Laurel Falls is a small, 8-foot waterfall on Laurel Fork in DeSoto State Park, near Valley Head in DeKalb County, Alabama, about 6.4 miles northeast of Fort Payne.
The falls
The creek makes a single, modest drop off the Cumberland Plateau, where creeks in the area typically pour off the plateau rim into deep gorges. A current listing places the feature at Valley Head and shows a total height of 8 feet, but marks the entry unconfirmed rather than surveyed in person. It ranks 28th among Alabama's documented waterfalls.
Getting there
The falls sit off the Orange Trail, about 0.75 mile from the Country Store and Information Center at DeSoto State Park. The main park charges no entrance fee, and its trails and picnic areas are open from dawn to dusk.
When to go
Trail access follows the park's dawn-to-dusk hours. No specific seasonal flow guidance for the falls itself is documented.
On site
Dogs are allowed on the park's trails when kept on a leash. Park guidance recommends closed shoes, water, and preparation for mountainous terrain along the hike.
Nearby
Lost Falls is about 0.3 mile away, Azalea Cascade about 0.4 mile, and Indian Falls about 0.6 mile, all on Laurel Fork.
Distances are straight-line.