Waterfalls & Springs in Alabama

Alabama has far more waterfalls than most people realize, concentrated in the Appalachian foothills of the northeast and the sandstone canyons of the northwest. Natural springs add another dimension to the state's water heritage.

Noccalula Falls in Gadsden drops 90 feet over a limestone ledge into a forested gorge. The falls are the centerpiece of a 250-acre park with trails, a pioneer homestead, and a botanical garden. You can walk behind the falls on the gorge trail — a dramatic experience after heavy rain.

DeSoto Falls in DeSoto State Park is a 104-foot cascade on the West Fork of Little River. An easy trail leads to a viewing platform with a direct view of the falls framed by rhododendron and hemlock. It's one of the most photographed spots in north Alabama.

Little River Falls is the official waterfall at the head of Little River Canyon. The 45-foot-wide curtain drop is especially impressive after spring rains. The swimming hole below the falls is a popular summer hangout.

Grace's High Falls tumbles 133 feet into Little River Canyon, making it one of the tallest waterfalls in Alabama. Access requires a steep scramble, but the reward is a towering cascade in a remote, mossy canyon.

Sipsey Fork Waterfalls in the Bankhead National Forest include dozens of cascades along the Sipsey Wilderness trail system. The most famous is the 90-foot fall at the junction of the Sipsey Fork and Borden Creek — a sandstone amphitheater surrounded by old-growth hemlock.

Natural Bridge near Haleyville is technically a rock formation (the longest natural bridge east of the Rockies at 148 feet), but seasonal waterfalls cascade over and around it after rain, creating a magical scene.

Cold Water Spring near Anniston produces over 30 million gallons per day and is one of the largest springs in Alabama. The spring-fed creek stays icy cold year-round and feeds a swimming area at Coldwater Spring Park.

Stephens Gap Cave near Woodville features a 143-foot waterfall that drops through a sinkhole into a cathedral-sized cave chamber. Rappelling into the cave with the falls is one of the most dramatic outdoor experiences in the Southeast — though it requires climbing gear and experience.

Alabama's falls and springs are hidden treasures, scattered through forests that most visitors never discover.