| DeSoto State Park | |
|---|---|
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  DeSoto State Park Location in Alabama | |
| Location | Cherokee andDeKalb counties,Alabama, United States |
| Coordinates | 34°32′54″N85°35′24″W / 34.54833°N 85.59000°W /34.54833; -85.59000[1] |
| Area | 3,502 acres (1,417 ha) |
| Elevation | 1,614 ft (492 m)[1] |
| Established | 1935 |
| Administered by | Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |
| Website | Official website |
DeSoto State Park is a public recreation area located onLookout Mountain, eight miles (13 km) northeast ofFort Payne, Alabama.[2] Thestate park covers 3,502 acres (1,417 ha) of forest, rivers, waterfalls, and mountain terrain. It borders the Little River, which flows into the nearbyLittle 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 six miles (9.7 km) north of the main park.[3]
The park, which bears the name of 16th-century explorerHernando de Soto, was developed in the 1930s by theCivilian 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 awardedTripadvisor’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) ofNational 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]
