Spring Break at DeSoto State Park

 We have always planned to visit some of Alabama's wonderful waterfalls, and during spring break is a great time to do so because many of the waterfalls are active during the spring.  Spring break of 2021 we were brainstorming what to do and decided to check out DeSoto State Park, which is just outside of Fort Payne, Alabama.  

At DeSoto State Park, we stayed in one of their rustic CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) cabins.  The cabin that we stayed in featured a living area with a fireplace, a small kitchen area, and a separate en suite bedroom.  There was also a grill and picnic area steps away from the cabin.  Our cabin was located near a rock overhang and our children loved playing in that area, which they insisted was inhabited by fairies (I'm not sure if this is true or not, but it definitely seemed magical).  The cabin was small but comfortable for our short stay, and very reasonably priced in my opinion.

Overhang near our cabin

DeSoto State Park features hiking trails, a playground, a camp store, and numerous hiking trails.  You check in at the lodge, which houses a restaurant; however, we cooked at our cabin during our stay and never did try it out.  There are a few small falls in the area of the park where the cabins are; however, the largest fall in the immediate area is located a short drive away at the DeSoto Falls Picnic Area.  There is a viewing overlook near the parking area, and there is also a parking area not far from the picnic area at the trailhead leading down to the base of the falls.  The trail was challenging for our six year-old, but they were able to survive the trek without being carried.

Stairs at the parking area

View from one of the trails at DeSoto State Park

DeSoto State Park is a short drive from downtown Fort Payne, which has a couple of playgrounds perfect for children as well as a park dedicated to legendary country music act Alabama.  Country music is not my jam, so to speak, or else we may have elected to visit the Alabama Fan Club & Museum.  We enjoyed a short stroll through the downtown area, which was filled with shops and places to grab a bite to eat.

DeSoto State Park is also an easy jumping off point to visit Little River Falls, which is located in the Little River Canyon National Preserve.  There is a large parking area and boardwalk to a nice viewing area.  

Little River Falls

We enjoyed our trip to DeSoto State Park and would love to return.  It was definitely a change of pace from our frequent trips to the Alabama gulf coast beaches, and we all really enjoyed doing something different.  If you like to hike and enjoy spending time in nature, I would definitely recommend planning your own trip to the area.