Adventure: DeSoto Falls State Park

Looking for a family trip that allows for time outdoors getting in touch with nature? Do you like chasing waterfalls? Wanting that small town feel? Then go ahead and plan your trip to DeSoto Falls State Park. This state park is nestled in the Northern part of Alabama, close to Fort Payne and the sweet little town Mentone. Fun little fact for you about this area...the country band, Alabama, is from this area!

One thing you must know is there are more waterfalls than just DeSoto Falls. In fact, in this area there are eight waterfalls ranging in different sizes. One thing to note though, most of these waterfalls are seasonal, meaning the best time to see them would be anytime other than the summer. This is largely due to rainfall and lack thereof in the warmer and dryer months. And of course when we took our trip was ... in the summer. But it was still great! We checked out the two main waterfall areas, and it was still entertaining and breathtaking. 

First thing to note is the campground area in DeSoto Falls State Park. The state park is located on what looks to be a residential road. Its ok, keep going! The road will dead end to the entrance of the park, which winds back and forth past trees and huge rocks. Once arriving in the park, please know that cell service/Wifi is horrendous. You will have almost no service, and maybe that is the way that nature intended it to be. Also, there are not many dining options available. There was a restaurant in the state park area, but we did not check it out. And there is a Dollar General and ice cream store outside of the state park. That is pretty much it. In Mentone, there were a few local eateries and a small grocery store. 

The camper spots are very spacious and private, with trees that serve as a barrier between you and the other campers. There are back in, drive thru and primitive camping spots. Full hook ups as well as fire pit areas are available at this campground. 

Go ahead and be prepared to spend time relaxing or family activity time. There are campgrounds that we go to where there are so many things to do for entertainment. But this is not this campground. You have your basic things you need for camping, a store for basic items, a pool, and a zip line adventure area. But the entertainment is nature itself. It was nice being able to slow down and not worrying about constantly being entertained by our surroundings, instead we let our days unfold for us.

So what is there to do exactly? Explore. Be sure to bring your bicycles, fishing poles, hiking accessories (hiking pack for the baby), and your water shoes. There are plenty of hiking trails within the park, but the two areas where we spent the most time, we actually drove to.

The first area that was our absolute favorite was outside of the park. It was at another park called Little River Falls located in Little River Canyon. It is a quick ten minute drive from the park, and after the main bridge that goes over the river, to the side of the road you will see a large parking lot area. Once you come to the walking path, you will see a path that leads to a set of stairs. If you take this path, it will take you to a large deck area where you can view the canyon and the 45 foot falls. This view is stunning and is a must! One thing you will immediately notice, is the amount of people that are playing at the top of waterfall (depending on the time of year and flow of water). I highly encourage you to play at the top of the waterfall for a memorable experience. If you are interested in playing in the water, go back to the parking lot, and take the beaten path that is to the right side. Be careful because this path is not paved and the stairs leading down to the water are totally natural. This area is stunning and it can be totally safe, as long as you play smart! We were able to walk down with two children on our backs, but it is not stroller or wheelchair accessible.

Once you arrive at the bottom of the path you will see pools of water for wading, falls that allow for rock sliding, and a walking path of rocks for exploring. During the summer, the water flow is low, so it allows you to fully explore. In other months, you may not be able to explore as much, due to maximum water flow. You are able to walk to the ledge of the falls, but again be extremely careful. The rocks can be slippery in certain areas, but as long as you take it slow you will be just fine.

Little River Falls was definitely our favorite for exploring, but to enjoy some breathtaking views take a ride to DeSoto Falls. While in the state park, follow the signs to make your way to the falls. You will wind to the top of the mountain, allowing you to see stunning views and beautiful mountain homes. Once you arrive to the parking lot for DeSoto Falls, you will see a dam area along with a lake. You are welcome to kayak and fish in this particular area. If you continue walking, you will come to a walking path that takes you down approximately 50 stairs. The stairs will lead to a full view of the large canyon and 104 foot waterfall. We sat and watched the beauty of the falls and the birds that flew in front of the water. It was quite breathtaking. There is also a path that will lead you at the bottom of the falls that has a small beach area and entrance to the water.  

One other sweet little place that you must check out, is actually a garden that is by the St Joseph's On the Mountain Church. We actually saw this church when we were on the way to the falls, but we decided to pull over because my little one was feeling sick. I figured some fresh air would make her feel better, but it was comical because we walked under a sign that said the Sacred Garden. All I could think was "please God, don't let her throw up in this pretty garden". This garden is actually owned by the church and is open to the public. Whether you are religious or not, it is a must to stop here. It was so beyond peaceful. There were places to sit (and we did), lots of beautiful flowers and birds chirping. And my favorite part? The labyrinth. If you have never seen one of these before, you may think that it is a maze. But its not. A maze usually has an entrance and exit, has different avenues where the participant has to think and choose, and ultimately the maze could cause confusion. 

A labyrinth is different. Instead, the entrance is the exit. There is one path that does not cause confusion. It is a single path that allows the participant to focus on the moment, pray or meditate. And I have to say, it was my first time doing it and it was so much fun. Along the path, it was nice to tap into the "magic 5" and simply focus on the present moment, which ultimately led to the center. At the center, there was a large rock that held crosses and offerings that people had left. After we left the garden, my little girl was feeling a lot better.

DeSoto Falls is definitely a place to check out if you are looking for relaxation and time to slow way down. Nature is the main attraction and its definitely a pretty one. Click here for a park map. Click here for more information about Little River Falls.