A Local’s Guide to DeSoto State Park Part 2: The Waterfall Corridor

Last month, we explored the river trails of DeSoto State Park. This month, we turn to one of the most accessible and rewarding hiking experiences in the park: The Waterfall Corridor.

Enjoy easy access to a cascading mountain stream

Named for the superintendent who managed the park for almost three decades, the Talmadge Butler Boardwalk Trail will take you more than 300 yards into a beautiful, relatively flat section of the park. Two large observation decks overlook a picturesque mountain stream, including one that straddles the water at Azalea Cascades.

Large signs at the entrance note that the park is part of the North Alabama Birding Trail. This area is especially well-suited for spotting birds found in southern Appalachian forests. From the boardwalk, hikers can easily continue upstream.

Get to Laurel Falls and Lost Falls on the Blue and Orange Trails

Laurel Creek produces multiple waterfalls within a short stretch, including Lost Falls, Laurel Falls, and Azalea Cascades. The Blue and Orange trails run parallel to the creek, each offering a slightly different perspective of the same waterway. Hiking out on one trail and returning on the other makes for a natural loop of roughly 3.5 miles. Along the way, hikers pass sandstone formations, a massive tulip poplar tree near the eastern end of the Blue Trail, and a landscape shaped by water and time.

The Orange Trail features large boulders near the country store and terrain that dips into mountain hollows, while the Blue Trail offers closer proximity to the creek in several sections.

You’ll enjoy the near-constant sound of water from both trails.

If you go

Start at the boardwalk and explore both the Blue and Orange trails for a complete waterfall experience. This area provides one of the easiest ways to see multiple waterfalls in a single hike.

Next month, we’ll move away from the water and explore the higher elevations of the park