There’s no denying that Alabama is filled with lots of beautiful natural scenery. From waterfalls and mountains, to canyons and caves, you’ll encounter many beautiful places while exploring the Yellowhammer State.
Listed below is a mapped road trip that’ll lead you to eight places that are among Alabama’s most beautiful natural scenery. Because the road trip has a distance of 892 miles and a time of 15 hours and 50 minutes, it can easily be accomplished over a single weekend.
Let’s get started:
google maps Click here for driving directions.
- DeSoto Falls - Mentone
flickr/Brent Moore Your first stop is DeSoto Falls. Plunging more than 100 feet, DeSoto Falls, which is located atop Lookout Mountain near the town of Mentone, is one of Alabama’s tallest and most beautiful waterfalls. It’s an absolute must-see!
- Little River Canyon National Preserve - Fort Payne
flickr/Evangelio Gonzalez Following a short drive, you’ll arrive at Little River Canyon National Preserve. A couple of things this scenic preserve features are waterfalls and a picturesque canyon, which is best known as the “Grand Canyon of the East.”
- Cheaha Mountain
flickr/Brian Collins Your next stop is Cheaha Mountain, which is surrounded by the Talladega National Forest. This majestic mountain is Alabama’s highest natural point and is home to Cheaha State Park, the state’s oldest continually operating state park. Cheaha Mountain also produces some of Alabama’s most beautiful scenic views.
- DeSoto Caverns - Childersburg
google/DeSoto Caverns Following another short drive, you’ll arrive at DeSoto Caverns. This series of caves, which is located at the foot of the Appalachian Mountains in Childersburg, is believed to be Alabama’s first recorded cave. It’s best known as “Alabama’s Big Cave.”
- Natural Bridge - Haleyville
flickr/David Brossard Your next stop is Natural Bridge Park where you’ll find Natural Bridge. With a length of 148 feet, this sandstone and iron ore bridge is the longest natural bridge east of the Rockies. According to experts, it’s also believed to be more than 200 million years old.
- Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge - West Blocton
google/Sarah Compton After a relaxing drive, you’ll arrive at the Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge. This wildlife refuge is best known for its beautiful lilies. It’s also home to the largest stand of Cahaba lilies in the world.
- Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge - Gulf Shores
flickr/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region/Photo credit: Jereme Phillips, USFWS Following a long drive, you’ll arrive at the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge, which is one of the Gulf Coast’s most beautiful nature spots. It’s also considered one of Alabama’s 10 natural wonders.
- White Cliffs of Epes - Epes
google/Rob John Your final stop is Alabama’s White Cliffs of Epes, which is located on the Tombigbee River in Epes, Alabama. This grouping of cliffs is about a mile long and is made from layers of the Selma Chalk Formation.
Have you been to any of these beautiful nature spots in Alabama? If so, please share your experience(s) with us in the comments.
google maps
Click here for driving directions.
flickr/Brent Moore
Your first stop is DeSoto Falls. Plunging more than 100 feet, DeSoto Falls, which is located atop Lookout Mountain near the town of Mentone, is one of Alabama’s tallest and most beautiful waterfalls. It’s an absolute must-see!
flickr/Evangelio Gonzalez
Following a short drive, you’ll arrive at Little River Canyon National Preserve. A couple of things this scenic preserve features are waterfalls and a picturesque canyon, which is best known as the “Grand Canyon of the East.”
flickr/Brian Collins
Your next stop is Cheaha Mountain, which is surrounded by the Talladega National Forest. This majestic mountain is Alabama’s highest natural point and is home to Cheaha State Park, the state’s oldest continually operating state park. Cheaha Mountain also produces some of Alabama’s most beautiful scenic views.
google/DeSoto Caverns
Following another short drive, you’ll arrive at DeSoto Caverns. This series of caves, which is located at the foot of the Appalachian Mountains in Childersburg, is believed to be Alabama’s first recorded cave. It’s best known as “Alabama’s Big Cave.”
flickr/David Brossard
Your next stop is Natural Bridge Park where you’ll find Natural Bridge. With a length of 148 feet, this sandstone and iron ore bridge is the longest natural bridge east of the Rockies. According to experts, it’s also believed to be more than 200 million years old.
google/Sarah Compton
After a relaxing drive, you’ll arrive at the Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge. This wildlife refuge is best known for its beautiful lilies. It’s also home to the largest stand of Cahaba lilies in the world.
flickr/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region/Photo credit: Jereme Phillips, USFWS
Following a long drive, you’ll arrive at the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge, which is one of the Gulf Coast’s most beautiful nature spots. It’s also considered one of Alabama’s 10 natural wonders.
google/Rob John
Your final stop is Alabama’s White Cliffs of Epes, which is located on the Tombigbee River in Epes, Alabama. This grouping of cliffs is about a mile long and is made from layers of the Selma Chalk Formation.
For more information about Alabama’s White Cliffs of Epes, be sure to take a look at the following article: The Underrated Natural Wonder Every Alabamian Should See At Least Once.
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Address: DeSoto Falls, Alabama 35984, USAAddress: Little River Canyon National Preserve, 4322 Little River Trail #100, Fort Payne, AL 35967, USAAddress: Cheaha Mountain, Alabama 36258, USAAddress: Majestic Caverns, 5181 Desoto Caverns Pkwy, Childersburg, AL 35044, USAAddress: Natural Bridge Park, Co Rd 3500, Haleyville, AL 35565, USAAddress: Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge, 3WXQ+6MJ, West Blocton, AL 35184, USAAddress: Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge, 12295 AL-180, Gulf Shores, AL 36542, USAAddress: White Cliffs of Epes, 26867 US-11, Epes, AL 35460, USA
