What you need to know
Parking
Difficulty
Off-Trail, Difficult to Find
Point of Interest
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
Summer camping can get hot. Here’s the gear you need to stay cool.
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.
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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