DeSoto State Park: Cabin Trail to Indian and Lodge Falls (Blog Hike #450)

Trail: Cabin Trail (to Indian and Lodge Falls)

Hike Location: DeSoto State Park

Geographic Location: northeast of Fort Payne, AL (34.50004, -85.61716)

Length: 1.4 miles

Difficulty: 3/10 (Easy/Moderate)

Date Hiked: October 2013

Overview: A short out-and-back to two wet-weather waterfalls.

Park Information: http://www.alapark.com/desoto-state-park

Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=943145
Photo Highlight:

Directions to the trailhead: In northeast Alabama, drive I-59 to SR 35 (exit 218).  Exit and go east on SR 35.  Drive SR 35 4.6 miles to CR 89, climbing Lookout Mountain in the process.  Turn left on CR 89.  Drive CR 89 north 5.7 miles to the CCC Pavilion parking area on the right.  Park in the large blacktop parking lot in front of the CCC Pavilion.

The hike: Located about halfway between Chattanooga, TN and Gadsden, AL, DeSoto State Park consists of 3502 acres on the broad, high top of Lookout Mountain.  The park is named for the Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto, who explored this area in the early 1540’s.  Like many Alabama state parks, this park was developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the 1930’s.  The CCC built many of the park’s structures including the pavilion near this parking area, and a small museum in the park pays tribute to their contribution.

            DeSoto State Park has almost every amenity imaginable.  Lodging includes a resort lodge, a park motel, 12 cabins, and a 94-site campground.  The park also features a restaurant, an Olympic-sized swimming pool, and numerous picnic shelters.

            In terms of natural attractions, the park’s most famous attractions are its numerous waterfalls.  The largest waterfall is 104-foot DeSoto Falls, but it is located 6 miles north of the park and is accessible only by driving, not by hiking.  5 other waterfalls lie in the park’s main area, 2 of which are visited on this hike. 

My October 2013 visit was actually my second to this park; my first came in May 1998 before I started this blog, which leads to the only downside to these waterfalls.  Because DeSoto’s waterfalls sit high in the watershed atop Lookout Mountain, they only flow well after a significant rain.  In particular, the “waterfalls” were merely a dry rock outcrop on my early October visit, but they were quite nice on my May visit many years ago.  Time your visit accordingly.

Trailhead behind picnic shelter

            Start the hike by walking to the right of the picnic shelter at the rear of the parking lot, descending the steep, grassy hill, and entering the woods.  The slightly steep and eroded dirt trail continues its descent for another 0.1 miles to reach an intersection with the DeSoto Scout Trail, which is marked with yellow paint blazes.  The Scout Trail is a 5 mile long moderate/difficult trail along the West Fork of the Little River; it merits serious exploration if you have more time than I did on my visit.  To reach the Cabin Trail and its two waterfalls, turn right here to begin a short stint on the Scout Trail.

            Very quickly another spur trail exits right to head back to the picnic area, and you reach the narrow wooden bridge that crosses a creek just above Indian Falls.  As I mentioned in the introduction, this waterfall was completely dry on my visit, but a spur trail leads to the fall’s base if water flow is higher on your visit.  Just after crossing the bridge, you reach the north end of the Cabin Trail.  Angle right to begin the Cabin Trail, which is marked with lime-green paint blazes.

Wooden bridge above Indian Falls

Cabin and Scout Trails split

            The cabins for which this trail is named come into view on the right as you climb gradually.  The West Fork of the Little River lies sharply downhill to your left, but it usually cannot be seen due to the dense green understory.  At 0.5 miles, the Cabin Trail splits.  The left fork leads down to the base of Lodge Falls, while the right fork gives a view from the top of Lodge Falls.  Lodge Falls is only 0.1 miles away, so you can take in both views with little extra effort.

View from top of Lodge Falls

            Lodge Falls is the last point of interest on this trail, so now you need to get back to the trailhead.  You could simply retrace your steps along the Cabin/Scout Trails, but there is a way to form a loop.  Continuing along the branch of the Cabin Trail above Lodge Falls will bring you to the lodge, where a right turn will take you first to the lodge access road and then to CR 89.

            After walking a short distance on the road shoulder, look for the signed aqua-blazed pedestrian trail on the right.  Pick up this trail as it parallels the road, passes through the parking area for the Lost Falls Trail (perhaps the best trail in this park), and climbs slightly to reach the park’s Country Store.  The CCC pavilion stands uphill and across CR 89, thus signaling the end of the hike.