| Copyright 2007 by Dale Cox All rights reserved. |
DeSoto Falls - Alabama
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DeSoto Falls - Lookout Mountain, Alabama
Located just off the Lookout Mountain Parkway near Mentone and
Fort Payne, Alabama, DeSoto Falls is a spectacular 100-foot
waterfall that pours from a high rocky ledge atop Lookout Mountain
to a large pool in the canyon below. The falls are part of DeSoto
State Park, one of the South's most beautiful outdoor recreation
areas.
DeSoto Falls have been an important landmark for thousands of
years. Early Native Americans were the first to see the falls and
evidence of their presence has been found in the surrounding area.
Many legends exist surrounding the falls, some fairly fanciful and
others that may have a basis of truth. Tradition claims, for example,
that Hernando de Soto and his Spanish explorers camped at the
falls for two days during their bloody rampage through what is now
Alabama. It is possible they stopped there, of course, but none of
the surviving chronicles of the expedition mention DeSoto Falls,
although they preserve his name to this day.
Another fascinating legend centers around caves carved into the
sheer walls of the cliffs in the canyon below the falls. The caves
were once protected by a semi-circular stone wall. Similar walls in
the region have been determined archaeologically to have been of
Native American construction and this one probably was too, but
legend holds it was built by a little known Welsh explorer named
Prince Madoc.
Madoc was a real person and some claim he landed at Mobile Bay
in 1170 and traveled inland to DeSoto Falls where he inhabited the
caves. No proof, of course, has ever been found. Even so, the
legend is a colorful part of the folklore of these beautiful mountains.
DeSoto Falls are open to the public daily. The park area includes a
pretty mountain lake, the waterfalls, picnic areas and hiking trails. A
paved sidewalk leads down to the waterfall overlooks. The falls run
year round. The photos seen here were taken during a dry summer
season, but they were still quite scenic. At other times of the year
they run with much more force.
DeSoto Falls are located just off the Lookout Mountain Parkway
near Fort Payne, Alabama. Just look for the signs.
Fort Payne, Alabama, DeSoto Falls is a spectacular 100-foot
waterfall that pours from a high rocky ledge atop Lookout Mountain
to a large pool in the canyon below. The falls are part of DeSoto
State Park, one of the South's most beautiful outdoor recreation
areas.
DeSoto Falls have been an important landmark for thousands of
years. Early Native Americans were the first to see the falls and
evidence of their presence has been found in the surrounding area.
Many legends exist surrounding the falls, some fairly fanciful and
others that may have a basis of truth. Tradition claims, for example,
that Hernando de Soto and his Spanish explorers camped at the
falls for two days during their bloody rampage through what is now
Alabama. It is possible they stopped there, of course, but none of
the surviving chronicles of the expedition mention DeSoto Falls,
although they preserve his name to this day.
Another fascinating legend centers around caves carved into the
sheer walls of the cliffs in the canyon below the falls. The caves
were once protected by a semi-circular stone wall. Similar walls in
the region have been determined archaeologically to have been of
Native American construction and this one probably was too, but
legend holds it was built by a little known Welsh explorer named
Prince Madoc.
Madoc was a real person and some claim he landed at Mobile Bay
in 1170 and traveled inland to DeSoto Falls where he inhabited the
caves. No proof, of course, has ever been found. Even so, the
legend is a colorful part of the folklore of these beautiful mountains.
DeSoto Falls are open to the public daily. The park area includes a
pretty mountain lake, the waterfalls, picnic areas and hiking trails. A
paved sidewalk leads down to the waterfall overlooks. The falls run
year round. The photos seen here were taken during a dry summer
season, but they were still quite scenic. At other times of the year
they run with much more force.
DeSoto Falls are located just off the Lookout Mountain Parkway
near Fort Payne, Alabama. Just look for the signs.
| View of 100-foot DeSoto Falls Lookout Mountain Mentone, Alabama |
| DeSoto Falls in Summer Lookout Mountain Mentone, Alabama |