Eagle Awareness, Part 4 - High Falls

High Falls

Carroll and I had to choose between three field trips during our Eagle Awareness Weekend at Lake Guntersville State Park. 1) Guntersville Dam to see eagles and possibly one nesting; 2) Cathedral Caverns; 3) High Falls Park.

We were already going to the dam with another field trip the following day, so that choice was the first to be struck. Cathedral Caverns? With my claustrophobia? Uh uh. That left High Falls Park which, we were told, is gorgeous. A short drive past our morning field trip watching the eagles emerging we entered the lovely countryside of Marshall County. Crossing into DeKalb County our convoy guide turned off the main road onto a secondary road, then a smaller road, then a smaller road...no signs anywhere. Clearly, we were in a very secluded and private area.



Pulling into a graveled parking lot we got out and headed to our ranger guide, who gave us a brief history of High Falls Park. From their website 20 acres were purchased and preserved with grant money in the early 1980's. Local efforts were made to clean the park and make it more accessible to the public.

Town Creek

A rock whale submerged beneath the crystal clear waters.

Lovely golden rocks and sandy bottom glistens and dazzles in the sunlight.

Shadow of the footbridge

In 1998 the pedestrian bridge was built across the original rock pillars constructed for the covered bridge in 1923.



Because of its remote location High Falls remains a secret to most in the area, and North Alabama at large. However, the efforts of many local leaders and Alabama park board members High Falls Park is being discovered by more and more people through events such as Eagle Awareness Weekend.


High Falls Park is still very rustic. Crude walking paths and stepping paths created through tree roots downward and upward mean business. Good shoes and a healthy body are clearly needed to navigate the majority of this place. Carroll and I are in relatively good shape, as were most of the people attending this field trip. However, a young mother brought small children including one in a stroller. An elderly woman accompanied by her husband had a knee injury and was wearing a knee brace. These people struggled and we all worried about them in the rugged terrain.


Ambling down onto the flat rocks above the falls we were all treated to an amazing show. The winds that were chilling us to the bone were creating a rainbow above the falls.


Spellbound, all of us took a gazillion photos of the same rainbow, creeping forward as far as the rocks would allow. My folder holds a gracious plenty of these images, all taken from various angles as I crept closer and closer.



Crossing the footbridge takes a person the other side of the creek, and a rustic path can be followed to the other side of the falls. Again, strollers and the injured should not even try it. The footbridge is new and safe, however. It's the getting to it that's the challenge as well.

Flat rocks and footbridge and another rainbow.

High Falls Park
Somewhere in DeKalb County, Alabama

Click to make it larger - there are people on the other side.
Gives you sense of scale.

Check out their website for more history and directions.

Check out Scenic Sunday for scenes around the world!!! It's safe travel without having to endure long lines at airports or letting people get too "friendly" with your nether regions. Just sayin.'