10 Most Beautiful Waterfalls in Alabama (2026 Updated)
Ranked by what visitors photograph and rate five stars, these are the 10 most beautiful of Alabama's 37 named waterfalls, starting with Noccalula 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
Beauty is subjective, so we let visitors decide. Among 16 publicly accessible Alabama waterfalls with Google reviews and photos, we ranked by three signals: the share of five-star reviews, how many photos visitors have posted, and how often reviews mention scenery and views. Every waterfall links to a full page with coordinates, maps and nearby falls.
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1. Noccalula Falls
Gadsden, AL · Etowah County · Lookout Mountain and Sand Mountain
Why it is so photogenic
Visitors have posted 3,253 photos of it on Google, about 2.6 for every review. 84% of its 1,271 reviewers rate it five stars (4.7 average). Its listing describes it as: "Visitors to this 90-ft. waterfall & huge park can hike, pet animals, putt-putt golf, picnic & camp." The setting includes The Brow (cliff, 0.8 mi) and Ewing Hill (summit, 2.0 mi). 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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2. De Soto Falls
Fort Payne, AL · DeKalb County · Lookout Mountain and Sand Mountain
Why it is so photogenic
Visitors have posted 1,943 photos of it on Google, about 3.4 for every review. 86% of its 568 reviewers rate it five stars (4.8 average). Its listing describes it as: "Waterfall on the West Fork of the Little River & named after the Spanish explorer, Fernando de Soto." The setting includes Tutwiler Gap (gap, 0.9 mi) and Little Mountain (summit, 1.4 mi). It is one of 13 named falls in the Lookout Mountain and Sand Mountain region. The nearest town is Fort Payne, about 10 miles to the southwest.
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3. Little River Falls
Fort Payne, AL · DeKalb County · Lookout Mountain and Sand Mountain
Why it is so photogenic
Visitors have posted 446 photos of it on Google, about 2.6 for every review. 87% of its 174 reviewers rate it five stars (4.8 average). Its listing describes it as: "Water rushing over rocks into a deep pool, with swimming holes & an observation deck." The setting includes Needle Rock (pillar, 1.5 mi). 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. Kinlock Falls
Haleyville, AL · Lawrence County · Bankhead and the Northwest Hills
Why it is so photogenic
Visitors have posted 603 photos of it on Google, about 2.7 for every review. 83% of its 221 reviewers rate it five stars (4.8 average). The setting includes Buttram Gulf (valley, 0.9 mi) and Hubbard Canyon (valley, 1.3 mi). It is one of 10 named falls in the Bankhead and the Northwest Hills region. The nearest town is Haleyville, about 8.8 miles to the southwest.
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5. High Falls
Crossville, AL · DeKalb County · Lookout Mountain and Sand Mountain
Why it is so photogenic
Visitors have posted 135 photos of it on Google, about 2.9 for every review. 85% of its 47 reviewers rate it five stars (4.7 average). The setting includes High Falls Natural Bridge (arch, under 0.1 mi). 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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6. Peavine Falls
Pelham, AL · Shelby County · Birmingham Ridges and the Fall Line
Why it is so photogenic
Visitors have posted 137 photos of it on Google, about 2.4 for every review. 81% of its 57 reviewers rate it five stars (4.5 average). Its listing describes it as: "Accessed by a steep hiking trail, this spring-fed 65-ft.-tall waterfall is a popular destination." The setting includes Johnson Mountain (summit, 1.0 mi). 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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7. Parker Falls
Haleyville, AL · Winston County · Bankhead and the Northwest Hills
Why it is so photogenic
Visitors have posted 81 photos of it on Google, about 4.0 for every review. 90% of its 20 reviewers rate it five stars (4.6 average). The setting includes Hubbard Canyon (valley, 0.8 mi) and Quillan Canyon (valley, 0.9 mi). It is one of 10 named falls in the Bankhead and the Northwest Hills region. 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 is so photogenic
Visitors have posted 155 photos of it on Google. 73% of its 82 reviewers rate it five stars (4.6 average). 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. Griffin Falls
Crossville, AL · DeKalb County · Lookout Mountain and Sand Mountain
Why it is so photogenic
Visitors have posted 79 photos of it on Google. 65% of its 40 reviewers rate it five stars (4.4 average). The setting includes Dugout Valley (valley, 1.4 mi) and Nicholson Gap (gap, 1.8 mi). It is one of 13 named falls in the Lookout Mountain and Sand Mountain region. The nearest town is Crossville, about 3.6 miles to the west.
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10. Salt Creek Falls
Munford, AL · Talladega County · Birmingham Ridges and the Fall Line
Why it is so photogenic
Visitors have posted 63 photos of it on Google. 60% of its 40 reviewers rate it five stars (3.9 average). 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.
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. For better pictures, see our waterfall photography tips.
Explore More Alabama Waterfalls
See all 37 waterfalls in the Alabama waterfall guide, or browse by town: Gadsden, Fort Payne, Haleyville, Crossville, Pelham, Smiths Station, Munford.
More Alabama Waterfall Lists
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most beautiful waterfall in Alabama?
Noccalula Falls tops our 2026 list, with a 4.7-star rating from 1,271 Google reviews. It is near Gadsden in Etowah County.
How was this list made?
Beauty is subjective, so we let visitors decide. Among 16 publicly accessible Alabama waterfalls with Google reviews and photos, we ranked by three signals: the share of five-star reviews, how many photos visitors have posted, and how often reviews mention scenery and views.
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.
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.