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)
Established 1930s
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 bears the name of the sixteenth-century explorer Hernando de Soto and was developed in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps.[3] The work done by the CCC here and in other parks is celebrated at the Civilian Conservation Corps Museum which opened in 2013.[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]

References

  1. 1 2 "Desoto State Park Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  2. 1 2 "DeSoto State Park". Alabama State Parks. Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved January 4, 2016.
  3. 1 2 Thomas V. Ress (August 11, 2015). "DeSoto State Park". Encyclopedia of Alabama. Alabama Humanities Foundation. Retrieved January 4, 2016.
  4. "Civilian Conservation Corps Museum". Alabama State Parks. Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved January 4, 2016.
  5. "Hiking: DeSoto State Park". Alabama State Parks. Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved January 4, 2016.
  6. "Rustic CCC Cabins: DeSoto State Park". Alabama State Parks. Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved January 4, 2016.

External links

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