Attractions and Must-Sees at Lookout Mountain
While enjoying your own peaceful retreat, be sure to check out some of our favorite local attractions! Some of these favorites vary their hours seasonally, so be sure to check out their websites or facebook pages for more information.
A current 15,288 acres, the protected Preserve boundaries contain Little River Canyon, Little River, & numerous rare species. The river flows for most of the canyon’s length atop Lookout Mountain, and the falls can be viewed from the pedestrian walkway on the GE Hill Bridge or down a board walk with minimal stairs Forested uplands, waterfalls, canyon rims & bluffs, pools, boulders, & sandstone cliffs merge natural resources & cultural heritage.
DeSoto Falls is a favorite to view from the top…or hike to the bottom! DeSoto Falls is a 104-ft waterfall located on the West Fork of the Little River, in DeSoto State Park. DeSoto Falls carved their own small canyon and are named after Spanish Explorer, Hernando de Soto.
Stop and grab a fun snack and soda at Rim of the Canyon Cafe & Grocery and then take a drive down Scenic Drive (Highway 176) to enjoy all the views of the the canyon! Here's our own YouTube Video. Trust us, and make sure to stop at each overlook to see which one is your favorite :)
A swimming hole located on AL Hwy 35 1/4 mile east of/upstream from Little River Falls. Perfect for families with young children or new swimmers, it features calm, easy flowing waters and is close to the small parking lot which controls crowding. *Late spring and summer weekends - note, the parking lot often is full by 11:00 AM (CST) the lot closes until spaces become available. Have a back-up plan in case this area is inaccessible. NPS.gov - Blue Hole
Pack a picnic lunch & head out for a day of exploring DeSoto State Park's beautiful ridges, waterfalls, & river. Whether a nature hobbyist, outdoor enthusiast, or sporting fanatic - this park offers plenty to do. Kayaking, fishing, swimming, hiking, biking, cycling, rappelling, bouldering, picnicking, wildflower expeditions, & just plain ole' exploring nature! This AL state park caters to individuals, families, & groups of all sizes!
AlaPark.com/Parks/Desoto-State-Park
Guest favorite and considered by many to be the BEST swimming hole in the state of Alabama! Hike to this unique swimming hole - perfect for the sun-bather & thrill seeker, the trail to it is short enough for carrying larger items (cooler, towels, etc.). Prepare to devote most of your day here! Start your hike at the parking lot for Little River Falls. The 0.75 mile hike leads to 137 stone stairs into the canyon & river.
Slant Rock Road is a fun hike and is located in the magnificent Little River Canyon National Preserve at Lookout Mountain in Alabama :)
Turn onto County Road 103 from Highway 35 (1 mile from Little River Falls). Turn Left into the Hunters Check Station (parking lot) Follow Road 01 to the first left turn. 4-wheel drive recommended.
Only 25 miles from Little River Falls, be sure to check out the beautiful and nearby Cherokee Rock Village! Watch our YouTube video for some of the amazing views :)
ZIP LINING! Soar through the trees as you explore this adventure park of boulders, mountains and wildlife! Zip through the beautiful canopy of DeSoto State Park and experience the thrill of a lifetime.
7104 Desoto Pkwy NE, Fort Payne, AL 35967
(256) 886-3761
On your next trip to Lookout Mountain, be sure to check out True Adventure Sports (TAS). Featuring 34 different adventures that include hiking, zip lining, rock climbing, rappelling, kayaking, and more!
From our retreat guest…
The guides were really great, and the family who runs True Adventure Sports is really nice! Really wonderful business, and we'll be back!
Located in the DeSoto Falls Picnic Area, Miller’s Bend Paddle Shack is opened seasonally to help you kayak up the West Fork of Little River. Rent sit-on-top kayaks to enjoy a peaceful flatwater paddle on Little River overlooking beautiful DeSoto Falls. Your adventure can be up to 4 miles round trip, or as long as you want to make it! Life vests & paddles are provided.
Bicycle rentals, e-bike rentals and motorcycle rentals! Little River Adventure Company is Alabama's first & only Destination Yamaha location. They rent new Yamaha Dual Sport motorcycles. They also rent electric & legacy bicycles and are conveniently located less than 1 mile from Little River Canyon National Preserve.
A guest favorite! Offering a daily horseback trail riding adventure to DeSoto Falls and more! Call to make your reservation.
3391 CR-165, Mentone, AL 35984
DeKalb County's Oldest Golf Course.
Located near the center of the city is Fort Payne's pristine 9 hole golf course.
Features a challenging and beautiful
9 hole golf course with Bermuda fairways and bent grass greens.
502 Crystal Lake Drive, Fort Payne, Alabama 35967
Only snow skiing in Alabama! Weather determines open times, but it's great fun when it is! Since 1970, advanced snowmaking equipment & patient professional instruction have provided Cloudmont’s ski expansion to include two one-thousand foot, beginner-intermediate slopes. Two “pony lifts” take skiers to the top of the slopes with elevation of 1,800 feet & a vertical rise of 150 feet.
721 CR 614, Mentone, AL 35984
Located high atop Lookout Mountain, enjoy golfing in a secluded and peaceful location with refreshing mountain breezes. 18 hole, PAR 69 course. All gas carts, clubhouse, picnic pavilion, a picnic area, canoes, and more!
741 CR-647, Mentone, AL 35984
People of all ages can enjoy a truly unique experience by taking a step back in time to learn about this Depression-era program that developed DeSoto State Park and other parks all over the U.S.A. Admission is free, but donations are appreciated for preservation.
The museum features exhibits typical of the lifestyles of the late 1800s and the early 1900s. The museum features Native American pottery, basketry, tools, and clothing. The old Fort Payne depot was built by the Alabama Great Southern Railroad in 1891.
The Gospels note that it takes someone divine to build a church on a rock, and Mentone's Col. Milford Howard did just that as a memorial to his first wife. Hoping to reproduce a European church they visited, one of his last accomplishments was raising money and materials for the build. Popular for unique weddings, services each Sunday in the chapel encourage "come as you are" attendance. Location: Just outside DeSoto State Park, corner of CR-165 and CR-617 in Mentone. Learn More
Serving Mentone since 2009! Features lots of handmade and homegrown goodies…this is the place to meet locals with unique trades, crafts and delicious treats!
Every Saturday 10am - 1pm CST, you'll find fresh local honey, organic veggies, bread, eggs, meat, and even wool scarves, gloves and socks sold by a local sheep farmer!
6139 HWY 117, Mentone, AL 35984
30 minutes from Fort Payne, this non-profit Wild Animal Preserve & Environmental Educational Center is home to over 160 animals! Take a learning walk or tour, fall in love with a tiger, or even play a game of hide and seek with a lion in a safe and natural setting. Children can interact with barn yard animals and visit the Legacy Living Classroom and gift store.
708 County Road 345, Attalla, AL
Tigers for Tomorrow - Website
You never know who you might run into :) Check out the Fan Club and museum, featuring over 50 years of Alabama music memorabilia. From the early days in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina to the Country Music Hall of Fame, people of all ages enjoy this experience the story of ALABAMA's history. The museum includes many personal items, videos, pictures, awards and gifts from other artists, never before seen in public until now.
101 Glenn Blvd. SW, Fort Payne, AL 35967
Museum Website
Each fence post was painted by a different artist in the community! The MERF Pathway to Community, next to Moon Lake Village, is a great place to walk and see the creative fence post artwork representing those the community who help make Mentone all it is for so many to enjoy - atop Lookout Mountain in Alabama.
Blow your own glass ornament. Classes held regularly, call for class times & prices. Orbix resides on 26 acres bordering Little River Canyon National Preserve. Evidence of this landscape whispers through the Orbix collection, as it always remains a backdrop of the studio.
3869 County Road 275, Fort Payne, AL 35967
Founded in Alabama's Mountain Town, as a way to showcase talented Southern Makers. Offers locally handcrafted art and curated collections including jewelry, home goods, gourmet food, pottery, hand blown glass, sculpture, furniture, & clothing.
324 Gault Ave., Fort Payne, AL 35967
We know that many travelers love thrifting and searching for treasures in their favorite places! This is a favorite thrift store in Fort Payne. We love thrifting when we travel too, and we love it even more when a thrift store donates profits to nonprofit organizations :)
2000 Gault Avenue N, Fort Payne, AL 35967
Check out the huge inventory at this infamous and favorite furniture warehouse. They have great prices that many drive for hours to shop! Make sure to ask about their great ship-to-you rates, too!
3450 CR-81, Fort Payne, AL 35967
Myrtle Jane's is an Antique Marketplace featuring over 40 booths. A climate-controlled building that is chock full of treasures such as painted furniture, primitives and antiques, along with upcycled and re-purposed items, gifts and home accessories for your shopping pleasure!
1030 Grand Ave SW, Fort Payne, AL 35967
Moon Lake Village is beautiful village on the former campus of the historic Moon Lake School on Lookout Mountain in Mentone. It is home to many seasonal events and festivals, and you can have a unique shopping experience year-round as local Artisans and Craftspeople offer their special items inside!
There is an amphitheater and large meeting space available for rent.
5866 East River Road, Mentone, Alabama 35984
The Big Mill Co – Artisans & Antiques is housed in the historical W.B. Davis Hosiery Mill. The building was constructed in 1889 by the Alabama Builders Hardware Manufacturing Company. It was purchased in 1915 and operated as a hosiery mill. The building now houses a 21,000 square feet Antique Marketplace “destination” where artists, craftsmen and antiquers gather.
151 8th Street NE, Fort Payne, AL 35967
Little River Canyon Center features a Grand Hall, HD movie theater, gift shop, natural history library, exhibits, classrooms, back deck, outdoor amphitheater and trails for both education and adventure. It is available to rent for meetings, social gatherings, corporate retreats and other special events.
(256) 845-3548+1(256) 845-3548" rel="">
Websitehttps://www.jsu.edu/epic/canyoncenter/ " rel="noopener" target="_blank">
Experience the awe-inspiring beauty of The Secret Place in Fort Payne, Alabama! You can reserve a private 4-hour escape with a waterfall, swimming hole, picnic area, lounge chairs, swing-for-two, and water floats. Donations are accepted and appreciated for upkeep and improvements of the property.
133 foot seasonal waterfall that cascades off the cliffs. The falls do not usually flow in the summer. The waterfall is located on the opposite side of the canyon from where you drive. This tranquil setting is a great place to sit and relax and reflect on your day.
Sit down on the bench at the overlook and enjoy the tranquil feeling as you look across the canyon at this beautiful waterfall.
MAC sponsors classes, workshops, lectures and special events, and supports local and regional artists, which enriches the lives of local citizens and visitors alike.
5951 AL Hwy 117, Mentone, AL 35984
The landscape of Little River Canyon National Preserve is rolling hills and dense woodland, containing 23 miles of road in the Wildlife Management Area. Open to 4WD vehicles, horseback riders, bicyclists, and hikers, it is popular for kayaks and canoes during the wetter months, too. 4WD vehicles are required to for many of these roads. Numbered roads are subject to erosion during heavy rainstorms and portions of the roads may be impassable at any time. NOTE: Check access & allowances HERE
Stargazing Along Scenic Drive
Take a ride on Scenic Drive (Little River Canyon Rim Parkway) on a clear starry night, and stop to take in the Milky Way views at each overlook.
Thanks, Nick Boone, for this amazing photo :)
#VisitNorthAL has compiled a great list of the waterfalls on our North Alabama Waterfall Trail that are easy to see if you have mobility issues.
The diverse fish population includes bass, catfish, bluegill, shellcracker, crappie, and more. While you’re encouraged to keep what you catch, bass over 13 inches long must be released back into the lake. Daily limits are posted for other fish species to ensure responsible fishing practices.
Little River Canyon features over 26 miles of trails - from serene river-side to steep and strenuous cliff-side, leading down the canyon and river below. Stop at the information desk at Little River Canyon Center for suggestions for hiking.
(256) 845-3548
Splish, splash, slip, slide, and even play mini golf at Pirates Bay Waterpark, a sprawling aquatic playground located on a hilltop overlooking Weiss Lake. There’s fun for everyone with tube slides, body slides, multiple pools, waterfalls, splash playground, mini golf, food, drinks, parties, and so much more! Approximately 30 minutes from Fort Payne!
More Information
From easy trails to What-In-The-National-Preserve-Have-I-Gotten-Myself-Into trails, we enjoy sharing our own favorite hiking trails at Lookout Mountain! And we LOVE and appreciate this map by Little River Canyon National Preserve :)
Check out special events around the amazing Lookout Mountain in Alabama in this online calendar!
The Nation's Only Retailer of Lost Luggage is less than an hour away, in Scottsboro, Alabama! You never know what treasures you’ll find, and we highly recommend celebrating your find at the historic Payne’s Soda Fountain nearby with their famous banana split! :)
Fly tandem to 3000 feet with a certified instructor. This is a premier resort offering training and tandem flights in hang gliding and paragliding!
More Information
Cloudland Canyon State Park is a fantastic place to visit and one of our favs at Lookout Mountain. Pack a picnic and enjoy some of the most beautiful hikes and waterfalls - just over the state line in Georgia and only 28 miles from Mentone!
Rediscover nature's role through the ages by exploring Cloudland Canyon State Park’s water-carved canyons and caves surrounded by the breathtaking views and rugged geology of the Cumberland Plateau.