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

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.

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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