Noccalula Falls in Gadsden, Alabama
- Lester Martin
After last weekend’s Waterfalls of Alabama's DeSoto State Park trip I was fired up to get out there to see Noccalula Falls in Gadsden. We ended up parking just outside the entrance to Noccalula Falls Park, but as I’d recommend that most folks just park near the top of the waterfall (just behind the Jack’s restaraunt), skip the “park”, and see the waterfall from above for free. Needless to say, I learn things the hard way.
The bonus was that we got to ride a little kiddie train.
When we got to the petting zoo stop I hear the “engineer” announce that we were are the beginning of the gorge trail that can take you down to the bottom of the waterfall. Like before, I was still learning the hard way as it was a steep walk down, and of course, it felt worse on the way back up in the heat.
That said, we did get to go pretty far and take some photos before heading back up the trail.
In the upper-right of the photo above you might see the statue for Noccalula and you can read all about her legend here.
We were burning up, but it was a great spot for a selfie.
Once topside again, I made my way over to the observation deck up where I found the Noccalula statue up close and personal.
I’ve seen images and videos of when the water was running at full-level and I am hoping to return some day and see this beautiful 90 foot waterfall at those volumes. Aren’t Mother Nature’s Waterfalls beautiful?!?!