Alabama Waterfalls

Although this is the time of year when it is cold outside and the skies are often a dark and dreary shade of gray,  we have also reached the peak time of year for viewing waterfalls in the state of Alabama. Alabama is blessed with thousands of impressive waterfalls from the mighty High Falls (pictured above) located at an easily accessible county park in DeKalb County to the Kings Shower hidden within the miles of underground passage inside the Tumbling Rock Cave near Scottsboro.

The library has several books that can help you get started in discovering waterfalls in Alabama. Several guides to hiking in Alabama mention the locations of waterfalls, including titles such as Alabama: An Atlas of Alabama’s Greatest Hiking Adventures, 60 Hikes within 60 Miles of Birmingham, 50 Hikes in Alabama, and - especially - Waterfall Walks and Drives in Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee.

Many of the most photographed waterfalls in Alabama reside within the borders of the Sipsey Wilderness Area, a rugged tract of wilderness in the northwestern part of the state that contains (literally) thousands of waterfalls. The library system has a couple of books that can help you navigate this area: Alabama Canyons is available for checkout by anyone with a valid library card, but you will have to visit the Southern History department in order to find additional information on the Sipsey Wilderness in books such as Walking Sipsey: The People, Places, and Wildlife or Indian Trails of the Warrior Mountains.
Also, if you are interested in spending a full day exploring some waterfalls around the state (with very little hiking required), the map below features an itinerary and directions for a road trip to six really great and easily accessible waterfalls around northeast Alabama. Its a 300 mile roundtrip drive from the Birmingham area, but a great way to spend a cold Saturday in January or February.

View Waterfall Tour Sand Mountain and Lookout Mountain Watersheds in a larger map