This Quiet Alabama Town Is An Underrated Gem For Nature Lovers
Fort Payne sits at the crossroads of three states: Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee. It stands under the shadow of a vast mountain, which hides natural wonders from a fungus-shaped rock to the largest waterfalls in Alabama.
This Appalachian Mountain town has a special focus on helping residents of all ages stay active outdoors through accessible fitness trails, a 19th-century town-center park, and plenty of outdoor festivals held throughout the year. Climbers have a special love for this community and have worked to create climbing preserves to enable old and new climbers to hone their skills. This is just one of the many ways that Fort Payne residents have created a quiet Alabama town that's a true nature lover's paradise.
Mountain Trails And Climbing Rocks
Fort Payne is located in the foothills of Lookout Mountain, which rises to 2,389 feet near the border of Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee. From the top of this mountain, there are breathtaking views of natural landscapes, such as those found in DeSoto State Park.
Located just 8 miles northwest of Fort Payne, DeSoto State Park covers around 3,500 acres of forests surrounding Lookout Mountain. Hikers can work up quite a sweat exploring more than 25 miles of hiking trails in the park. Thankfully, the park has several places to cool off, such as catching some of the mist from the 104-foot DeSoto Falls, the second largest in the state, or visiting the Olympic-size swimming pool, complete with a diving board and lounge chairs. The Civilian Conservation Corps Museum is also located within the park. It catalogs the work done during the Great Depression to transform America's natural treasures into state and national parks. For those with mobility issues or young children, the Talmadge Butler Boardwalk Trail offers an accessible jaunt through the forest before ending at a spot overlooking a pool formed by the Azalea Cascades waterfall.
Fort Payne has a passionate climbing community that has worked diligently to acquire climbing routes. One of its biggest successes so far is the acquisition of the Citadel Boulders Preserve, purchased by the Southeastern Climbers Coalition and the Access Fund. This 58-acre preserve features a large boulder field, ideal for climbers to test their skills or train for bigger climbs. This preserve challenges climbers to find their own route as they look for the next foothold or resting spot.
A Mountaintop River And A Beautiful Canyon
One of Fort Payne's best natural secrets is a small river that flows almost entirely on Lookout Mountain. Appropriately named the Little River, it curves back and forth atop Lookout Mountain, shaping the landscape as it goes, leaving behind canyons, weathered boulders, waterfalls, pools, and other features. The best place to see this tucked-away mountain river is at the Little River Canyon National Preserve.
In this preserve, one can easily see climbers putting their skills to the test as they ascend and descend the canyon walls along the Little River Canyon Rim Parkway. Hikers can get in quite a workout as well, as the canyon is the deepest in all of Alabama, dropping more than 600 feet at its deepest points.
Part of the joy of coming to this park is seeing how the Little River has carved the rocks, including the unusual Mushroom Rock. Located off Highway 176 in the park, it is shaped just like a mushroom. Across from the rock is a series of rock outcrops that has been described as a good place for novice climbers or children to get a taste of rock climbing.
As for seeing the water itself, Little River Canyon has three waterfalls: the 45-foot-tall Little River Falls, the mini Little Falls, and the 133-foot-high Graces High Falls. This one is the tallest waterfall above ground in the state of Alabama and is viewable from the Graces High Falls Overlook. By following the river, guests can also find peaceful natural swimming pools, such as the Blue Hole, named for its bright blue color.
Community Outdoor Events
Fort Payne takes a special interest in getting folks out and about for community events in nature, no matter the weather. In December, the city comes out for the Christmas in the Park & Parade held in the City Park. The park is lit with Christmas lights and a bonfire, and hot cocoa, coffee, and popcorn are available to help guests stay warm. The Christmas Parade tends to bring out all the local businesses in Fort Payne, and even Santa Claus himself is said to make an appearance.
During the summer, Fort Payne puts on a Fourth of July Celebration at the Fort Payne Sports Complex. Just like the Christmas event, there's free peanuts, popcorn, and drinks, with vendors selling more substantial food. When fall arrives in Fort Payne, it becomes the host for the DeKalb County VFW Agricultural Fair. Hosted every October, the fair has craft vendors, food, flower arrangements, quilts, livestock, and musical artists.
Speaking of animals, Fort Payne is the home of James Dean, the author of the beloved children's series Pete the Cat. He's known to come out on the first Saturday in August every year to meet up with kids and sign books, while Pete himself wanders through Main Street.
Town Parks
Fort Payne aims to offer walking paths for individuals of all ages and accessibility needs, as well as numerous community events to keep the town engaged. Nature has been a focus for the city since the 1880s, with the Fort Payne City Park acting as a community center since 1889. This park, located right downtown, features historic markers noting events in Fort Payne's founding, such as the stockades used by the Cherokees who once lived here. There's also a memorial to the band Alabama located here.
Families in Fort Payne frequently visit the Alabama Walking Trail Park, located right behind the historic Depot Museum. The park has a paved walking path and a fitness station to help adults enjoy full workouts, and two playgrounds: one for older kids and the other for youngsters.
The Best Lookouts In The State
If there's one word to define Fort Payne as a nature town, it's lookouts. Lookout Mountain itself is filled with picturesque lookouts, such as at the Talmadge Butler Boardwalk Trail or via trails accessing DeSoto Falls. At the Little River Canyon National Preserve, hikers and climbers alike will be on the lookout for many different reasons, whether that be the unusually shaped Mushroom Rock, the next rock to grab ahold of while climbing down the canyon, or one of the small or massive waterfalls formed by the Little River. During the town's festivals, children can be on the lookout for Santa Claus or Pete the Cat. The best aspect of Fort Payne is that residents don't have to "look" far for peaceful escapes, as they can easily find them in the city parks, up Lookout Mountain, or down in the Little River Canyon.
