Simply put, High Falls Park is an Alabama treasure! THIS PLACE IS HOME TO ONE GORGEOUS WATERFALL, albeit hard to see straight on! Still, don't let that discourage you.
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THE EXPERIENCE
We arrived on a day when some of the locals said water flow was higher than average, but not a gullywasher. It was the perfect level to enhance the waterfalls thunderous tone, but still safe enough to allow children to play in the calm waters (closer to the bridge) before the waterfall crest.
Once you've navigated to the parking area, the walk to the falls is easy! Only about 200 yards down a partially paved road, then a short scramble to the riverside. The falls are approximately 35 feet high and up to 300 feet across when at full pool. It features a 25 foot arch in a stone outcrop just in front of the falls, which creates a natural bridge.
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BRIDGE
One of the most interesting features of this waterfall is the man-made bridge over the river, which once upon a time used to be one of Alabama's Historic Bridges. While the existing pedestrian bridge was built in 1998, the stone columns that support it were built in 1923 to support the original covered bridge that was destroyed by fire in the 1950's. Pictures of the covered bridge are highlighted on a monument sign near the existing bridge. It featured open lattice slats (instead of being enclosed) because mules didn't like walking through a dark bridge with the sound of rushing water coming from below their hooves... or so the monument sign says.
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DANGERS
Other news here was the death of a Georgia teen who cliff-jumped from the falls into the pool of water below in June of 2017. Also, a woman injured in April had to be airlifted out when she fell as she tried to get a good position to film her son cliff-jumping from the falls.
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FINAL THOUGHTS
I haven't seen many waterfalls in Alabama, but I can't imagine many being better than this! A gorgeous place to visit just for photos, or to relax or even to stay and play. Great for families with children of all ages... just please be careful of the very real dangers here. Otherwise, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
2020 / 29 read more