Photo: Thejammer (talk) · Public domainNoccalula Falls
Worth the drive
Is it plungeworthy?
A waterfall on Black Creek.
The details
- Watercourse
- Black Creek
- Coordinates
- 34.04131, -86.0215
About Noccalula Falls
Noccalula Falls is a 90-foot waterfall in Alabama, on Black Creek.
It's fullest after rain, and flow can drop off during dry spells — plan around recent weather.
Plungeworthy rates Noccalula Falls 7.5/10 — worth the drive. The score weighs its scale, how confidently it's mapped, and its character.
What you'll find
A 90-foot plunge into the Black Creek gorge in Gadsden's Noccalula Falls Park, with the statue of its namesake watching from the rim.
This is a developed city attraction, not a backcountry hike: pioneer village, botanical garden, animal habitat, and a train ride sit alongside the trails that switchback into the gorge.
Below the rim, the gorge trail follows Black Creek past smaller cascades and rock shelters — the wilder half of the visit.
Getting there
- Trailhead
- Noccalula Falls Park entrance, 1500 Noccalula Rd, Gadsden
- Parking
- Paved lot at the park entrance
- Road
- Paved
- Hike
- 1.5 mi round trip, 200 ft of climb (easy to moderate — paved overlook, stairs into the gorge)
- Heads up
- Park admission required to reach the falls.
When to go
Black Creek's larger watershed keeps the falls running better than most Alabama drops year-round, with winter and spring rain the peak.
Hours are seasonal — the park closes entirely in January and February, and runs evening hours for a lighted falls display in the holiday season.
Rules & fees
- Fee / pass
- Paid admission — roughly $10 adult, $8 senior/military, $8 child (4-12); confirm current rates at noccalulafallspark.com
- Hours
- Closed Jan 1-Feb 28; 9am-5pm spring/fall, to 7pm peak summer, evening hours Nov-Dec
- Camping
- Campground inside the park
Researched from Noccalula Falls Park — park information · Alabama Tourism — Noccalula Falls Park. Conditions change — verify before you drive. Been to Noccalula 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 Noccalula Falls?
Noccalula Falls drops about 90 feet, in Alabama.
Where is Noccalula Falls?
Noccalula Falls is a waterfall in Alabama, at 34.04131, -86.0215.
Is Noccalula Falls worth visiting?
Worth the drive — Plungeworthy rates it 7.5/10.
Gear for the trip
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