We decided to drive 9 hours to get to Central Alabama to see our grandchildren. My son-in-law and daughter made several trips to waterfalls in the area and wanted to show us, Noccalula Falls, while we were in Alabama. They considered it the best falls in the area.
The Noccalula Falls was once known as the Black Creek Falls based on the Legend of Noccalula, the daughter of an Indian Chief. She was known for her beauty and character. Noccalula fell in love with a young brave from her own tribe but her father wanted to marry her off to a wealthy and powerful chief from a neighboring tribe. This way they could exchange for items that the tribe needed.
Book Top Attractions Below
The beautiful princess ended her life quietly on the falls on her wedding day while the tribe was enjoying the great feast. Her father, who was remorseful, named the cascade after her.
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What Noccalula Falls Has To Offer Families
We head out to Noccalula Falls, which is a part of the Black Creek Ravine. I was impressed with the park for several reasons! The Falls are about 90 feet high. You can walk for about 1.5 miles down to the gorge and look up at the falls.
There is plenty to see and do in Noccalula Falls. You can spend the whole day. The train makes it easy to get around, and with the playground and petting zoo, the kids will remain occupied. There is plenty of shade for doing the hotter summer months.
They offer camping, fly fishing, cabin rentals, venue rentals, botanical gardens and much more! See our top 5 favorite things to do at Noccalula Falls below!
Our Top 5 Reasons To Visit Noccalula Falls
- Take the train! There are trails leading all over the park. But my daughter was almost 8 months pregnant when we took our trip. The train is great if you have little ones or if you want to limit your walking. Take a ride on the authentic Huntington miniature train!
- Kids love the petting zoo! They actually have a lion there which if she is out you are pretty close up! We saw all kinds of wildlife in the animal area. Some were native to Alabama but most were not.
- Playground, picnic, and camp. The park offers so much and at reasonable prices. The campground runs along the Black Gorge with tent, cabin or RV hookups.
- Mini Golf! For a separate fee, you can also play minigolf with the kids.
- Pioneer Village is great for kids to pretend they are living in Pioneer times! There are various outbuildings placed around the property in the Pioneer Village for kids to explore along with the tools they used to live.
Getting Around Noccalula Falls
Train stations are located throughout the property so you can pick up the train rather than walk to the next display. There are some hilly areas but I would consider this an easy walking experience for both little kids and older adults. The trails were mostly asphalt and nicely maintained grounds made it a pleasant experience.
Pioneer Village at the Falls
The bonus is every holiday season the park is covered in holiday lights! You can see they were starting to put up the lights in some of my pictures!
Petting Zoo at Noccalula Falls
Location and Hours Information
NOCCALULA FALLS PARK & CAMPGROUND, 1500 NOCCALULA ROAD, GADSDEN, AL, 35904, UNITED STATES(256) 549-4663
Park Admission
(Regular season: March – October, Weekends on in November. Closed January and February.)
(Prices may vary for special events.)
Adults
$ 6.00 per visit
$ 15.00/person Season Pass
Senior Adults / Military
$ 4.00 per visit
$ 10.00/person Season Pass
Children (ages 4-12)
$ 4.00 per visit
$ 10.00/person Season Pass
Children 3 and under
FREE
Attractions
- BLACK CREEK TRAILS
- PETTING ZOO
- BOTANICAL GARDENS
- TRAIN
- FALLS
- WEDDING CHAPEL
- MINI GOLF
- CAMPGROUND
- CABINS
- FLY FISHING
Book Haunted Night Walking Tours Below
Let us know your favorite falls in Alabama in the comments!
We did not stay near the falls. We opted, instead to stay on Lay Lake so we were more centrally located to other events we had going on in Alabama. This is a great recreational area to stay in when visiting Central Alabama. We were able to score a great home on Lay Lake on VRBO.
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