15 Best Waterfalls in Alabama (2026 Updated)
Of the 37 named waterfalls in Alabama, these 15 earn the strongest visitor ratings, led by De Soto Falls, Kinlock Falls, and Little River Falls. The list spans the Lookout Mountain and Sand Mountain, Bankhead and the Northwest Hills, and Birmingham Ridges and the Fall Line.
How We Picked
We ranked the 19 publicly accessible Alabama waterfalls with at least five Google reviews by a weighted rating that balances score against review volume, so a 4.9 from a dozen reviewers counts for less than a 4.8 from thousands. Every waterfall links to a full page with coordinates, maps and nearby falls.
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1. De Soto Falls
Fort Payne, AL · DeKalb County · Lookout Mountain and Sand Mountain
Why it made the list
It holds a 4.8-star Google rating and is the 2nd most reviewed in the state, with 568 reviews. 86% of reviewers give it five stars. Google's listing sums it up as: "Waterfall on the West Fork of the Little River & named after the Spanish explorer, Fernando de Soto." The USGS gazetteer describes it as: Vertical drop of 104 feet, Located in sec 4,T6S,R10E, Huntsville Meridian. Older records also call it DeSoto Falls. It is one of 13 named falls in the Lookout Mountain and Sand Mountain region. Little Falls is only 2.3 miles away, so the two are easy to pair in one outing. The nearest town is Fort Payne, about 10 miles to the southwest.
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2. Kinlock Falls
Haleyville, AL · Lawrence County · Bankhead and the Northwest Hills
Why it made the list
It holds a 4.8-star Google rating and is the 3rd most reviewed in the state, with 221 reviews. 83% of reviewers give it five stars. It is one of 10 named falls in the Bankhead and the Northwest Hills region. Parker Falls is only 1.1 miles away, so the two are easy to pair in one outing. The nearest town is Haleyville, about 8.8 miles to the southwest.
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3. Little River Falls
Fort Payne, AL · DeKalb County · Lookout Mountain and Sand Mountain
Why it made the list
It holds a 4.8-star Google rating and is the 4th most reviewed in the state, with 174 reviews. 87% of reviewers give it five stars. Google's listing sums it up as: "Water rushing over rocks into a deep pool, with swimming holes & an observation deck." It is one of 13 named falls in the Lookout Mountain and Sand Mountain region. The nearest town is Fort Payne, about 6.3 miles to the northwest.
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4. Davis Falls
Montevallo, AL · Shelby County · Birmingham Ridges and the Fall Line
Pictured: nearby Weaver Falls (1.9 mi) Why it made the list
Visitors rate it 5.0 stars across 5 reviews. It is one of 12 named falls in the Birmingham Ridges and the Fall Line region. Weaver Falls is only 1.9 miles away, so the two are easy to pair in one outing. The nearest town is Montevallo, about 2.2 miles to the southeast.
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5. Noccalula Falls
Gadsden, AL · Etowah County · Lookout Mountain and Sand Mountain
Why it made the list
It is the most reviewed waterfall in Alabama, holding 4.7 stars across 1,271 Google reviews. 84% of reviewers give it five stars. Google's listing sums it up as: "Visitors to this 90-ft. waterfall & huge park can hike, pet animals, putt-putt golf, picnic & camp." The USGS gazetteer describes it as: 90 feet high. Located in sec 29,T11S,R6E, Huntsville Meridian. Older records also call it Nachalula Falls and Black Creek Falls. It is one of 13 named falls in the Lookout Mountain and Sand Mountain region. The nearest town is Gadsden, about 2.1 miles to the southeast.
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6. High Falls
Crossville, AL · DeKalb County · Lookout Mountain and Sand Mountain
Why it made the list
It holds a 4.7-star Google rating and is the 7th most reviewed in the state, with 47 reviews. 85% of reviewers give it five stars. It is one of 13 named falls in the Lookout Mountain and Sand Mountain region. The nearest town is Crossville, about 8.8 miles to the southeast.
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7. Parker Falls
Haleyville, AL · Winston County · Bankhead and the Northwest Hills
Why it made the list
Visitors rate it 4.6 stars across 20 reviews. 90% of reviewers give it five stars. It is one of 10 named falls in the Bankhead and the Northwest Hills region. Parker Cascades is only 0.4 miles away, so the two are easy to pair in one outing. The nearest town is Haleyville, about 9.5 miles to the southwest.
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8. Great Falls
Smiths Station, AL · Lee County · Birmingham Ridges and the Fall Line
Why it made the list
It holds a 4.6-star Google rating and is the 5th most reviewed in the state, with 82 reviews. 73% of reviewers give it five stars. Older records also call it We-tum-cau Falls. It is one of 12 named falls in the Birmingham Ridges and the Fall Line region. The nearest town is Smiths Station, about 5.4 miles to the northeast.
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9. Ditto Falls
Owens Cross Roads, AL · Morgan County · Bankhead and the Northwest Hills
Why it made the list
Visitors rate it 4.3 stars across 6 reviews. It is one of 10 named falls in the Bankhead and the Northwest Hills region. The nearest town is Owens Cross Roads, about 9.1 miles to the northeast.
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10. Peavine Falls
Pelham, AL · Shelby County · Birmingham Ridges and the Fall Line
Why it made the list
It holds a 4.5-star Google rating and is the 6th most reviewed in the state, with 57 reviews. 81% of reviewers give it five stars. Google's listing sums it up as: "Accessed by a steep hiking trail, this spring-fed 65-ft.-tall waterfall is a popular destination." Older records also call it Peavine Waterfalls. It is one of 12 named falls in the Birmingham Ridges and the Fall Line region. The nearest town is Pelham, about 3.4 miles to the southwest.
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11. High Falls
Bridgeport, AL · Jackson County · Lookout Mountain and Sand Mountain
Why it made the list
Visitors rate it 4.2 stars across 12 reviews. It is one of 13 named falls in the Lookout Mountain and Sand Mountain region. Little Falls is only 0.6 miles away, so the two are easy to pair in one outing. The nearest town is Bridgeport, about 8.7 miles to the northwest.
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12. Griffin Falls
Crossville, AL · DeKalb County · Lookout Mountain and Sand Mountain
Why it made the list
It holds a 4.4-star Google rating and is the 8th most reviewed in the state, with 40 reviews. It is one of 13 named falls in the Lookout Mountain and Sand Mountain region. Swindell Falls is only 0.8 miles away, so the two are easy to pair in one outing. The nearest town is Crossville, about 3.6 miles to the west.
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13. Wetumpka Falls
Wetumpka, AL · Elmore County · Birmingham Ridges and the Fall Line
Why it made the list
Visitors rate it 3.6 stars across 13 reviews. Reviews most often mention walking. Older records also call it Wetumke Falls and Wetumkee Falls. It is one of 12 named falls in the Birmingham Ridges and the Fall Line region. The nearest town is Wetumpka, about 0.8 miles to the west.
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14. Salt Creek Falls
Munford, AL · Talladega County · Birmingham Ridges and the Fall Line
Why it made the list
It holds a 3.9-star Google rating and is the 9th most reviewed in the state, with 40 reviews. It is one of 12 named falls in the Birmingham Ridges and the Fall Line region. The nearest town is Munford, about 3.3 miles to the northwest.
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15. Village Falls
Minor, AL · Jefferson County · Birmingham Ridges and the Fall Line
Why it made the list
Visitors rate it 2.7 stars across 11 reviews. Reviews most often mention east and waterfall. It is one of 12 named falls in the Birmingham Ridges and the Fall Line region. The nearest town is Minor, about 2.1 miles to the southeast.
When to Visit Alabama's Waterfalls
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.
Before You Go
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.
Read our waterfall safety rules and packing list before heading out.
Explore More Alabama Waterfalls
See all 37 waterfalls in the Alabama waterfall guide, or browse by town: Fort Payne, Haleyville, Montevallo, Gadsden, Crossville, Smiths Station, Owens Cross Roads, Pelham.
More Alabama Waterfall Lists
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best waterfall in Alabama?
De Soto Falls tops our 2026 list, with a 4.8-star rating from 568 Google reviews. It is near Fort Payne in DeKalb County.
How was this list made?
We ranked the 19 publicly accessible Alabama waterfalls with at least five Google reviews by a weighted rating that balances score against review volume, so a 4.9 from a dozen reviewers counts for less than a 4.8 from thousands.
How many waterfalls are in Alabama?
Our directory lists 37 named waterfalls in Alabama. See them all, sorted by town, in the Alabama waterfall guide.
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.