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