DeSoto State Park

DeSoto State Park
Alabama State Park
DeSoto Falls
Country	United States
State	Alabama
Counties	Cherokee, DeKalb

Elevation	1,614 ft (492 m) ^[1]
Coordinates	34°32′54″N 85°35′24″W / 34.54833°N 85.59000°W / 34.54833; -85.59000Coordinates: 34°32′54″N 85°35′24″W / 34.54833°N 85.59000°W / 34.54833; -85.59000 ^[1]

Area	3,502 acres (1,417 ha)

Dedication	May 24, 1939
Management	Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

Location in Alabama
Website: DeSoto State Park

DeSoto State Park is a publicly owned 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]

History

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 was known as State Park No. 5 during its development. When it was dedicated as Desoto State Park on May 24, 1939, it was the largest state park in Alabama.^[4]

Activities and amenities

The park features 25 miles (40 km) of hiking trails that include more than 11 miles (18 km) of mountain bike trails,^[5] a CCC-built lodge and cabins,^[6] restaurant, campsites, chalets, motel, swimming pool, and nature center.^[2] The Civilian Conservation Corps Museum which opened in 2013 celebrates the work done by the CCC in Alabama's state parks.^[7]

References

1 2 "Desoto State Park Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
1 2 "DeSoto State Park". Alabama State Parks. Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved January 4, 2016.
↑ Thomas V. Ress (August 11, 2015). "DeSoto State Park". Encyclopedia of Alabama. Alabama Humanities Foundation. Retrieved January 4, 2016.
↑ "History of DeKalb County Alabama - The Civilian Conservation Corps". DeKalb County Tourist Association. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
↑ "Hiking: DeSoto State Park". Alabama State Parks. Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved January 4, 2016.
↑ "Rustic CCC Cabins: DeSoto State Park". Alabama State Parks. Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved January 4, 2016.
↑ "Civilian Conservation Corps Museum". Alabama State Parks. Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved January 4, 2016.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to DeSoto Falls.

DeSoto State Park Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

Protected areas of Alabama

Federal

National Parks and Historic Sites	Horseshoe Bend Tuskegee Airmen Tuskegee Institute

National Monuments	Russell Cave National Monument

National Forests	Conecuh Talladega Tuskegee William B. Bankhead

National Wildlife Refuges	Bon Secour Cahaba River Choctaw Eufaula Fern Cave Key Cave Mountain Longleaf Sauta Cave Watercress Darter Wheeler

Other Protected Areas	Little River Canyon National Preserve Natchez Trace Trail Pinhoti National Recreation Trail Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail Weeks Bay Reserve

Wilderness Areas	Cheaha Wilderness Dugger Mountain Wilderness Sipsey Wilderness

State

State Parks	Bladon Springs Blue Springs Buck's Pocket Cathedral Caverns Chattahoochee Cheaha Chewacla Chickasaw DeSoto Florala Frank Jackson Gulf Joe Wheeler Lake Guntersville Lake Lurleen Lakepoint Meaher Monte Sano Oak Mountain Paul M. Grist Rickwood Caverns Roland Cooper Wind Creek

State Forests	Choccolocco Hauss Geneva Little River Macon Weogufka

Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (web)

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