High Falls Park

During rainy times High Falls is the next best thing to Niagara Falls, and it is stepping-stone fun during dry times. I first learned about High Falls Park (a DeKalb County park in Alabama) during an Eagle Awareness Weekend at Lake Guntersville State Park in 2001. I had never heard of it, and it didn’t appear on published maps back then. The Guntersville park staff told us about it and provided us with a hand drawn map. We drove the 15 miles from the park to see it, and it was spectacular! That January day was an excellent time to see the falls at their maximum size – covering the entire 300-ft width of the rocks and falling 35 feet. I went to see it again after all the rain we had this December and it was just as impressive. 

It’s just a short downhill walk from the parking lot to a view of the falls and the natural arch carved out by the flowing water. A pedestrian bridge crosses Town Creek a short way upstream of the falls. This bridge was built in 1996 on the rock supports of the original 1923 covered bridge which burned in the 1950’s. In addition to providing excellent views of the gorge, the bridge leads to hiking trails across the creek. You can also see a rope hanging from a tree upstream which marks the spot where local churches performed baptisms.

We visited the falls another time one September, while doing some geocaching, and at that time of year it was practically dry. This enabled us to walk all over the rocks in the creek and get a great view of the natural arch which is about 25 feet long and 35 feet high. We did locate at least one geocache along the park’s hiking trails back then. 

The park encompasses 38 acres with several hiking trails, picnic pavilions, and a children’s playground. On my most recent visit I was happy to find that the park now has some additional amenities – bathrooms and a snack bar (which was closed).

Be sure to keep track of closing time, which is 4 pm in the winter. I was watching the time and knew I still had 15 minutes left when a Sheriff nearly gave me a heart attack by blasting his siren at me when I was just a few yards away in the woods. I walked back to the road to find out what his problem was, but he drove back up to the parking lot. The few other people that had been there were gone and the old sheriff was hobbling across the parking lot to check on something. I suspect the lady waiting in his car was his wife. I think he was just in hurry to get the gates closed and get on home!

Sites along the road nearby:

You definitely need directions to find this park, although it’s not far from the turn off for Bucks Pocket State Park. It’s a little over an hour's drive from Huntsville. Address: 969 County Road 144, Grove Oak, AL 35975 (where CR 144 dead ends)