Cave Springs

Cave Springs

Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 0.25 miles round trip
Cost: Free

Cave Springs is a very cool, easy-to-find Cave in Wheeler Wildlife Refuge.

Find hiking locations nearby:
Wheeler Wildlife Refuge Rock House Caves
Wheeler Wildlife Refuge

Directions to Monte Sano Trailhead

Cave Springs is located a little over 30 minutes southwest of Huntsville.

It does not pop up on Google when you search for it, so click here for directions.

Parking Lot/Trailhead

Parking lot for hikers and bikers on Monte Sano

There isn’t a set parking lot, but a pull-off next to the road. There is a gate where you park. This gate is open during certain times of the year. The cave is about 50 yds from the parking spot. You do not go down the road, but instead up the hill next to the cars. The cave is very easy to find.

Parking lot for hikers and bikers on Monte Sano

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Natural Bridge

The cave is easy to find. You cannot go into the majority of the cave, but you can enjoy the view in the picture above. Majority of the cave is gated off to protect endangered bats.

Cave Coordinates: 34.546325649892445, -86.85126730904689

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Cheaha State Park

Cheaha State Park

Difficulty: Easy to Difficult depending on trail
Distance: Depends on the trail

Entry Fee*:
Adults Age 12+: $5.00
Ages 4-11: $2.00
Seniors 62+: $2.00
Active Military: $2.00
Kids 3 and under are free

Annual Park Pass:
Individual: $105.00
Family: $155.00
Senior/Disabled: $55.00

Cheaha State Park is located just south of Anniston, AL in Delta. Click this link for directions.

Tallest Point in Alabama

Mount Cheaha has the highest point in the state of Alabama at 2,413 ft. At the highest point is an observation deck that offers 360 degree views. Click here for directions here. The parking lot is about 50 ft from the observation tower and is fairly easy to navigate, although the observation deck has sever flights of stairs.

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Pulpit Rock

The trail to Pulpit Rock is fairly short, less than 1 mile roundtrip. It is moderately rated. There is a very small parking area here (link), alongside the road. The hike offers a beautiful view.

Rock Garden

Rock Garden is a very short, 0.5-mile roundtrip hike and is rated moderate to difficult. This short hike starts with views from the parking lot next to Cheaha’s amazing cabins and ends with some of the best views in Alabama. After a rain, you can see Angels Falls running. The trail continues downhill to Cheaha Like. You can find parking here. 

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Rutledge Falls

Rutledge Falls

Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 0.5 miles round trip
Cost: Free

Rutledge Falls is a great swimming hole and a very wide waterfall in Tennessee. It is located on private property, but the owners are incredibly kind enough to allow people to visit, so please (as always) be sure to leave no trace.

Check out nearby locations:
Machine Falls
Foster Falls

Swiming? This is a great location for some Outdoor Sandals

Directions to Monte Sano Trailhead

Rutledge Falls is located about an hour Northeast of Huntsville near Manchester, TN.

Click this link for directions!

Parking Lot

Parking lot for hikers and bikers on Monte Sano

The parking is along the road. There is enough parking for a dozen cars and then it appears that the church nearby allows people to park there if needed. Remember to be mindful of parking on Sundays during church hours and potentially either visit another waterfall, or finding alternate parking in the area.

Parking lot for hikers and bikers on Monte Sano

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Trailhead 

If you walk from the parking lot away from the church, you will come across an opening in the fence for you to go through. Go through here and follow the path. This is a very easy waterfall to find and there aren’t very many trails here.

Rutledge Falls

Parking lot for hikers and bikers on Monte Sano

You can explore the area. I saw people at the top of the waterfall (I had my kid with me and didn’t see how they got up there) and I saw people heading downstream. Its a great place to explore and SWIM!

Parking lot for hikers and bikers on Monte Sano

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Painted Falls

Painted Falls

Difficulty: Difficult – NO TRAIL
Distance: 1 mile roundtrip
Entry Fee: Free

Painted Falls is a secluded waterfall in the Bankhead National Forest. There is no trail to this waterfall. You will be bushwacking your way through the forest.

You must catch these waterfalls after heavy rain.

GPS Location of waterfall: 34.284775, -87.274711

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.

Check out nearby Hikes:
Coal Mine Falls
Holmes Chapel Falls
Collier Creek Falls

Gift Ideas for the outdoorsy Dad

More Waterfalls

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

You cannot just Google Painted Falls, click here for directions!

Trailhead/Parking Lot

The parking lot is not marked. This is one of the two parking you can take to go to Coal Mine Falls as well. To get to this waterfall, you will be bushwacking your way through the underbrush. Be sure to you a GPS device to help you navigate.

First Waterfall

This waterfall only is running if it has recently rained significantly. You will likely catch this one dry.

GPS location: 34.281641, -87.282410

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Painted Falls

After you go past the first waterfall, you’ll make your way following Bushy Creek up stream. You will come across your first stream on your right and follow it until you get to Painted Falls.

Again, this is bushwhacking. If you are not comfortable following the map provided I suggest going to Sougahoagdee Falls or Holmes Chapel Falls nearby instead!

GPS Location of waterfall: 34.284775, -87.274711

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Little River Canyon

Little River Canyon

Difficulty: Easy to Difficult depending on the hike
Distance: Each hike differs
Entry Cost: Free except Canyon Mouth Park and Congo Falls

Little River Canyon is located just east of Fort Payne, AL and is the largest canyon in the state. This canyon’s max depth is over 600 ft in some areas and provides incredible waterfalls, views, and rock features.

Find nearby hikes:
Desoto Falls
Griffin Falls
Yellow Creek Falls

Summer is hot. Find the gear you need.

More Waterfalls
Map directions to Little River Canyon

Little River Canyon is located a little around 1.5 hours from Huntsville, but can be a bit further depending on where you go in the preserve.

Click here for directions to the main parkway. GPS locations for each site are tagged in the sections below under the corresponding picture.

Little River Falls

I have a complete guide to Little River Falls located here.

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Hippie Hole

Hippie Hole Swimming Area

I have a complete guide to Hippie Hole located here.

Hippie Hole Swimming Area

Little River Falls Overlook

The overlook is a quick stop for snapping pictures of Little River Falls along the rim right off the road.

You can park here.

Canyon Overlooks

There are 6 marked overlooks into the canyon. As you go further south, the deeper the canyon gets for these marked overlooks. Below I have them listed in order from the furthest north to the furthest south. Click on the name for a link to google maps.

My favorite 2 are Eberhart Point and Wolf Creek.

Lynn Overlook
Hawks Glide Overlook
Canyon View Overlook
Wolf Creek Overlook
Crow Point Overlook
Eberhart Point Overlook

 

Brooks Branch Falls

Looking down onto Brooks Branch Falls is accessible by parking at Lynn Overlook and following the canyon south, or downstream until you hit this waterfall. 

Where I’m standing to get to this waterfall is very difficult and dangerous. I do not recommend for people without expert hiking and climbing skills. You can still see the waterfall from the top without any skills required.

Lynn Overlook Parking

Mushroom Rock

The Mushroom Rock is a famous rock in the middle of the road. If you drive the rim of the canyon, you will pass this. There’s a nice boulder field you can walk around right next to it.

Mushroom Rock Directions

Grace’s High Falls

Grace’s High Falls is the tallest ABOVE GROUND waterfall in the State of Alabama with a height of 133 ft.

This is just a stop for the overlook. Check here for directions to the bottom.

Directions to Overlook

Dee’s Branch Falls

Dee’s Branch Falls has no trail and a steep incline to get down to it. It is short, but you will be bushwhacking and have a risk of sliding the entire time. 

Parking for Dee’s Branch Falls

Congo Falls

Congo Fall’s (Also known as Johnnie’s Creek Falls) is a short stop along the Rim with a waterfall. This stop requires a paid permit which you can get here.

Congo Falls Directions

Canyon Mouth Park

Canyon Mouth Park is a great swimming hole in the summer, has a mile of parking, bathrooms, and other features like picnic tables and grills.

This area does cost (updated (4/13/2023) $15 per car.

You can find out more about Canyon Mouth Park here.

Canyon Mouth Parking

That Spot You Cannot Miss

This is one of my favorite spots in Alabama. There’s no marker, no trailhead, nothing but a spot where you can fit 1 car next to the side of the road. When you park and walk 20 ft it opens up to this view. There are bolts here for either climbers or rappelers. This is an absolute must-stop.

Directions here.

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Falling Rock Falls

Falling Rock Falls

Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 2 miles roundtrip
Entry Fee: Free

Falling Rock Falls is a tall 90 ft waterfall located in Montevallo, AL just outside of Birmingham. Signs say to wear orange to ensure you are seen by hunters!

This waterfall has unfortunately been victum of graffiti and trash so please make sure you Leave No Trace.

Find nearby hikes:
Peavine Falls

Know what you need to bring camping during the summer.

More Waterfalls

Falling Rock Falls is located 2 hours south from Huntsville just south of Birmingham.

You can Google Falling Rock Falls or click here for directions!

Trailhead/Parking Lot

There isn’t really a “parking lot” here, but there is plenty of space for a few cars. Do not block the gate.

Trail

The trail starts off as a gravel road and ends with a dirt path off into the woods. You will be following the only named road “Landview Rd” for the majority of the hike. When I went, there were signs for Falling Rock Falls, but do not count on those signs being there. While falling the road, you take your first left and then your first right.

Trail off the Gravel Road

After you hike down the gravel road, about 100 yds after you take a right there is a dip into the woods on your left. This will lead downhill away from the gravel road and you will come across a stream. Follow the stream on either side. You will come across the top of the waterfall. Looking downstream, you can get to the bottom of the falls on the right. Find a way down that is comfortable to you.

Drop into the Canyon

Getting to the bottom of the waterfall is the only moderate portion of the hike. The waterfall is an impressive 90 ft drop and you can walk behind it. When you are done, head back out the way you came in.

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Talmadge Butler Boardwalk, Desoto State Park

Talmadge Butler Boardwalk, Desoto State Park

Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 0.5 miles
Cost: Free

Talmadge Butler Boardwalk is a fantastic short walk in Desoto State Park. It is about a half-mile out and back flat trek. The path leads through a forest to Azalea Cascades.

Be sure you find our guide to Desoto State Park Waterfalls here!

Desoto Falls and Little River Falls are both nearby!

Find nearby hikes:
Desoto State Park
Little River Canyon
Desoto Falls

Hiking in the heat. Find out what you need to wear during summer hiking.

Talmadge Butler Boardwalk is located 1.5 hours east of Huntsville in DeSoto State Park.

Google Maps Talmadge Butler Boardwalk or look at our map above!

Trailhead

This is a well-marked trailhead. There is parking in this area for maybe 10 cars. 

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Boardwalk

The boardwalk is 360 yds and winds through the forest with plenty of benches for resting and a beautiful pavilion.

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Sauta Cave

Sauta Cave

Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 0.5 miles round trip
Entry Fee: Free

Sauta Cave Wildlife Refuge is a Wildlife refuge with a giant cave located in east, AL a little over an 30 minutes away from Huntsville and is a great place to get out, hike and see a bit of Alabama’s biodiversity.

Find nearby hikes:
Cathedral Caverns
Walls of Jericho
Weathington Park

These underwear are what hikers wear.

Sauta Cave National Wildlife Refuge is located a little 30 minutes east of Huntsville, AL. 

Click this link or look at our map above!

Parking Lot/Trailhead

Parking is just alongside the easement on this road. There is a gate that should be locked that prevents you from parking closer to the cave. It is a short walk to the cave. Just follow the road and you will come across a boardwalk on your right.

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Cave

The trail is an easy, short walk to the cave and is very easy to find. There are signs along the boardwalk about the history and animals in this location. There are more hiking trails in this area that we didn’t explore. Head back to your car the same way you came.

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Enchanted Weekend in Bankhead

Enchanted Weekend in Bankhead

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Bankhead National Forest is a land of mystery and enchantment.  Every canyon is filled with magic and will keep you captive.

We took this overnight trip in mid-October and caught some amazing fall foliage! Here’s our favorite website for fall foliage predictions so you can plan a fall trip anywhere in the continental US!

Long weekend in Brevard? Follow our footsteps! Above is a Map of places we visited!

Sipsey Creek Farm

We stayed at an awesome “glamp-site” that came with pretty much everything we needed including a small kitchen, bathrooms, shower, BEDS, etc. We highly recommend staying here.
Airbnb Link

Mize Mills and Turkeyfoot Falls

Mize Mills Falls is one of the many amazing waterfalls in Bankhead. We have a guide here we highly suggest checking out!

Natural Bridge

Natural Bridge is the longest rock arch east of the Rockies and its right here in Alabama! We have a guide here, but it is absolutely not necessary for your visit. 

Caney Creek Falls (Bonus)

View of Caney Creek Falls in Bankhead National Forest Alabama

We didn’t venture here on our trip, but if you get a chance, this is well worth checking out! You should read the guide here.

View of Caney Creek Falls in Bankhead National Forest Alabama

Kinlock Falls (Bonus)

We didn’t venture here on this trip, but we highly suggest checking it out. You don’t need a guide here, but the guide might help you with parking.

Our Itinerary

Day 1: Drive to Bankhead National Forest (Stopped for lunch at Cardinal Drive-in and for fast food it was pretty good! Hike to Turkeyfoot Falls and Mize Mill Falls. Go check-in to campsite, see the animals, and play on the playset. Visit Natural Bridge. Come back for dinner/s’mores/camping activities. Star Gaze.

Day 2: Breakfast and pack up. Hike on the property to see the caves and waterfall (which we didn’t have time to make it to!).

We were pressed for time, but if you have more time, I suggest looking at visiting Kinlock Falls and Caney Creek Falls. Both are fairly family-friendly and absolutely beautiful!

Cost

Gas from Huntsville to Bankhead National Forest and back: 160 Miles / 20 miles per gallon * $3.50 per gallon = $28

1 night at Sipsey Creek Farm AirBnB: Abount $100/night * 1 night = $100

Driving around Brevard and seeing the waterfalls: 50 Miles / 20 miles per gallon * $3 per gallon = $7.50

Bankhead Hiking is Free

Total: $135.50 for 2Days/2 adults and 2 Children

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