Photo: Jsfouche · CC BY-SA 3.0De Soto Falls
Worth the drive
Is it plungeworthy?
A waterfall on West Fork Little River.
The details
- Watercourse
- West Fork Little River
- Coordinates
- 34.54881, -85.5907
About De Soto Falls
De Soto Falls is a 104-foot waterfall in Alabama, on West Fork Little River.
It's fullest after rain, and flow can drop off during dry spells — plan around recent weather.
Plungeworthy rates De Soto Falls 7.7/10 — worth the drive. The score weighs its scale, how confidently it's mapped, and its character.
What you'll find
A two-stage drop on the West Fork of the Little River near Mentone — a 16-foot upper cascade feeding a roughly 70-foot lower plunge, close to 88 feet combined. The 104-foot figure quoted everywhere counts the small dam sitting at the lip, a leftover from an early hydroelectric plant that still regulates the flow.
The overlook is a short paved walk from the picnic-area lot — no real hike required for one of the state's biggest views.
The pool below is a beloved summer swimming hole with a grim ledger: multiple drownings, including two in 2019 and one in 2020, tied to currents and submerged rock near the dam outflow.
Getting there
- Trailhead
- DeSoto Falls Picnic Area off County Road 89, north of DeSoto State Park
- Parking
- Paved lot beside the overlook
- Road
- Paved to the lot
- Hike
- 0.2 mi round trip, 20 ft of climb (easy)
- Heads up
- Short paved/gravel path from the lot to the main overlook.
When to go
Winter and spring carry the flow; by late summer the West Fork often thins to a trickle over the dam.
Summer weekends fill the swimming area below regardless.
Rules & fees
- Fee / pass
- None
- Dogs
- Leashed, per DeSoto State Park rules
- Hours
- Dawn to dusk
- Camping
- Campground, cabins, and lodge at DeSoto State Park — not at the falls
- Warnings
- Multiple drowning deaths in the pool below (two in 2019, one in 2020) — currents and submerged rock near the dam outflow. Swim like the water has a record, because it does.
Researched from Wikipedia — DeSoto Falls (Alabama) · Alabama State Parks — DeSoto State Park · World Waterfall Database. Conditions change — verify before you drive. Been to De Soto Falls recently? Post a conditions report below.
Where it is
Before you go
The pin marks the feature, not a trailhead or a legal route in. Some sit on private land or need a real hike, and conditions change with season and rain. Check local access, don't trespass, and never enter water — hot or cold — where it isn't safe.
Common questions
How tall is De Soto Falls?
De Soto Falls drops about 104 feet, in Alabama.
Where is De Soto Falls?
De Soto Falls is a waterfall in Alabama, at 34.54881, -85.5907.
Is De Soto Falls worth visiting?
Worth the drive — Plungeworthy rates it 7.7/10.
Gear for the trip
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