My group said we should go to this event that I had never been to. We drove up from Birmingham that evening and spent so many hours there walking around together and riding that tiny train once too. I was surprised the whole time bc it was not something I would think to care about except for taking my kids to when they little many years ago. However it was actually so enjoyable and neat to be at. It is filled with so many people clearly for a reason. I'd recommend anyone go to it even if they think it's not their type of thing. It is very cool for sure. Also, the last thing we did was hop on that little train( which I didn't care to do at all without little kids with me) yet it was a shocker how that man driving the train who shares about all things throughout the event that you get to see again from a different view on that train...he was super awesome. I actually would have ridden that train and listened to that man over and over and over again. He was fun to hear from. It is not super expensive so do not resist to do it. Gather up your group or just you and your spouse or for take your kids if they are still young. This is for sure a fun enjoyable thing to go see. read more

See all

We have been here a few times and always enjoy the scenery and of course beautiful Noccalula! Come after a rain for increased water production for a bigger waterfall! There is a paid admission section with the railroad, mini golf, hiking under the Falls, petting zoo and gardens, but campground area just to see the Falls is free. Dog friendly walking (on leash). In warmer months they also have Frios Gourmet Pops open for sweet treats and something to cool off with. read more

See all

If you are coming south on 59, Google maps will take you on few mile, curvy, hilly, narrow road. It's fine if you take your time. We had no issues towing our 28 ft Airstream. Tidbit - don't miss the entrance to the campground at the bottom of the hill on the right. We passed it the first time and ended up in the general parking area for Nocculula Falls. The check-in lady was nice and very efficient. The sites are long with concrete pads and gravel drives. There is nice spacing between the sites. Most of the sites are back in with a handful of pull-thrus. There are trees but no shade at the sites. The WIFI did not work for us. The laundry and bathrooms are in the same building. There are about 6 total machines. They also have a pool. Everything was nice and clean. Noccalula Falls has a lot more water than I expected. You can view it from the top or you can take a well worn dirt/rock path down to the bottom. It isn't well marked but following others footsteps worked for us. It would be nice to have markers so you know how close you are getting. We were just passing through so we only spent one night. A bit on the pricey side once taxes and fees are tacked on. read more

See all

We visit the park every year at least once.There is a playground,mini golf,train,petting zoo,several historical buildings.The main attraction is of course,the falls,canyon,and the grounds.There is picnic areas in several locations,also a few restaurants nearby.There is also a hiking trail down the mountain.We brought 2 classes today.Check out the next ,The Working Man Review. read more

Noccalula Falls Park & Campgrounds - Entrance - Parks Near Me - Gadsden, Alabama

Noccalula Falls is one of my favorite spots in north Alabama. The story goes that a Native American princess threw herself from the top of the falls after being forbidden to marry the man she loved. I've heard this tale my whole life (my dad grew up near here) though who really knows if it's true. The park is in Gadsden, AL, just off I-59, and it's easy to spend a whole afternoon there. You can see the falls for free and enjoy the picnic areas and playgrounds. For $10 you can ride the little train that circles the park, which is a fun way to see the historic buildings, pretty landscaping, and even a small petting farm. If you visit around November or December, the park transforms with over a million lights. There's also a nice trail that leads to the bottom of the falls if you like to hike or just want to sit on the rocks. (No swimming allowed, though.) Before you go to the park, be sure stop by the nearby bakery, where my friend's niece is the baker But go early as they sell out fast! read more

See all

I'm an Alabamian and had no idea this place existed! I'm sure, learned of this story in Alabama history but never knew this was an actual place. I was on a road trip and decided I wanted to see a waterfall. I was not disappointed. The nice ladies at the visitor center informed me of all the activity around the park and answered all my questions. Those ladies are wonderful!!! I explained that I was on a road trip and would be back for the train tour. They told me to walk across the bridge and I could get a good view of the waterfall without the tour. Thank you ladies! Wow! This place is great! I will definitely be back and plan on bringing family and friends with me!! read more

See all

Nice sightseeing hike. I have 4 kids under 6. This hike is doable but it will take a long time. They have a train and a gift shop. The area is really big so unless you plan on walking long distances it is not for the weak. Especially mid day in the summer when it is extremely humid. The kangaroo just had its baby, too. read more

Noccalula Falls Park & Campgrounds - Front of building - Parks Near Me - Gadsden, Alabama

Me, my gf, my cousin, and our dog went here and walked for hours. We went done to the falls and it is beautiful. The water feels good during the summer and it's a great place to go on a day off if you like nature and love hiking and walking read more

This park and campground was beautiful and very well manicured. The campground has been renovated so they had to remove some trees, however they have planted more around the sites. For the best shade section A has it all. The campground has a pool which is great! Also, the park and mini golf are free for campers. The park is gorgeous with a fun little petting zoo. I was very impressed with the maintenance and up keep of the park and campground. read more

Noccalula Falls Park & Campgrounds - Noccalula Falls - Parks Near Me - Gadsden, Alabama

I looked for the best waterfalls in Alabama, and this was one of the top ones; here was my experience. Parking: Plenty of campground parking. I went here when the water was low so there wasn't much traction. Feels: The waterfall is pretty accessible to view, to be under the waterfall, you would have to work a bit harder. It's a nice pit stop as its close to a gas station and a few fast food eateries. Overall: 4 Stars. The area was nice. There seemed to be a lot of potential with a lot of activities to enjoy nature. Unfortunately, I wasn't there during the waterfall. If you're willing to drive an hour or if it's on your way to another place, do visit. TL;DR Tips: * Do some research, maybe call ahead of time to see if the waterfall is full of water * It's well lit during the holidays! read more

Noccalula Falls Park & Campgrounds - Woot! - Parks Near Me - Gadsden, Alabama

Great park with nice trails. On the negative side, there was construction on site, but the view of the fall was unobstructed read more

See all

INCREDIBLE! After spending an entire afternoon at Noccalula Falls, that is just one of many words that ran through my head as I caught my breath while drying off in the parking lot. Other words and phrases included "WOW", "WOOF" and "THAT WAS COOL." There is such a sense of accomplishment you feel after hiking all the way down (the long way) and finally reaching the waterfall. For those that attempt the trek, look for the trees and stones marked "11" for the most optimal path. Once you reach the water, you can easily make your way behind the waterfall. Once there, the views are absolutely stunning. It might just be one of the most beautiful natural places I've ever encountered in my life. read more

This is my park. I live on Tabor Road not far from the park. I am there all the time. I don't use the campground so I can't say anything about that. The trails are wonderful. My husband and I like the trail that goes under the falls. We have hiked from opening to closing. I think the park closes at 7 pm now. I wished they allowed tent camping on the trails, but a police in the park told me as of now it wasn't allowed. The park is safe. It has a Gadsden police officer all the time for security. The Jack's Hamburgers right next to the parks is the best as well. read more

This park was inspiring and so beautiful. I spent hours exploring beside the river and rapids hanging out on boulders and eventually ending up in the mist of the massive Noccalula Falls.. such a magical place! read more

See all

We went to Christmas at the Falls last night. It was stunning. A ton of work went into turning the park into a wonderland of lights. This year tickets were available only online and at specific times. We had tickets for 8:00pm but they let us in early. As a result of limiting the tickets the park didn't feel too crowded. Everyone was extremely nice and helpful. My parents are handicapped and they put us on the train right away. No waiting at all. It was a peaceful, beautiful ride around the park. I regret we did not get to stay to see all the vendors. My dad had already retired to the car while my mother and I went to see what was available. On the way, my mother got very tired and tried to make it to a bench just off the trail. I thought I had a firm grip on her but she took a nasty fall. Several young men helped get her up and on the bench. I went in search of help. Hats off to the Donut vendor, I believe her name was Brenda. She refused to let me pay for water for my mom and called for help. The two ladies that arrived in the cart to help were just wonderful. I have no idea how I would have gotten mom back to the car without them. Mom is banged up but will We had a great time before the fall and hope to return in the future. read more

Stopped on our way out from visiting family and we were very disappointed we didn't find this place earlier. The story behind the lady jumping was sooo amazing. The plaque tells you the story of how she didn't want to marry a Creek warrior. The history of this area is cool. We plan to check out the cabins when we return so we can visit more of the park. read more

Noccalula Falls Park & Campgrounds - Waterfall - Parks Near Me - Gadsden, Alabama

See all

Just riding up 59 and decided to stop by. This historic spot offers so much. Hiking trails, picnic areas, camping grounds, a petting zoo and so much more. My family would go to Noccalula often when I was young. Being here today was nostalgic...so many memories with my cousins and family friends. And this is a great way to socialize and get some fresh air in the midst of the pandemic. It's best to come on sunny day after a few days of good rain, the falls are really gorgeous. Today was fairly dry but still a decent picturesque view! Go by and check out the legend of Princess Noccalula! read more

See all

The camp host/hostess takes obvious pride in maintaining this jewel of a property. Cleanest most efficient bathroom set up ever (thank you!) Great place overall read more

There's so much that can be said about Noccalula Falls. But I'll keep it brief. A co-worker of mine that knows my love for nature, adventures & stories once recommended that I visit Noccalula Falls. This weekend, I took some time to go explore and what a wonderful excursion it was!! My friends and I started our hike at the chapel, went down the Black Creek Trail a little past the .3 mile marker until we come to a trash can on our left with fly fishing instructions on it. We went down the rocky trail until the Gorge Trail which has a sign that says suspension bridge. Taking a left and following Gorge Trail until we get behind the waterfall. At the park, you have two options. By hiking at the chapel, you're intinually taking the longer and adventurous route to the waterfall. If you decide taking a much calmer route, there is an entrance through the park. Be prepared to pay $6 per person. That fee includes everything in the park. From riding the train, visiting the Pioneers Village, visiting the petting Zoo, and may more. There are multiple trials to hike and great picnic areas. From Princess Noccalula to the Pioneers, there's so much history that one could enjoy. I definitely recommend visiting this place. read more

See all

We finally made it here! I had been wanting to come for quite awhile! I had read online that you can bring your dog so we brought Buster! Sadly, when we went to go into the paid park we were told you can only bring service dogs into the park. However, we could bring him into the campground area. So, off we went into the campground area, which was much more than I thought it was going to be! You can actually walk right up to the falls from the campground area. You really should stop if you are in the area. There is no hiking involved. After checking out the falls, we walked around a little bit and discovered that if you go alongside the little chapel that is there, you can find all the hiking trails which are really nice and well maintained. You can also bring your mountain bike on these trails if you are so inclined. We had a good time taking the dog on a hike on the one trail. Trails are well maintained and paved in some areas. Very pretty scenery. I would love to come back and plan a day here. Hike all day, bring a picnic. The camping area looks nice and the cabin rentals look even nicer. It would be nice to spend a long weekend here in one of the cabins. read more

See all

Photos of Noccalulua Falls is what made hubby wanted to check this place out. He knows I love to chase waterfalls. It is located in AL but no more than 3 hours away. The drive there is not scenic and boring. There was a lot of construction too. It sucks. The park is confusing. The maps are not marked well. The trails sucks too. We were clueless. After walking where the trail ended, we were confused. We saw others a mile later after making a U-turn and asked. So we missed a trail that would connect us to the waterfalls. From what I learn, you can pay to go to the waterfalls but if choose to not, you have to go to another trail. We did not know this and just followed the trail and crowd. The trail that leads to the suspension bridge is not mark well and was told to take the opposite way to the waterfalls. After climbing many rocks and tree roots, we saw nothing. When finally saw the waterfall, it was sad and not worth it. Rain started to come down. Thank goodness made it to the top of the trail before it started to pour down even more. The walk to the car was a monsoon. This is the most disappointing waterfall I've ever been to. The not so well marked trails is what makes it and the sad waterfall at the end is what ranks it as my worse experience, especially at a park. Maybe it's just my bad timing and experience but this review is based on that. 51/2020 read more

See all

Didn't get to visit the park today because it was closed due to COVID, but I did get to spend time on the Black Creek Hiking trails that are in the same complex as the park and on the same land as the campgrounds. We followed the orange/yellow trail (good luck following the trail markers because they are few and far between) to go down to the suspended bridge. It wasn't a far hike and the bridge was pretty cool. We crossed the bridge and followed the trail (that we could be figure out) all the way around to the waterfall. We had just had a pretty intense weekend of rain storms and the falls were really flowing. We were able to hike around the back of the waterfall and it was so cool. That hike is a bit difficult at times. I wouldn't bring small children if I planned to walk behind the falls and the rocks are slippery and could be dangerous for older guests who aren't able to be agile and adapt to sliding rocks. Overall, it was a wonderful experience and I can't wait to go again. read more

See all

Came in during the winter season for a climbing competition close by. Did some tent camping here for three nights and was very pleased. The bathrooms are clean, they smell good and they are heated. Taking a shower outside during the winter is not that easy so heated bathrooms with clean tiled showers was a huge plus. Water and electricity hookups also available at each site if you need them. The falls where a short walk from our campsite and really awesome to look at day or night. There are several hiking trails near by including a hike down to the base of the falls. We saw some anglers there when we made it to the base. Not the easiest hike and would not recommend to the novice walker or hiker. There are lots of other nice trails to choose from. All in all next time i'm in the area ill be camping here. The price is not too bad the amenities are great. read more

Noccalula Falls Park & Campgrounds - Parks Near Me - Gadsden, Alabama

Cool events. Friendly Staff. Very safe. Easy home to the falls. You can easily steal hydrangea blooms lol

Arrival: 11:00 am Departure: 3:30 PM Party size: 5 Parking: Large public parking Atmosphere: Very casual. Cleanliness: a lot of construction zones Wait: No wait. Staff: We had to approach the worker and ask questions. She was just looking through a magazine. PROS: Walk under the waterfalls was amazing. You had to pay to get in to get to the path to see waterfalls from below. Paid extra for putt putt golf. It has 18 holes and was kept up nicely. Day we went we were told the course was not blown off, you could tell. Cute little gift shop with unique items CONS: You had to pay to get in to get to the path to see waterfalls from below. We asked if we could access trails without entering park, we were misled so we paid to enter the park for one trail to beneath the falls. (This was a beautiful hike). We found out later that the trails are accessed through the campground and do not require payment. Train broke down right after we arrived, still broken when we left. Saw people waiting for the train because they were not informed that it was broken at the entrance. The caged wild animals were so amazingly sad. They had small pens. The Arctic Fox does not need to be housed in a horrible pen in warm weather in AL. Most of the buildings were cautioned off so we were not able to access the majority of them. This was not mentioned when we entered. The botanical gardens was not kept up at all. The map said the gardens were there but there was very little indication of it. Keep in mind it was spring when we visited. Overall: We are torn over this, they need your money! We spoke to a worker there and it was mentioned how the city will not give them the money they need. This could be an amazing place and we just came at a bad time. But there was no discount and we were not told how we would not be able to access some areas. read more

See all

Beautiful falls with great areas for picnics and cooking out. The train is fun - overall, a great family experience! I'm

First off, you don't have to pay to get in! We went into gift shop and thought we had to pay but we believe the armband was just for the train. The person at counter didn't explain that at all! We stopped here on our way toward Chattanooga. This place is definitely worth it. Beautiful park! The animal section not worth it? Poor raccoon is caged and why? Kind of sad area to me. We didn't see the mini golf course. We took the gorge trail toward the falls. I believe it's mostly paved but steep in areas. We took a side trail toward the suspension bridge. This hike is definitely tougher. You should have proper shoes. The rocks are slick. It's an easy trail but some small amount of climbing through rocks that can be slippery. The hike definitely worth it! It was beautiful to be close to the water! And the falls are very pretty. Definitely a good hike before having to drive another 45 minutes to our destination. read more

I bought a season pass and only used it once but it was worth it. The trails range from easy to challenging and there's plenty of room to gather with friends and family for any occasion. I visited the military part (that's the best way I can describe it) that had memorials, military equipment and other memorabilia that honors those who served. The waterfall is beautiful. There is also a petting arena and miniature golf which I didn't make it to during my trip but I will be sure to go next time. The place has history and even tho that history is marked with colonization, death, and the displacement of the indigenous, it is a beautiful park and worth a visit. read more

See all

Came here late one evening when we were kind of on this side of tiwn. So what's the story of Noccalula Falls? Well, since you asked it's the story of a young Cherokee woman, Noccalula, who, according to local legends, plunged to her death after being ordered by her father to marry a man she did not love. Above Noccalula Falls is a nine-foot-tall bronze statue commemorating this event. In addition to the main feature of the park which is a 90-foot waterfall with a trail winding through Black Creek Gorge at its base past caves, an aboriginal fort, an abandoned dam, pioneer homestead, and Civil War carvings. The park also features a petting zoo, mini-golf course, the Gilliland-Reese Covered Bridge, which was built in 1899, and a replica 1863 C. P. Huntington train ride. Looking forward to coming back when the weather is a little warmer and there's a little more light left in the day to go experience the rest this park has to offer. read more

Beautiful campground ! If you're traveling in a big 5th wheel or MH it's easier to access from I59 to 211. Only a short run through the twisty roads. There is a pool and hiking trails also lots of local wineries and breweries. However if you end up in sites A36 , 37 or 38 one of the trails ends right behind those sites and people without proper CG etiquette think it's ok to march through your site. The CG could fix this by extending the wood rail fence behind these sites. Otherwise very nice pet friendly campground read more

Noccalula Falls Park & Campgrounds - Parks Near Me - Gadsden, Alabama

Not enough Morbius. Why wasn't Morbius, the hit marvel film playing, Morbius is the most important thing to ever happen to this planet. Smh, I'm disappointed read more

Noccalula Falls Park & Campgrounds - The Morbining... it's happening. - Parks Near Me - Gadsden, Alabama

Noccalula Falls Park is a public park in Gadsden, AL. This park can be accessed from Interstate 59 at Exit 188, which is Noccalula Parkway. The park is a few miles away from the interstate, but it is worth the trip to come this way. Our visit was on August 4, 2018. There is some history to go with this park. The falls used to be named the Black Creek Falls. The legend is about an Indian Chief with his daughter named Noccalula. As beautiful as she was, she was in love with someone who wasn't rich by any means. The chief didn't approve of it and she was set to marry someone of the chief's choosing. On the wedding day, she would step out of the festivities, only to leap to her death over the falls. This is how the waterfall got the name of Noccalula Falls. The weather for the day was fairly typical for early August. Temperatures were around 90 and humid, but mostly sunny. The heat index was much higher. After getting to the place and parking, we went up to the main building where you get tickets (wristbands) for the park. A wristband is required to get on the train that goes around the park. The cost to get into the park is relatively cheap. It was $14 total for an adult, senior, and child. It's always good to support parks, and this was a great one too. The first thing we did was take a ride on the train, doing a full lap before getting off and checking things out. The train is pretty small, so generally one to two people in a row would be it. The train operator talked about some of the spots in the park as we passed by them as well. There are three stops total. After going the full loop, we got off at the stop near the playground. From this stop, we were able to get over to Noccalula Falls. The views of the falls were beautiful under a blue sky. We continued along the trail a bit away from the falls and got some additional views through the trees. After visiting that part of the trail for a bit, my niece said she wanted to go over to the playground. At that point we got on the train to the stop that was at the playground. I remained on the train as I was headed for the Gorge Trail, which leads you to the back of Noccalula Falls. The trail is very rugged. There is a warning sign about that as you enter the trail. I definitely recommend having boots of some type walking this trail. You will find areas that are slippery (wet) and definitely uneven. The trail is a beautiful trail though. The main event for the trail is when you get to the back of Noccalula Falls. There is some distance to get to that point. It is well worth it though. The views from behind the falls are breathtaking. This was definitely a highlight for this fairly short trip. After visiting the Gorge Trail, I got a call that it was time to leave since it was getting too hot. That I totally understood, as I was hot too after going through the Gorge Trail. Once out of the trail I got onto the train (the train happened to be at the station already as I got out of the trail). From there, I got off at the main entrance and went back to the car from there after getting some water from a vending machine. This place has much more to explore that wasn't able to be done. There are many trails to explore, along with a petting zoo, aviary, and other things that just weren't done on this visit. It makes for a good reason to come back again. There is a trail that goes to their campgrounds as well, but we weren't camping there. While we were here, the World's Longest Yard Sale was going on. This park is the southern starting point for this event. Overall, this was a very nice park to visit. The cost fort he park is quite reasonable for what is available here. The only reason we didn't stay longer was the heat and humidity. There are many different things to explore and see. It's nice to get away from the hustle and bustle sometimes. If my travels take me back this way, I would definitely return. If your travels take you this way and want to take a break, this is a great place to go. read more

See all

This is a famous falls near Gadsden Alabama. It is the biggest and most beautiful park in this town. The falls is currently dry. I can imagine it is a big fall come to snow melt or raining season. Noccalula Falls Park & Campgrounds was name after an Indian tribe princess. This fall is a sad story. The princess love other guy on the tribe but the chief promise her to another tribe. She cannot bear it and jump to the waterfall. This fall then is name by the chief to remember her. The fall currently no water. There is a path can go to behind the fall. When there is a lot of water, the water of the fall is like sheet of curtain. That trail behind this sheet of water will be awesome. The fall is 90 feet height. Imagine you can stand behind this water curtain. read more

See all

Loved this piece of Alabama! It is very easy to reach, very accessible, very well kept, and with this fantastic view of the fall! You can either walk down the fall and enjoy it in its all beauty. Great park, I'll go back there soon read more

Noccalula Falls Park & Campgrounds - Parks Near Me - Gadsden, Alabama

See all

I live near here so this is my local park. The park is well-kept and the walking trails are such fun! Before my current job my friend and I would meet here and go walking once a week just to catch up and enjoy nature. It's beautiful and I'm so glad to live nearby. read more

We really enjoyed this campground, affordable, clean and friendly! The hikes to the waterfall are amazing. We hope to come back again! read more

Noccalula Falls Park & Campgrounds - Parks Near Me - Gadsden, Alabama

This is a really nice park with beautiful water falls. They have a campground and trails to hike on. We actually came here during Christmastime though, because they do a whole "Christmas at the Falls" thing. They have the entire park decorated with Christmas lights. We really enjoyed walking around and looking at the different light displays set to music. You could really spend a lot of time here. The entrance fee was $10 and it was well worth it. They also have a lot of different activities for kids to do such as: pictures with Santa, Christmas cookie decorating, petting zoo, and a train ride. However, since we were there on a weekend the lines for these things were extremely long. Thankfully, our daughter is still too little for that stuff anyway. But, if you have kids that are going to want to do these things it's probably better to go during the week. Overall though, it was a really fun experience and I would go again. read more

Noccalula Falls Park & Campgrounds - Water fall at night - Parks Near Me - Gadsden, Alabama

See all

Great fried catfish fillets. My husband and I normally order a pound or so of the cooked fried catfish and dine at home with our prepared sides. The fish is delicious and the staff is very friendly and thorough with our order. Our plan is to try more items from the menu and also take advantage of there being an open fish market so close to home... read more

What a hidden gem! We were in Montgomery for 6 weeks, and we found a brochure for the park. We have two kiddos, 4 & 1, and were looking to get out of the house for something to do. This place didn't disappoint. The highlight of the trip was the train ride that goes around the park. My kids loved it. It had stations at the petting zoo and the big children's park. We also attended the Smokey on the Falls festival--it was just ok. There is a lot of potential for it but it lacked a lot of vendors who actually sold stuff and some of the competitors for the BBQ ran out of samples. Overall, they could improve this a lot, especially since they were charging $5 per person for the festival--I just didn't see what I was getting for the price. There was a lot of stuff under construction. But, it was still awesome with a lot of history. We didn't get to do the hike to the bottom, but it looked amazing. Totally recommend if you are around the area looking for something to do. read more

Noccalula Falls Park & Campgrounds - Parks Near Me - Gadsden, Alabama

See all

Love this camp ground. The spaces are tight but we managed to park ok. The bathrooms and showers are clean. The site is full of trees! There are fire pits and picnic tables for each site and swings for adults! People were super friendly. I didn't see the swimming pool and it's a hike to get to the falls but we missed that because we only stayed one night. There are several hiking trails and we did get one hike in. This is a place where I would enjoy staying for a week! I wish they had a doggy run. My dogs want to be off leash sometimes and there's a strict leash policy. read more

Noccalula Falls Park & Campgrounds - Parks Near Me - Gadsden, Alabama