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Situated atop northeast Alabama’s Lookout Mountain, Desoto State Park is a 3,500-acre nature preserve and recreation destination that features vibrant forests, gushing waterfalls, and rugged mountain scenery. The park is located 8 miles northeast of Fort Payne, and approximately 75 miles east of Huntsville making it a great place camping near Atlanta. Dedicated in 1939, the park was named after Hernando de Soto, the renowned 16th century explorer. Prior to its dedication, most of the park’s roads, trails and facilities were constructed through the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), a Depression-era works program that improved many of the country’s parks and forests, while providing jobs and skills to millions of struggling Americans. The park boasts many local legends, including one that suggests that the area may have been settled by Welsh explorers, centuries before Columbus’s arrival in the New World. Visitors are invited to learn more about DeSoto State Park by camping in the park.
The campground at DeSoto State Park features 94 full-hookup sites for tent and RV campers. Sites have either back-in or pull-through parking pads, and can accommodate large vehicles/trailers. Each site is equipped with picnic tables and cooking grills, and there are two comfort stations available with restrooms, showers and laundry facilities. A dump station is located onsite. The park also has a primitive tent campground that offers 16 sites with fire pits. Picnic tables, cooking grills, potable water, trash receptacles, and vault toilets are located in this campground’s central area. There are also two primitive backpacker camps with sleeping shelters and fire pits, but no water or trash service. In addition to camping, the park also offers a variety of chalets, cabins and motel rooms for those less interested in roughing it. Other amenities include picnic areas, an outdoor pool, tennis courts, and a playground. Campsite rates range from $15–$36/night, plus fees; other accommodation rates vary.
Visitors will find a variety of seasonal activities to enjoy at DeSoto State Park, from hiking and fishing to geocaching and zip-lining. Start your visit by checking out the CCC Museum and Benefield Interpretive Center to learn about the park’s history, flora and fauna. Drop into the country store and purchase a trail map for the park’s 30 miles of hiking and biking paths. Trails range in distance and difficulty, so there’s a path for everyone. There’s even a barrier-free boardwalk trail. Swimming, fishing and kayaking can be enjoyed on the West Fork Little River, which runs right through the park. The park also hosts guided hikes, campfire programs, and community events. Thrill-seekers can get a bird’s eye view over the park on the Aerial Adventure zipline course, which includes six ziplines and seven sky bridges, and golfers can tee off at the DeSoto Golf Course, just a few miles south of the park.
From Birmingham, Alabama: Take I-59 North to Exit #218 (Fort Payne/AL-Hwy 35 exit). At the bottom of the ramp, turn right onto AL. Hwy 35. After approximately 1 mile, turn left at the Alabama Band Fan Club onto AL Hwy- 35/Hwy 11 North. After 1 ½ miles, turn right at the Fort Payne City Park, onto AL Hwy 35 (5th Street NE). Follow AL Hwy 35 up Lookout Mountain, at the top of the mountain at the caution light, turn left onto County Road 89(DeSoto Parkway NE). You will reach DeSoto State Park after 5 ½ miles. For camping & information, the Country Store is past the entrance sign & down the s-curve on the left).
Very nice state park. Plenty of activities available such as camping, hiking, picnicking and more. There are both RV and primitive camp sites. We stayed in the RV section the sites are nice with picnic tables and full hookups. Some of the sites are asphalt and others are gravel.
My husband and I chose to come here to celebrate our 41st Anniversary. We absolutely loved it. The room was great. We enjoyed the restaurant a few times. And there's also a wonderful ice cream shop, not far from the park.. We went to the pool. We went kayaking for the first time ever, we loved it. We walked almost all the trails and saw the beautiful waterfalls. We ziplined for the first time ever. It was amazing, fun and we both said we could do it again. He's 63 and I'm 59. We were able to see many deer in the area and a few squirrels. We both said that we would definitely love to come back again.
Very nice place. Was there on sat feb 3rd at 10am ...
Restrooms were locked and its miles to nearest store. This State park had a way for you to pay to park. Just no access to use onsite restrooms. Also park attendant should cut the ugly tree stubs just inside the fence. Ruins most pictures of the falls.
Excellent state park. The campground has large, well spaced sites with full hookups. There are back in and pull through sites, all with a fire ring and picnic table. There is a dump station and a super clean bath house. The camp store is for checking in, information and souvenirs only. The park also has a lodge with a restaurant and individual cabins. There are miles of excellent hiking and mountain biking trails. Many of the trails have waterfalls on them. I highly recommend this park and will definitely return.
We grew up going here. The cabins are wonderful. Not fancy, but very comfortable. The scenery is great! It’s really lovely in the fall when the leaves are changing, but spring is wonderful as well. Blooms, green everywhere and lots of spring migrating birds. The lodge/hotel is okay,but the cabins are really great.
