| DeSoto State Park | |
|---|---|
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  Location in Alabama | |
| Location | Cherokee & DeKalb counties, Alabama, United States |
| Coordinates | 34°32′54″N 85°35′24″W / 34.54833°N 85.59000°W[1] |
| Area | 3,502 acres (14.17 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,614 ft (492 m)[1] |
| Designation | Alabama state park |
| Established | 1935 |
| Administrator | Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |
| Website | DeSoto State Park |
DeSoto State Park is a public recreation area located on Lookout Mountain 8 miles (13 km) northeast of Fort Payne, Alabama.[2] The state park covers 3,502 acres (1,417 ha) of forest, rivers, waterfalls, and mountain terrain. It borders the Little River, which flows into the nearby Little River Canyon National Preserve. The 104-foot-tall (32 m) DeSoto Falls, the state's highest waterfall, is found in a separate part of the park 6 miles (9.7 km) north of the main park.[3]
The park, which bears the name of 16th-century explorer Hernando de Soto, was developed in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The park then known as State Park No. 5 was established in 1935. When it was dedicated as Desoto State Park on May 24, 1939, it was the largest state park in Alabama.[4] The park's museum celebrating the CCC's work in Alabama state parks opened in 2013.[5]
In September 2020, DeSoto State Park was one of eleven Alabama state parks awarded Tripadvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Award, which recognizes businesses and attractions that earn consistently high user reviews.[6]
The park features 25 miles (40 km) of hiking trails that include more than 11 miles (18 km) of National Recreation Trail-designated[7] mountain bike trails,[8] a CCC-built lodge and cabins,[9] restaurant, campsites, chalets, motel, swimming pool, and nature center.[2]
