10 of the Best Outdoorsy Things To Do in North Alabama

From waterfalls and caverns to glamping and wineries, these are some of the best things to do in North Alabama outdoors.

Exploring caves and caverns with waterfalls, hiking on Lookout Mountain, kayaking on the largest lake in the state — these are just a few of the incredible adventures in northern Alabama. The foothills of the Southern Appalachians and a host of lakes and waterfalls create the ideal landscape for hiking, caving, kayaking, and more!

I’ve spent a lot of time in the northeastern part of the state checking out the North Alabama Waterfall Trail, state parks, and a couple of really cool caves (one that’s super easy to visit and another more adventurous). The guide below includes some of my favorite outdoorsy things to do in North Alabama, from rock scrambling underground to sipping wine at the local vineyards.

Keep reading for 10 incredible adventures in northern Alabama!

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Swim at High Falls Park

One of the prettiest waterfalls in North Alabama, High Falls stretches some 300-feet across Town Creek, framed by a natural bridge that’s been carved out by the water. The drop is only about 35 feet, but the powerful gushing water makes for a gorgeous scene. 

You can see it from High Falls Park, where a short walk leads to a pedestrian bridge across the gorge. The water at the top of the falls is actually calm enough to swim, wade, and fish in. You can also bring a picnic or purchase snacks inside a small welcome center.

Adventure in Lake Guntersville State Park

Lake Guntersville State Park is such a fun place for outdoor adventures in northern Alabama, with everything from golfing to hiking, kayaking, and ziplining on the agenda. It’s also the perfect spot for a weekend getaway, as the park has several types of accommodations to suit different groups and budgets.

I visited for three nights and stayed at the Lake Guntersville State Park Lodge, which has balcony rooms overlooking the water (it’s such a beautiful sunset view). There’s also a campground with tent sites, camper cabins, and glamping, as well as lakeside cabins and chalets. 

During the day, you can rent boats, kayaks, or canoes to get out on the water, play an 18-hole round on the Eagle’s Nest Golf Course, hang out at a beach complex, or tackle the Screaming Eagle Zipline Canopy Tour. The park also has over 30 miles of multi-use trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding.

Tour Cathedral Caverns State Park

Not only does Cathedral Caverns State Park have one of the biggest commercial cave openings in the world, it’s also full of cool formations like a 30-foot tall frozen waterfall and “Goliath,” one of the world’s largest stalagmites at 243-feet in circumference.

Originally called “Bat Cave” when it offered public tours in the 1950s, the name was changed to capture the vibes of the giant rooms full of pipe organ and steeple-like features that give off a cathedral vibe. The cave stays at about 60 degrees throughout the year.

Visitors can explore inside on scheduled cave tours offered throughout the day where you can see tiny hummingbird bats, cave crickets, and shark teeth stuck in the ceiling. 

Explore Bethel Springs Nature Preserve

Home to the largest waterfall in Madison County, the Bethel Springs Nature Preserve covers 360 acres on Keel Mountain. The Land Trust of North Alabama manages the site and maintains a couple of trails for the public.

A former family homestead with farmlands, a spring, a creek, and a 334-foot deep limestone cave, the preserve offers a habitat for native aquatic species and wildlife. The waterfall actually flows through the cave under the mountain and into the spring at the base.

Hikers can head out for an easy walk on the Bethel Creek Loop, a 0.3-mile gravel path along the creek, or make a moderately difficult 1.3-mile loop on the Carpenter, Falling Sink, and Mill Trails to see the waterfall up close.

Go Caving at Stephen's Gap

Stephen’s Gap is one of my favorite caves in north Alabama. You can choose your level of adventure here, from a moderately challenging climb into the pit by foot, to a more intense vertical caving drop down 143 feet.

I visited via the walk-in access, which starts with an uphill hike to reach the wide entrance, where you then scramble down rocks to a view of a waterfall. You can’t safely get all the way to the bottom of the pit this way, but the views are absolutely incredible! The walk-in trail ends about 50 feet above the floor with a steep drop from the edge, so you need to be careful and watch your footing, especially in wet conditions.

A permit is required to access the cave (you actually need it to get in the gate to the parking lot), with just 12 or so issued per day. Weekend slots typically fill up a few weeks in advance. Sturdy shoes or boots, headlamps, and a helmet (I just used a bike helmet) are also required whether dropping or hiking in.

Sip Along the North Alabama Wine Trail 

Have you heard of the North Alabama Wine Trail? Six vineyards and wineries are situated along the hills and valleys at the southern end of the Appalachians and make a fun weekend wine getaway in Alabama.

I was able to visit three that combine well for a day trip — Jules J. Berta Vineyards in Albertville, Wills Creek Winery in Attalla, and Maraella Vineyards in Hokes Bluff. All of them offer tastings and you can see the vineyards up close as well. You definitely don’t want to miss the wine slushies and wood-fired pizza at Jules J. Berta.

Explore Little River Canyon National Preserve 

Little River Canyon National Preserve is one of my favorite places to go in northern Alabama. One of just nine sites in the state managed by the National Park Service (most are historic sites), the preserve sits on the Lookout Mountain ridge of the Southern Appalachians.

You can easily visit on a day trip. I recommend starting with the overlook and hiking trails at Little River Falls (the parking lot fills up early on busy weekends), before taking a dip in Little Falls or the Blue Hole on a warm day. 

End with the 23-mile Scenic Drive to stop at the eight overlooks, including a view of the tallest waterfall above ground in Alabama — 133-foot Graces High Falls. 

Visit DeSoto State Park

Best known for its waterfall, DeSoto State Park on Lookout Mountain has spots to hike, kayak, bike, rappel, swim, and more! You definitely don’t want to miss the 104-foot DeSoto Falls, where paths lead to different viewpoints of the upper dam and two waterfall tiers.

The park has a lodge with motel rooms, as well as campsites, cabins, and chalets. The towns of Fort Payne and Mentone are also nearby.

Stay in a Treehouse at ReTreet

Spending time outdoors in North Alabama doesn’t have to end with the sunset. While a lot of state parks in this area have campgrounds and cabins, I recommend checking out ReTreet, a nature-focused resort with glamping tents, tiny cottages, and luxury treehouses.

Most of the accommodations have a theme, like the “Hogwarts House” or nostalgic “Game Room” glamping tents. I stayed in the “Pink Flamingo” tiny cottage, which has a lofted sleeping space for two and the cutest decor to fit the motif.

While the tiny cottages have private fire pits and the tents feature secluded hot tubs, there’s also a communal lounging zone around a fireplace and Tree Spa with a hot tub and sauna. The property has a dog park, disc golf, horseshoe pit, and putting green.

Walk Under Noccalula Falls

The 90-foot tall Noccalula Falls is one of the must-see waterfalls in North Alabama. Noccalula is part of a family-friendly public park with trails, campsites, a Pioneer Village, train rides, a mini-golf course, and more. 

To get up close to the cascade, take the Black Creek Trail along the gorge. It leads down to the waterfront where you can actually walk behind the waterfall.