State guide

Waterfalls in Alabama

37 waterfalls across 18 counties, ranked 20th nationally. The main waterfall regions are Lookout Mountain and Sand Mountain, Bankhead and the Northwest Hills, and Birmingham Ridges and the Fall Line.

Source: USGS Geographic Names Information System, with visitor ratings from Google Maps listings.

Best Waterfalls Most Beautiful Waterfalls Must-See Waterfalls

Photo of Noccalula Falls in Etowah County, Alabama — Pictured: Noccalula Falls, AL

Why Alabama Has So Many Waterfalls

Alabama sits where the southern end of the Appalachian system finally runs out, and that tail end is where nearly all of its waterfalls are found. The northeast corner is dominated by long, flat-topped ridges such as Lookout Mountain and Sand Mountain, part of the Cumberland Plateau. These plateaus are capped by hard Pennsylvanian sandstone that resists erosion while the softer shale beneath it wears away, so creeks running off the plateau edge tend to pour over abrupt ledges and into box canyons. Our directory lists 37 named waterfalls in the state, ranking it 20th nationally, and DeKalb and Marshall counties alone account for ten of them.

Further west, the same sandstone layers form the deeply cut hollows of the Bankhead National Forest in Lawrence and Winston counties, where small streams spill over overhangs and rock shelters. A second, smaller cluster sits in the folded ridges south of Birmingham in Shelby and Talladega counties. Below the fall line, which crosses the state roughly through Tuscaloosa, Elmore and Lee counties, the land flattens into coastal plain and natural drops become rare. Alabama's heavy rainfall, among the higher totals in the eastern United States, keeps plateau streams running for much of the year, though many of the smaller falls depend on recent storms.

Alabama Waterfall Regions

Lookout Mountain and Sand Mountain

13 waterfalls · DeKalb County, Marshall County, Jackson County, and Etowah County

The plateau country of northeast Alabama holds the state's best-known falls. On Lookout Mountain in DeKalb County, the Little River cuts a canyon into the plateau, and Little River Falls, De Soto Falls on the river's West Fork, High Falls and Griffin Falls all lie within a short drive of Fort Payne. At the southern tip of the mountain, Noccalula Falls drops about 90 feet into a gorge on the edge of Gadsden and is surrounded by a large city park. Across the Tennessee River valley, Sand Mountain in Marshall County has smaller tiered cascades such as Thompson Falls and Short Creek Falls, which run best after rain.

Start with: Noccalula Falls, De Soto Falls, Little River Falls, High Falls, Griffin Falls

Bankhead and the Northwest Hills

10 waterfalls · Lawrence County, Winston County, Morgan County, Franklin County, and Colbert County

Northwest Alabama is a landscape of sandstone bluffs, hemlock-shaded hollows and rock overhangs, much of it within the Bankhead National Forest and its Sipsey Wilderness. Waterfalls here are usually short, wide pour-overs where a creek drops off a resistant ledge into a sandy pool. Kinlock Falls in Lawrence County is one of the most visited, and Parker Falls near Haleyville is another local favorite. Closer to the Tennessee River, Georgia Falls in Colbert County is unusual: water from Wilson Lake seeps through the bedrock below Wilson Dam and runs down a cut rock face.

Start with: Kinlock Falls, Parker Falls, Welcome Falls, Seven Falls, Ditto Falls

Birmingham Ridges and the Fall Line

12 waterfalls · Shelby County, Talladega County, Jefferson County, Randolph County, Elmore County, Lee County, and Tuscaloosa County

South and east of Birmingham, the Appalachians break into parallel folded ridges before giving way to the Piedmont and then the coastal plain. Peavine Falls in Shelby County, a spring-fed drop of about 65 feet reached by a steep trail, is the standout here. Talladega County's falls lie along the ridges of the Talladega National Forest, while Great Falls in Lee County and the drops in Elmore and Tuscaloosa counties sit near the fall line, where rivers leave harder Piedmont rock for the softer sediments of the coastal plain. One historical waterfall near Tuscaloosa, University Falls, now lies beneath a reservoir.

Start with: Great Falls, Peavine Falls, Salt Creek Falls, Wetumpka Falls, Village Falls

25 Featured Waterfalls in Alabama

Ordered by Google rating and review volume, then by documented USGS history.

Noccalula Falls

Gadsden, AL · Etowah County

4.7 (1,271 reviews)

Visitors to this 90-ft. waterfall & huge park can hike, pet animals, putt-putt golf, picnic & camp.

Rating
4.7 (1,271 Google reviews)
Address
Gadsden, AL 35904
Nearest town
Gadsden, AL (2.1 mi)
USGS topo
Gadsden West quad

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De Soto Falls

Fort Payne, AL · DeKalb County

4.8 (568 reviews)

Waterfall on the West Fork of the Little River & named after the Spanish explorer, Fernando de Soto.

Rating
4.8 (568 Google reviews)
Address
DeKalb County, AL 35984 (GPS 34.5490, -85.5905)
Nearest town
Fort Payne, AL (10 mi)
USGS topo
Valley Head quad

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Kinlock Falls

Haleyville, AL · Lawrence County

4.8 (221 reviews)

Kinlock Falls is a waterfall in Lawrence County, Alabama, about 8.8 miles northeast of Haleyville. It appears on the USGS Kinlock Spring topographic map.

Rating
4.8 (221 Google reviews)
Address
Lawrence County, AL 35565 (GPS 34.3084, -87.5028)
Nearest town
Haleyville, AL (8.8 mi)
USGS topo
Kinlock Spring quad

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Little River Falls

Fort Payne, AL · DeKalb County

4.8 (174 reviews)

Water rushing over rocks into a deep pool, with swimming holes & an observation deck.

Rating
4.8 (174 Google reviews)
Address
DeKalb County, AL 35973 (GPS 34.3951, -85.6269)
Nearest town
Fort Payne, AL (6.3 mi)
USGS topo
Fort Payne quad

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Great Falls

Smiths Station, AL · Lee County

4.6 (82 reviews)

Great Falls is a waterfall in Lee County, Alabama, about 5.4 miles southwest of Smiths Station. It appears on the USGS Bleecker topographic map.

Rating
4.6 (82 Google reviews)
Address
Lee County, AL 36874 (GPS 32.5087, -85.1842)
Nearest town
Smiths Station, AL (5.4 mi)
USGS topo
Bleecker quad

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High Falls

Crossville, AL · DeKalb County

4.7 (47 reviews)

High Falls is a waterfall in DeKalb County, Alabama, about 8.8 miles northwest of Crossville. It appears on the USGS Grove Oak topographic map.

Rating
4.7 (47 Google reviews)
Address
DeKalb County, AL 35951 (GPS 34.4001, -86.0680)
Nearest town
Crossville, AL (8.8 mi)
USGS topo
Grove Oak quad

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Griffin Falls

Crossville, AL · DeKalb County

4.4 (40 reviews)

Griffin Falls is a waterfall in DeKalb County, Alabama, about 3.6 miles east of Crossville. It appears on the USGS Crossville topographic map.

Rating
4.4 (40 Google reviews)
Address
DeKalb County, AL 35962 (GPS 34.2874, -85.9304)
Nearest town
Crossville, AL (3.6 mi)
USGS topo
Crossville quad

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Peavine Falls

Pelham, AL · Shelby County

4.5 (57 reviews)

Accessed by a steep hiking trail, this spring-fed 65-ft.-tall waterfall is a popular destination.

Rating
4.5 (57 Google reviews)
Address
Pelham, AL 35124
Nearest town
Pelham, AL (3.4 mi)
USGS topo
Helena quad

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Salt Creek Falls

Munford, AL · Talladega County

3.9 (40 reviews)

Salt Creek Falls is a waterfall in Talladega County, Alabama, about 3.3 miles southeast of Munford. It appears on the USGS Munford topographic map.

Rating
3.9 (40 Google reviews)
Address
Talladega County, AL 36268 (GPS 33.5015, -85.9047)
Nearest town
Munford, AL (3.3 mi)
USGS topo
Munford quad

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Short Creek Falls

Albertville, AL · Marshall County

3.4 (28 reviews)

Short Creek Falls is a waterfall in Marshall County, Alabama, about 3.8 miles north of Albertville. It appears on the USGS Albertville topographic map.

Rating
3.4 (28 Google reviews)
Address
Marshall County, AL 35951 (GPS 34.3224, -86.2043)
Nearest town
Albertville, AL (3.8 mi)
USGS topo
Albertville quad

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High Falls

Bridgeport, AL · Jackson County

4.2 (12 reviews)

High Falls is a waterfall in Jackson County, Alabama, about 8.7 miles southeast of Bridgeport. It appears on the USGS Flat Rock topographic map.

Rating
4.2 (12 Google reviews)
Address
Jackson County, AL 35966 (GPS 34.8373, -85.6416)
Nearest town
Bridgeport, AL (8.7 mi)
USGS topo
Flat Rock quad

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Parker Falls

Haleyville, AL · Winston County

4.6 (20 reviews)

Parker Falls is a waterfall in Winston County, Alabama, about 9.5 miles northeast of Haleyville. It appears on the USGS Bee Branch topographic map.

Rating
4.6 (20 Google reviews)
Address
Winston County, AL 35565 (GPS 34.3034, -87.4839)
Nearest town
Haleyville, AL (9.5 mi)
USGS topo
Bee Branch quad

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Wetumpka Falls

Wetumpka, AL · Elmore County

3.6 (13 reviews)

Wetumpka Falls is a waterfall in Elmore County, Alabama, about 0.8 miles east of Wetumpka. It appears on the USGS Wetumpka topographic map.

Rating
3.6 (13 Google reviews)
Address
Wetumpka, AL 36092
Known for
walking
Nearest town
Wetumpka, AL (0.8 mi)
USGS topo
Wetumpka quad

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Thompson Falls

Arab, AL · Marshall County

3.0 (24 reviews)

A series of tiered waterfalls, surrounded by woods & offering trails for hiking.

Rating
3.0 (24 Google reviews)
Address
Marshall County, AL 35976 (GPS 34.3145, -86.4222)
Known for
trespass, private property, hike, falls
Nearest town
Arab, AL (4.2 mi)
USGS topo
Arab quad

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Ditto Falls

Owens Cross Roads, AL · Morgan County

4.3 (6 reviews)

Ditto Falls is a waterfall in Morgan County, Alabama, about 9.1 miles southwest of Owens Cross Roads. It appears on the USGS Newsome Sinks topographic map.

Rating
4.3 (6 Google reviews)
Address
Morgan County, AL 35754 (GPS 34.4904, -86.5647)
Nearest town
Owens Cross Roads, AL (9.1 mi)
USGS topo
Newsome Sinks quad

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Welcome Falls

Arab, AL · Morgan County

3.0 (15 reviews)

Welcome Falls is a waterfall in Morgan County, Alabama, about 9.6 miles west of Arab. It appears on the USGS Lawrence Cove topographic map.

Rating
3.0 (15 Google reviews)
Address
Morgan County, AL 35621 (GPS 34.3159, -86.6647)
Nearest town
Arab, AL (9.6 mi)
USGS topo
Lawrence Cove quad

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Swindell Falls

Crossville, AL · DeKalb County

5.0 (2 reviews)

Swindell Falls is a waterfall in DeKalb County, Alabama, about 3.3 miles east of Crossville. It appears on the USGS Crossville topographic map.

Rating
5.0 (2 Google reviews)
Address
DeKalb County, AL 35961 (GPS 34.2773, -85.9385)
Nearest town
Crossville, AL (3.3 mi)
USGS topo
Crossville quad

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Seven Falls

Falkville, AL · Morgan County

2.1 (8 reviews)

Seven Falls is a waterfall in Morgan County, Alabama, about 4.1 miles southwest of Falkville. It appears on the USGS Falkville topographic map.

Rating
2.1 (8 Google reviews)
Address
Morgan County, AL 35622 (GPS 34.3232, -86.9547)
Nearest town
Falkville, AL (4.1 mi)
USGS topo
Falkville quad

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Little Falls

Fort Payne, AL · DeKalb County

5.0 (1 reviews)

Little Falls is a waterfall in DeKalb County, Alabama, about 8.1 miles northeast of Fort Payne. It appears on the USGS Valley Head topographic map.

Rating
5.0 (1 Google reviews)
Address
DeKalb County, AL 35984 (GPS 34.5193, -85.6105)
Nearest town
Fort Payne, AL (8.1 mi)
USGS topo
Valley Head quad

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Village Falls

Minor, AL · Jefferson County

2.7 (11 reviews)

Village Falls is a waterfall in Jefferson County, Alabama, about 2.1 miles northwest of Minor. It appears on the USGS Adamsville topographic map.

Rating
2.7 (11 Google reviews)
Address
Mulga, AL 35118
Known for
east, waterfall
Nearest town
Minor, AL (2.1 mi)
USGS topo
Adamsville quad

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Davis Falls

Montevallo, AL · Shelby County

5.0 (5 reviews)

Davis Falls is a waterfall in Shelby County, Alabama, about 2.2 miles northwest of Montevallo. It appears on the USGS Aldrich topographic map.

Rating
5.0 (5 Google reviews)
Address
Shelby County, AL 35115 (GPS 33.1176, -86.8972)
Nearest town
Montevallo, AL (2.2 mi)
USGS topo
Aldrich quad

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Great Falls

Ashland, AL · Talladega County

2.0 (4 reviews)

Great Falls is a waterfall in Talladega County, Alabama, about 11 miles west of Ashland. It appears on the USGS Porter Gap topographic map.

Rating
2.0 (4 Google reviews)
Address
Talladega County, AL 35160 (GPS 33.2507, -86.0183)
Nearest town
Ashland, AL (11 mi)
USGS topo
Porter Gap quad

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Piney Branch Falls

New Hope, AL · Marshall County

1.5 (11 reviews)

Piney Branch Falls is a waterfall in Marshall County, Alabama, about 8.5 miles southeast of New Hope. It appears on the USGS Mount Carmel topographic map.

Rating
1.5 (11 Google reviews)
Address
Marshall County, AL 35747 (GPS 34.4803, -86.2624)
Nearest town
New Hope, AL (8.5 mi)
USGS topo
Mount Carmel quad

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Little Falls

Bridgeport, AL · Jackson County

5.0 (1 reviews)

Little Falls is a waterfall in Jackson County, Alabama, about 8.1 miles southeast of Bridgeport. It appears on the USGS Flat Rock topographic map.

Rating
5.0 (1 Google reviews)
Address
Jackson County, AL 35979 (GPS 34.8465, -85.6410)
Nearest town
Bridgeport, AL (8.1 mi)
USGS topo
Flat Rock quad

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Ragsdale Falls

Arab, AL · Marshall County

1.5 (4 reviews)

Ragsdale Falls is a waterfall in Marshall County, Alabama, about 5.1 miles east of Arab. It appears on the USGS Arab topographic map.

Rating
1.5 (4 Google reviews)
Address
Marshall County, AL 35976 (GPS 34.3345, -86.4092)
Nearest town
Arab, AL (5.1 mi)
USGS topo
Arab quad

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Highest Rated in Alabama

De Soto Falls 4.8 from 568 reviews · Fort Payne
Kinlock Falls 4.8 from 221 reviews · Haleyville
Little River Falls 4.8 from 174 reviews · Fort Payne
Noccalula Falls 4.7 from 1,271 reviews · Gadsden
High Falls 4.7 from 47 reviews · Crossville

Waterfalls with at least 25 Google reviews.

What Visitors Mention

Reviews of 1 Alabama waterfall mention swimming, including Little River Falls.

Alabama Waterfalls by the Compass

The farthest-apart named falls in Alabama are about 297 miles apart.

Names and History

The most reused names are Great Falls (2), High Falls (2), and Little Falls (2), so check the county and town before you set out.

9 waterfalls have alternate historical names on record, such as Noccalula Falls (also Nachalula Falls) and De Soto Falls (also DeSoto Falls).

From the USGS record for Georgia Falls: "Named for Georgia Myrick (2005-2017), who died at the base of the falls."

Best Time to See Waterfalls in Alabama

Late winter through spring is the most reliable period for Alabama waterfalls. Frequent frontal storms between roughly December and April keep plateau creeks full, and many of the smaller drops in DeKalb, Marshall and the Bankhead area only run well within a few days of solid rain. Spring also brings wildflowers and mountain laurel to the canyon rims. Summer is hot and humid, flow often drops off by midsummer, and afternoon thunderstorms can cause fast rises in narrow hollows. Late summer and early fall are typically the driest stretch, when some falls shrink to a trickle. Fall color on Lookout Mountain usually peaks in late October or early November, and a wet autumn can make that an excellent time to visit. Hard freezes are occasional, so ice is rarely a factor.

Planning a Waterfall Trip in Alabama

Alabama's waterfalls are spread across an unusual mix of managers. Little River Canyon is a National Park Service preserve, Bankhead and Talladega falls lie in national forest land, and Peavine Falls is inside Oak Mountain State Park, which charges a day-use fee. Noccalula Falls is run by the City of Gadsden, and several smaller falls in Marshall and DeKalb counties sit on or next to private property, so check that a site is publicly accessible before going. Forest roads in the Bankhead can be rough and muddy after storms. The main hazards are slick sandstone ledges at the tops of falls, undercut bluffs, and fast-rising water in narrow canyons after heavy rain. Swimming holes such as those at Little River Falls are popular in summer, and currents there can be strong at higher flows.

More: waterfall safety · packing list

Waterfalls by County

County	Waterfalls	Share	Most visited
DeKalb	6	16%	De Soto Falls
Marshall	4	11%	Short Creek Falls
Lawrence	3	8%	Kinlock Falls
Morgan	3	8%	Welcome Falls
Shelby	3	8%	Peavine Falls
Talladega	3	8%	Salt Creek Falls
Elmore	2	5%	Wetumpka Falls
Jackson	2	5%	High Falls
Winston	2	5%	Parker Falls
Colbert	1	3%	Georgia Falls
Etowah	1	3%	Noccalula Falls
Franklin	1	3%	Butler Falls
Houston	1	3%	Rock Falls
Jefferson	1	3%	Village Falls
Lee	1	3%	Great Falls
Mobile	1	3%	Cedar Creek Falls
Randolph	1	3%	High Shoals Falls
Tuscaloosa	1	3%	University Falls (historical)

All Alabama Waterfalls A to Z

Butler Falls (Haleyville)
Cedar Creek Falls (Mount Vernon)
Davis Falls (Montevallo)
De Soto Falls (Fort Payne)
Ditto Falls (Owens Cross Roads)
Georgia Falls (East Florence)
Great Falls (Smiths Station)
Great Falls (Ashland)
Griffin Falls (Crossville)
High Falls (Crossville)
High Falls (Bridgeport)
High Shoals Falls (Roanoke)
Kinlock Falls (Haleyville)
Little Falls (Fort Payne)
Little Falls (Bridgeport)
Little River Falls (Fort Payne)
Noccalula Falls (Gadsden)
Parker Cascades (Haleyville)
Parker Falls (Haleyville)
Peavine Falls (Pelham)
Piney Branch Falls (New Hope)
Quarter Creek Falls (Haleyville)
Ragsdale Falls (Arab)
Rendalia Water Falls (Mignon)
Rock Falls (Ashford)
Salt Creek Falls (Munford)
Seven Falls (Falkville)
Short Creek Falls (Albertville)
Swindell Falls (Crossville)
Tallapoosa Falls (historical) (Tallassee)
The Fall Off (Town Creek)
Thompson Falls (Arab)
University Falls (historical) (Tuscaloosa)
Village Falls (Minor)
Weaver Falls (Montevallo)
Welcome Falls (Arab)
Wetumpka Falls (Wetumpka)

Alabama Waterfalls: FAQs

How many waterfalls are in Alabama?

Our directory lists 37 waterfalls in Alabama, all officially named in the USGS Geographic Names Information System, 20th among the 50 jurisdictions in our directory and 1.4% of the national total. 35% of them are in just three counties: DeKalb, Marshall, and Lawrence.

What is the most visited waterfall in Alabama?

By Google review count, Noccalula Falls in Etowah County leads with 1,271 reviews and a 4.7 rating. De Soto Falls is next.

Where are the most waterfalls in Alabama?

The northeast corner, especially DeKalb County on Lookout Mountain, has the highest concentration. Little River Canyon, De Soto Falls and Noccalula Falls in nearby Gadsden can all be visited in a single trip.

Why do so many Alabama waterfalls dry up in late summer?

Most of the state's falls are on small plateau streams with limited drainage areas, so their flow depends on recent rainfall. Late summer and early fall are usually the driest months, while winter and spring storms bring them back to life.

Which Alabama town has the most waterfalls nearby?

Bridgeport has 21 named waterfalls within 30 miles, the most of any town in our Alabama directory.