to determine what trees are for sale. If you get lost, try following the blue first, and then if you get very lost, follow the 3 striped orange to get you to the road.
Do not rely on these markers to get there! They are hard to follow and inconsistent at best. Rely on your map or GPS. Only use these markers if you have to.
GPS Coordinates: 34.279370, -87.306397
Drop into the Canyon Markers
There are 2 orange markers marking 2 different ways to get into the canyon. The first one is the easier way down, but the second is a bit more fun and it leads you by the top of the falls. Drop down on either side.
Drop into the Canyon
The drop into the canyon is hard, BUT you shouldn’t have to question which way to go. Both drops have a clear path down where many have paved the way. Follow this down, but be CAREFUL getting into the canyon! It is steep, muddy, and difficult terrain. If you choose the “fun” side near the top of the falls, please know there are back to back 3 ft drops, plus a shelter you have to duck under!
Shangri-la Falls
The waterfall itself is absolutely beautiful. The water was deep enough for a good swim when we went. There was a campsite right near the bottom. When you are done, head back out the way you came in.
Waterfall Coordinates: 34.279370, -87.306397
Parking Coordinates: 34.282917, -87.300278
Alternate Falls Trail
The alternate falls trail is still marked with the 3 striped orange paint and blue ribbon and will lead you down to a steep bank where you can walk down to a creekbed and follow it. The waterfalls are on this creekbed.
Alternate Falls
I don’t know the name of these falls, but they are very pretty. Anywhere else besides Bankhead and they would likely have a well-known name, but here I just call them “Alternate”. There was a campsite at the bottom of these falls as well.
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