DeSoto State Park

DeSoto State Park is a public recreation area located on Lookout Mountain 8 mi northeast of Fort Payne, Alabama. The state park covers 3502 acre of forest, rivers, waterfalls, and mountain terrain. It borders the Little River, which flows into the nearby Little River Canyon National Preserve. The 104 ft DeSoto Falls, the state's highest waterfall, is found in a separate part of the park 6 mi north of the main park.

History
The park, which bears the name of 16th-century explorer Hernando de Soto, was developed in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The park then known as State Park No. 5 was established in 1935. When it was dedicated as Desoto State Park on May 24, 1939, it was the largest state park in Alabama. The park's museum celebrating the CCC's work in Alabama state parks opened in 2013.

Awards
In September 2020, DeSoto State Park was one of eleven Alabama state parks awarded Tripadvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Award, which recognizes businesses and attractions that earn consistently high user reviews.

Activities and amenities
The park features 25 mi of hiking trails that include more than 11 mi of National Recreation Trail-designated mountain bike trails, a CCC-built lodge and cabins, restaurant, campsites, chalets, motel, swimming pool, and nature center.