Splash Pads

Splash Pads

Here are a few of the splash pads and waterparks around North Alabama.

Blue – Free
Green – Paid

Throw on those outdoor sandals for the spash pads and waterparks! Here’s the one we recommend

Want more kid-friendly activiteis?

Kid-Friendly

Bridge Street Town Center: Free – Website

Bicentennial Park: Free – Website

Everyone Can Play: Free – Website

Dr. Richard Showers: Free – Website

Hogan Family YMCA: $10 per Person or $30 per Family – Website

Huntsville Botanical Gardens: $14 adults, $9 for ages 3-18, $12 for Military/Students/Seniors, Free for 2 and under – Website

Delano Park (Decatur): Free – Website

SNAP Playground (Hartelle): Free, Donations accepted – Website

Scottsboro Rec Center (Scottsboro): Free – Website

River Heritage Park Splash Pad (Florence): Free – Website

Gattman Park (Muscle Shoals): Free – Website

Sportsman Lake Park (Cullman): Free – Website

Sloss Lake Splash Pad (Russellville): Free – Website

Sand Mountain Outdoor Aquatics Park (Sand Mountain) – $15 for ages 4 and up, Free for children under 4 – Website

Point Mallard (Decatur) – $28 for ages 12 & up, $23 ages 3-11, $23 ages 62+, Free ages 2 & under – Website

Spring Valley Beach (Blountsville) – $30 over 4ft tall, $24 Age 3 to 4ft tall, $24 ages 62+, Free for ages 2 & under ($15 parking charged for parking inside or free parking) – website

Fayette Aquatic Center (Fayette) –  $12 ages 2+, $8 ages 65+, free under 2 – website

Red Bay Water Park (Red Bay) – $8 per person (Mon – Sat), $6 per person (Sun) – $3 for Splash pad is for children under 48″ ONLY – website

Cullman Wellness and Aquatics Center (Cullman) – $30 over 4ft tall, $24 ages 3 to 4ft tall, $24 ages 65+, Free for ages 2 and under – website

Hartselle Aquatic Center (Hartselle) – $10 ages 13+, $8 ages 6-12, $5 ages 3-5, $8 ages 62+, Free ages 2 and under,  – website

 

 

Check out our Gear suggestions!
Summer Hiking Essentials
Summer Camping Essentials 
Outdoor Sandal

Stay in Contact

Contact

About

Home

Local

Drive

Fly

Privacy Policy

Follow Us.

Bankhead Waterfall Tour

Bankhead Waterfall Tour

Difficulty: Easy to difficult
Distance: 6.5 miles
Fee: Free
Leave no trace.

Bankhead is full of beautiful Waterfalls. This guide is dedicated to helping you find an easy way to tour several waterfalls in 1 trip. In this guide we will explore 8 named waterfalls with about 6.5 miles of hiking.

This is JUST a TASTE of Bankhead. Be sure you check out other Waterfalls in the area!

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.

Bankhead is located about an hour southwest of Huntsville, though most of the parking spots are about 1.5 hours from Huntsville.

Kinlock Falls

First stop: Kinlock Falls
Parking: Directions
Hike Distance: 100 ft
Difficulty: Easy
Guide: Not necessary

Check out our Gear suggestions!
Summer Hiking Essentials
Summer Camping Essentials 
Outdoor Sandal

Parker Falls

Second stop: Parker Falls
Parking: Directions
Hike Distance: 2 miles
Difficulty:: Moderate
Guide: Should read

Eagle Creek Falls

Third stop: Eagle Creek Falls
Parking: Directions
Hike Distance: 2 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Guide: Should Read

Mize Mill Falls and Turkeyfoot Falls

Fourth stop: Mize Mill Falls and Turkeyfoot Falls
Parking: Directions
Hike Distance: 0.5 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Guide: Should read

Be sure you see BOTH waterfalls here!

Coal Mine Branch Upper and Lower Falls

Fifth stop: Coal Mine Upper Falls and Coal Mine Lower Falls
Parking: Directions
Hike Distance: 1.5 miles
Difficulty: Difficult
Guide: Must Read

Be sure you visit BOTH waterfalls!

Holmes Chapel Falls

Sixth and final stop: Holmes Chapel Falls
Parking: Directions
Hike Distance: 0.5 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Guide: Not Necessary

Stay in Contact

Contact

About

Home

Local

Drive

Fly

Privacy Policy

Follow Us.

Desoto State Park

Desoto State Park

Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 2.5 miles
Entry Fee: Free

Desoto State Park is a secluded park in Northeast Alabama near Desoto Fall. It offers plenty of hiking trails and several waterfalls.

All pictures were taken by: Renee Stokes
Follow her:
@Culverhousegirl
@Renee1go2girl

Find nearby hikes:
Desoto Falls
Talmadge Boardwalk
Little River Canyon

Be comfortable in your own skin. Here’s our choice of the best underwear for adventuring.

Desoto State Park is located a little over an hour’s drive east from Huntsville. It is located near Mentone, AL.

Click here for directions to Desoto State Park!

Trailhead/Parking Lot

The parking lot is well marked. There are plenty of parking spots as well as a bathroom. The trailhead is marked and across the street from the parking lot.

Trail

The trail continuously changes between dirt, rock, and even some bridges. There are arrows pointing you down the path. The orange arrows will take you from waterfall to waterfall. 

Summer Hiking Essentials
Summer Camping Essentials 
Outdoor Sandal

Lost Falls

Following the Orange arrows, hike for about a little over a half-mile. Lost Falls is not on the trail, but about 100 ft off of the trail. Continuously be looking off down to the right for the waterfall. It is a small, but pleasant waterfall.

Laurel Falls

Laurel Falls is a bit more hidden than Lost Falls. After about a mile into the hike, there is a small unmarked trail off to the right. It is well worn and heads downhill. This is the path to Laurel Falls.

Azealea Cascades

Along the Orange Trail almost to Indian Falls there is a nice cascade running.

Indian Falls

Toward the end of the hike, you will come across a road. You can also park here. Cross the road and finish the hike by following the trail downhill to Indian Falls. Return to the car by following the orange trail back.

Like Our Guide? Give Us a Like!

Stay in Contact

Fall Creek Falls

Fall Creek Falls

1 comment

Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 1-mile round trip
Entry Cost: Free

Fall Creek Falls is a beautiful waterfall in Tennessee. Fall Creek Falls is the tallest free-falling waterfall east of the Mississippi.

Find nearby hikes:
Rock Island State Park
Greeter Falls

Most comfortable camping gear I have added to my pack.

More Waterfalls

Fall Creek Falls is located a little over 2 hours Northeast of Huntsville.

Google Fall Creek Falls or click the map above!

Parking Lot / Trailhead / Pavilion

There are plenty of parking spots. The parking lot itself holds a few dozen cars. There is a pavilion available as well as picnic tables and a bathroom.

Overview/Handicap Accessible

The overview is arguably the best view available. It is accessible by wheelchair and is a short walk from the parking lot.

Summer Hiking Essentials
Summer Camping Essentials 
Outdoor Sandal

Trail down to the Bottom

The trail down to the bottom is moderate. It is slick in some spots and steep in others. The trail is well maintained, but you will be walking down less than ideal slopes and will need to be careful with your footing. The hike back up is technically easier, but more difficult cardiovascularly!

Bottom of the Falls

The waterfall is over 200′ drop and is absolutely beautiful. There is plenty to see at the bottom. When you are done, hike back up the way you came down.

Like Our Guide? Give Us a Like!

Stay in Contact

Blevin’s Gap

Blevin’s Gap

Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 3 miles total
Entry Fee: Free (Donation Box Available)

Blevins Gap is the saddle between Huntsville Mountain (The Ledges) and Green Mountain. The land is owned by the Land Trust of North Alabama. The main trailhead parking lot is located on Cecil Ashburn where the highway is passing over the mountain.

Find nearby hikes:
Three Caves Loop
Waterline Trail
Green Mountain Nature Trail

Hammocks – when should you use them?

Alum Hollow Trail is a 1.5 mile each way (3 miles return) hike to an eastward and westward scenic view. This trail is well marked. Follow the signs that read “Bill & Marion Certain Trail” or “Certain Trail”. 

Google Map Blevin’s Gap or look at our map above!

Bill & Marion Certain Trail

This is a moderate hike to the view. It varies between flat and hilly. The trail is well marked except for after making it almost to the top of the hill before it becomes flat again. There is an unmarked fork in the trail that leads to nowhere that veers off to the left. It will feel like you are going in the opposite direction of your end destination (for those of you directionally inclined). You should follow the trail to the right uphill. In the winter, you have a beautiful view of the surrounding mountains.

Summer Hiking Essentials
Summer Camping Essentials 
Outdoor Sandal

West Loop Trial/Certain Trail

There is a split in Certain Trail and West Rim Trail. This is a loop. I suggest taking 1 trail there and the other trail back!

Power Line Trail

The Power line trail connects Certain Trail and West Rim Trail and the views on the west side of the mountain and the east side of the mountain. Both are spectacular! When you are done, finish the loop and follow Certain Trail back to the parking lot.

Like Our Guide? Give Us a Like!

Stay in Contact

Contact

About

Home

Local

Drive

Fly

Privacy Policy

Follow Us.