Difficulty: Difficult
Distance: 2.5 miles roundtrip
Entry Fee: Free
Be sure to Bring: CLOSED TOED SHOES, LONG PANTS, AND GPS!!
Expect to get wet going to this waterfall!
Collier 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. You will be passing Shangri-la falls which has been popular lately. 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.
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:
Coal Mine Falls
Painted Rock Falls
Sougahoagdee Falls
Even though you spend a good bit of this hike treading through water, we don’t suggest outdoor sandals. Find out why.
Collier Creek 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 Collier Creek Falls, click here for directions!
Collier Creek Falls Coordinates:Â 34.279891, -87.310883
Parking Coordinates:Â 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 to Shangri-la Falls
CAUTION: Do not trust the trail! Trust your GPS!
The first step to this is getting to Shangri-la Falls
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 for Shangri-la Falls:Â 34.279370, -87.306397
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
Shangri-la Falls is located in the canyon. Shangri-la falls and empties into a pool. This pool empties into a creek called Collier Creek. From here you will be heading UPSTREAM along Collier Creek. That is, if you are looking at Shangri-la Falls, you will be going to the left.
Shangri-la Coordinates:Â 34.279370, -87.306397
Parking Coordinates:Â 34.282917, -87.300278
Canyon Hike From Shangri-la Falls to Collier Creek
After you pass Shangri-la Falls you will be following Collier Creek upstream to get to Collier Creek Falls.Â
If the water is high enough, there is no way to avoid getting your shoes wet. You will be treading through the water. If the water happens to be low enough, you will be crossing the creek several times. Either way, be very careful as you navigate the canyon. There is likely no cell phone service and the surfaces can get very slippery. F
Collier Creek Falls
Collier Creek falls offers a great place to rest and relax. The water isn’t deep enough to swim here, but there are places to put up a hammock. The rocks near the falls are VERY slippery so watch your step. Leave the same way you came in to get back to your car.
Collier Creek Falls Coordinates:Â 34.279891, -87.310883
Parking Coordinates:Â 34.282917, -87.300278
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