Things to do
- Hiking, with more than 35 miles of trail and an accessible boardwalk
- Mountain biking, about 11 miles
- Waterfalls and fall color viewing
- Kayaking, fly fishing and horseback riding
- Ziplining and canopy tours
- Swimming pool, CCC museum and interpretive programs
Facilities and lodging
- Campground with 94 full-hookup sites, plus primitive and backpacking sites
- Chalets, cabins and historic lodge rooms
- Restaurant and country store
- Pavilions and meeting rooms
Plan your visit
- Phone: 256-845-5380
- Official page
- Reservations
GPS directions are not reliable for reaching the park. Use the written directions on the park's Plan Your Trip page.
Information from official sources, retrieved Nov. 10, 2026. Confirm hours, fees, permits and closures with the managing agency before you go.
Forever Wild additions: River City Addition; Steward Gap Addition; Tutwiler Addition; Jones Addition; French Addition.
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Questions about DeSoto State Park
AboutWhat is DeSoto State Park?
DeSoto State Park is a mountaintop park on Lookout Mountain near Fort Payne, known for waterfalls, long trail networks and CCC-era history. Lodging runs from full-hookup campsites to chalets, cabins and a historic lodge.
Getting thereWhere is DeSoto State Park?
DeSoto State Park is in DeKalb County, Alabama.
Things to doWhat can you do at DeSoto State Park?
Things to doCan you fish at DeSoto State Park?
DeSoto State Park is listed for fishing. Fishing rules, licenses, seasons and limits are set by the State of Alabama and the managing agency, so check current regulations before you cast.
Things to doCan you paddle at DeSoto State Park?
DeSoto State Park is listed for paddling. Water levels, flow and weather change quickly, so check conditions, wear a life jacket and let someone know your put-in and take-out.
Things to doWhat else is there to do near DeSoto State Park?
Browse more places in DeKalb County. You can also browse by activity: biking, birding and camping.
Before you goHow do you check conditions and closures at DeSoto State Park?
Contact the managing agency for current conditions, closures and rules, by phone at 256-845-5380.
This page lists public information. It does not replace posted signs or the manager's notices. Hours, fees, permits and closures change, so confirm with the managing agency before you go.
TrustHow accurate is this listing for DeSoto State Park?
Information from official sources, retrieved Nov. 10, 2026. Confirm hours, fees, permits and closures with the managing agency before you go.
This page was last updated on November 11, 2026.