waterfall Archives - Page 4 of 11 - Huntsville Adventurer

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

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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

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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
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Find nearby hikes:
Desoto Falls
Talmadge Boardwalk
Little River Canyon

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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.

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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.

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Fall Creek Falls

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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

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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.

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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.

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White Creek Falls

What you need to know

Parking

Map It

Difficulty

Off-Trail, Difficult to Find

Point of Interest

Map to POI

Difficulty: Difficult
Distance: 6 miles roundtrip
Entry Fee: Free

Upper and Lower White Falls is a secluded waterfall in the Bankhead National Forest. You will follow mostly marked trails but it is partially off-trail.

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:
Mize Mill and Turkeyfoot Falls
Kinlock Falls
Parker Falls

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More Waterfalls

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

Parking for here is at Randolph Trailhead. Google “Randolph Trailhead Bankhead National Forest” or click here for directions!

Trailhead/Parking Lot

The parking lot is well marked. The trailhead is well marked with a trail map at the entrance. There are several spots for parking. Be sure to follow the trail directly behind the trailhead marked “201”

201/202 Split

After a short hike through the woods, 201 and 202 merge on a gravel access road. After maybe a couple of hundred yards the trails split again. The gravel road is marked as 202 and the single trail that goes off into the woods is 201. Follow 201 into the woods.

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201/209 Intersection

After 2.2 miles you will hike to the intersection of 201 and 209. Follow 209 down the hill. You will come to a river. Turn right and follow the river downstream. When you turn at the river you will be off official trails. There are social trails here, but they are much more difficult to navigate. Be sure to bring a map and/or GPS for navigating off-trail.

Campsites

Along the river, there are a couple of campsites for overnight camping.

Big Joes Falls

Joes Falls is located before you get to Lower White Creek Falls. Facing upstream, it will be in a valley to your right. It will be the only stream flowing down to White Creek before you see Lower White Creek Falls.

GPS Coordinates: 34.314345, -87.467410

Lower White Creek Falls

You will follow the river until you come across a stream. The stream is White Creek. Follow this creek upstream. It will lead you to the bottom of Lower White Creek Falls. Bring a map or use GPS.

GPS Coordinates: 34.313148, -87.467160

Upper White Creek Falls

Upper White Creek Falls is not easily accessible. You will need to find your way around and up the hill. You start in an amphitheater with steep cliffs all around. You can go up and around either way. I went (facing upstream) to the left, but it looked like the to the right had social trails leading up there as well. The area is beautiful and the Valentine’s Pool looks deep! Go out the way you came in.

GPS Coordinates: 34.313042, -87.467170

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Deer Skull Falls

Difficulty: Difficult
Distance: 4 miles
Fee: Free

Deer Skull Falls is a secluded Waterfall in Bankhead National Forest. There are several other waterfalls along this creekbed so be sure to explore!

This guide is vague on purpose. These waterfalls are hard to find and you must be comfortable not following a trail to find them. The best way to find these waterfalls is by using GPS coordinates and planning your trip using a cartographic map, compass, and GPS.

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:
White Creek Falls
Parker Falls
Kinlock Falls

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More Waterfalls

Deer Skull Falls is located southwest of Huntsville in Bankhead National Forest.

The parking lot is located along County Road 60. The closest landmark on Google Maps is Wolfpen Campground. Click here for directions to the parking lot.

Parking

There is a small pull-off lot available for a few cars. There are two trails from the parking lot. To get to Eagle Creek Falls, while facing the woods from the road, take the left trail (it is pretty much straight when you enter the parking lot).

Trail

The “path” I took isn’t super easy to follow. Be prepared for bushwhacking your way there. You will pass several waterfalls along the way (see interactive map above). I highly suggest bringing a map, compass, and GPS for this trek. You will need to follow the creekbed and will have to cut over the creek several times on the way to the waterfall.

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

Deer Skull Falls

GPS Coordinates: 34.297241, -87.444089

You will walk right up to the bottom of two waterfalls. When you hit the main branch you can take a left and then follow the next creekbed you find on the right up to Hemlock Falls (on the map).