Save this before the signal gets weak
Open this page while connected, then print it or save it as a PDF. The guide also attempts to cache it in this browser; test offline access before relying on that copy.
On this page
Core route order
- DeSoto day: main park trail or boardwalk → separate DeSoto Falls area → Mentone.
- Canyon day: Little River Falls → Canyon View → Wolf Creek or Crow Point → Eberhart Point → Canyon Mouth only if time and road conditions suit.
Before leaving Wi-Fi
- Screenshot lodging address and check-in instructions.
- Download the region in your mapping app.
- Save the official DeSoto trail map and NPS preserve map.
- Confirm current alerts, closing times, restaurant hours and fuel.
- Tell someone which trail or road you are using.
Conditions that change the plan
- Fog: postpone the Rim Parkway; use Mentone or DeSoto forest time.
- Heavy rain: avoid river edges, slick descents and flooded roads.
- Dry spell: prioritize DeSoto Falls, Little River Falls and overlooks; smaller cascades may be absent.
- Low energy: use boardwalks and overlooks. Do not turn a short distance into a forced hike.
Essential official contacts
Little River Canyon National Preserve: 256-845-9605
Town of Mentone: 256-634-4444
DeSoto State Park: use the current contact shown on Alabama State Parks before travel.
Save addresses, not just place names
| Destination | Address or official contact | Use |
|---|---|---|
| DeSoto main park | 7104 DeSoto Parkway NE, Fort Payne; lodge desk 256-845-5380 | The developed park, not the separate falls parking area. |
| Little River Canyon Center | 4322 Little River Trail NE, Fort Payne; NPS 256-845-9605 | Orientation and the canyon-area starting point. |
| Emergency department | 200 Medical Center Drive SW, Fort Payne | Call 911 for an emergency; this address is a backup reference. |
Download the park’s maps from DeSoto arrival information and NPS maps while connected. A cached article is not a downloaded navigation map. Test what opens offline before relying on it; browser settings can clear saved content.
Your decisions travel with you
Meals and events in Mentone are Central Time. Keep a return destination and a meeting point if the group separates. If a route or gate differs from the saved plan, follow posted conditions and official instructions rather than forcing the original sequence.