Shangri-la Falls

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.

More Waterfalls

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!

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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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Yellow Creek Falls

Yellow Creek Falls

Difficulty: Difficult
Distance: Paddle 0.75 miles/hike 0.33 miles
Entry Cost: Free

Yellow Creek Falls is a very large powerful waterfall located in Leesburg, AL southeast of Huntsville. Due to private property, it is only accessible by boat.

Find hikes nearby:
Little River Canyon
Cherokee Rock Village

This is the perfect place to wear outdoor sandals. 

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Yellow Creek Falls is about 1.75 hours southeast of Huntsville near Fort Payne.

The parking lot does not appear when you type in “Yellow Creek Falls”. Google “Yellow Creek Falls Fish Camp” or Click here for a link to google maps of where the parking lot is located.

Parking Lot

There is plenty of parking in the parking lot. It is next to a small town store Yellow Creek Falls Fish Camp which provides parking and boat ramp for free. Be sure to stop by their store. We were able to see the waterfall from the parking lot during winter!

Boat ramp

There is a boat ramp provided for free (again thank you Yellow Creek Falls Fish Camp!) If you’re into fishing, they also sell fish bait there! Put the boat in here and head the opposite direction from the bridge. You should see 2 pillars still standing in the right-hand alcove. You will be paddling between those 2 pillars.

Boat landing

After you pass through the pillars, continue to paddle towards the rocks straight ahead. You will land on the left-hand side of the alcove. Be sure to pull your boat all the way on land and/or tie the boat to a tree.

It was winter when we went, but seeing pictures it looks like this is a great place to swim. Be careful if you decide to jump in. There were several very shallow rocks right under the surface of the water.

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Trail

The easiest way to the waterfall is to instantly head up the bank and go all the way up to the cliff face. You can follow the cliff face all the way to the base of the falls. We did not follow the cliff face and instead opted to follow the river. This is MUCH more difficult but is incredibly scenic.

Yellow Creek Falls

Yellow Creek Falls is an incredibly powerful waterfall with water pouring over a cliff face. The rocks nearby are VERY slippery when wet, so be sure to be cautious during your time there.

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Coal Mine Falls

Coal Mine Falls

Difficulty: Difficult
Distance: 1.5 miles roundtrip
Entry Fee: Free

Coal Mine Branch Falls is a secluded waterfall in the Bankhead National Forest. It is a hard “trail” to follow but leads to a beautiful waterfall.
NOTE: Please know that this is how I got to the falls. I have seen other guides that went a different way!

You must catch these waterfalls after heavy rain.

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.

More Waterfalls

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

You cannot just Google Coal Mine Falls, click here for directions!

Trailhead/Parking Lot

The parking lot is not well marked but is almost at the loop at the end of the road. The trailhead is marked with a single sign that reads “314”. There isn’t very much parking, but there are very few people who hike this trail.

Field

After hiking maybe 100 yds, you will come to a field. There is a path around the outside of the field to circle it clockwise. Follow the path. When you get to the end of the field (pictured) TURN LEFT INTO THE BUSHES. If you are looking at a map, straight will take you to the main river, but we are trying to get to the creekbed that leads to that river. You will go through 50 ft of bushes and instantly see an opening that leads downhill.

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Steep Hill

After you go through the bushes, you will come across a very steep hill. Be careful working your way down this hill. Be sure to check for snakes for every step and remember that they love to hang out under logs. At the bottom of the hill is a stream. Head downstream to the waterfall.

Top of the Waterfall

After following the creek downstream you will come across the top of Coal Mine Falls. If you follow the ridge to the right, you can find a hill down to the bottom of the falls.

Lower Coal Mine Falls

Down at the bottom of the waterfall, you can make your way to the beautiful pool at the bottom, enjoy the scenery, and if its summer, swim.

Upper Coal Mine Falls

Upper Coal Mine Falls

Return to the top of Lower Coal Mine Falls and head upstream following the main creek the entire time. You may have to cross the stream a few times, cross over downed logs, and climb a little to get there, but the waterfall is beautiful and worth it. Head back out the way you came in.

Upper Coal Mine Falls

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Kinlock Falls

Kinlock Falls

Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Distance: 100 ft
Entry Fee: Free

Kinlock Falls is a beautiful and serene waterfall located in west Bankhead National Forest. 

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:
Parker Falls
White Creek Falls

Check out our map of swimming holes!

The best outdoor sandals!

More Waterfalls

Kinlock Falls is only an hour and a half southwest of Huntsville.

Google Kinlock Falls or look at the map provided above!

 

Parking

Park alongside the road. The easiest way to the falls is parking closer to the bottom side of the hill near the bridge. There are steps down from the road to the top of the waterfall. 

Check out our Gear suggestions!
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Waterfall

There is a path provided to walk downstream to get a view from the bottom of the falls. The rocks can be very slippery. There is a rope swing provided. Be careful and check water depths before you just or swing from the cliffs. If you swim, you can climb out of the water up the rocks or wade down to the rocky flat “beach” area downstream to get out!

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Mardis Mill Falls

Mardis Mill Falls

Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Distance: 0.2 miles
Entry Fee: Free

Mardis Mill Falls is a beautiful and serene waterfall just south of Blountsville, AL. Enjoy swimming, bouldering and hiking along the river bed.

Posted By: Anton Etenko

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Mardis Mill Falls is only an hour south of Huntsville.

Google Mardis Mill Falls or look at the map provided above!

 

Trailhead and Parking

This is not a park, so there are no trailhead signs. The trailhead is near the bridge on the Northside of the road. You can park on the road right before the trailhead. 

Trail

The trail is easy to follow despite that it isn’t marked. Once you cross the one-lane bridge, it will be on your right before the 90-degree turn. Walk down the rocky path to the falls and enjoy walking the river bed downstream!

Summer Hiking Essentials
Summer Camping Essentials 
Outdoor Sandal

Waterfall

There is plenty of depth in the water to swim, even in periods of light rain! A rope swing is provided for those brave enough to jump. Swim across the falls to the overhead rock formations or walk down the rocky river bed for more scenic views!

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