Noccalula Falls is a 90-foot waterfall on Black Creek in Gadsden, Alabama, and the centerpiece of the city-run Noccalula Falls Park, which adds a gorge trail that passes behind the falls, gardens, a pioneer village and a miniature train. During the regular season (mid-February through late October) admission is $10 for adults and $8 for children 4 to 12 and seniors, and the falls are at their most powerful after winter and spring rain.
Gadsden sits about a half-hour drive north of Anniston and Oxford, which makes Noccalula Falls an easy half-day trip from a weekend in Calhoun County. This guide covers when to go, what admission includes, the best way to see the falls from the top and the bottom, and where to eat and stay nearby.
Noccalula Falls at a glance
- What: A 90-foot waterfall dropping into the Black Creek gorge, inside a 250-acre city park.
- Address: 1500 Noccalula Road, Gadsden, Alabama. Phone 256-549-4663.
- Run by: The City of Gadsden, with support from the nonprofit Friends of the Falls.
- Regular season: Mid-February through late October, daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with later weekend hours in summer. Closed in January.
- Admission (regular season): $10 adults, $8 children 4 to 12, $8 seniors 55 and up, free for children 3 and under.
- Included: Pioneer village, animal habitat, botanical gardens, the train ride and access to the gorge trail under the falls.
- Best flow: Winter and spring, after rain.
- From Anniston and Oxford: Roughly 30 to 40 minutes north.
How tall is Noccalula Falls?
Noccalula Falls drops about 90 feet over a rock ledge into the Black Creek gorge. It is one of the tallest and best-known waterfalls in Alabama, and because the overlook sits right at the lip of the falls, you get a dramatic view straight down into the gorge. A bronze statue of Noccalula, dedicated in 1969, stands at the edge of the overlook.
The flow depends entirely on rain. After a wet winter or a spring storm, the falls thunder; in a dry late summer or early fall, the water can slow to a thin curtain. If you are planning a trip mainly to see the waterfall, aim for late winter or spring, or a few days after a good rain. Our guide to waterfalls in Alabama explains when the state’s other big falls run best.
What is the legend of Noccalula Falls?
According to local legend, Noccalula was a young Native American woman whose father arranged for her to marry a wealthy chief from another tribe, though she loved a young warrior from her own people. On her wedding day she slipped away and leaped from the top of the falls, and her grieving father named the waterfall for her. Historians have questioned whether the story is true, but it has been told in Gadsden for generations, and the 1969 statue by sculptor Suzanne Silvercruys shows Noccalula poised at the edge.
How much does it cost to visit Noccalula Falls Park?
During the regular season, admission is $10 for adults, $8 for children 4 to 12 and $8 for seniors 55 and up, and children 3 and under get in free. A same-day combo ticket with a round of miniature golf costs $15 for adults and $12 for children, seniors and military. Admission includes the pioneer village, animal habitat, botanical gardens, the train ride and access to the gorge trail that leads under the falls.
Season passes are sold each year for frequent visitors. Prices and hours can change for special events, so check with the park office before you go.
What are Noccalula Falls Park’s hours?
The park’s regular season runs from mid-February through late October, with daily hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and extended weekend hours (to 7 p.m.) in summer. Last tickets are sold 30 minutes before closing. The park is closed in January.
From late October until the holiday light show opens, the park’s ticketed attractions are closed for the season. During the holidays, Christmas at the Falls fills the park with lights, displays, light shows and visits with Santa, nightly from 4 to 10 p.m. Dates for the 2026 season had not been announced at the time of writing, so check the Noccalula Falls Park website before planning a holiday visit.
Can you hike behind Noccalula Falls?
Yes. The Gorge Trail leads down into the Black Creek gorge and passes under the overhanging rock behind the falls, so you can stand behind the water and look out through it. Along the way you pass caves, an old dam, a pioneer homestead site and Civil War-era carvings in the rock. The trail is rocky and can be slick, so wear shoes with good grip and keep children close.
For a longer walk, the Black Creek Trail is a 1.7-mile crushed-stone path that follows the creek, and the park has more than 15 miles of groomed single-track for walking, running and mountain biking. Allow at least an hour for the gorge and two to three hours to see the whole park.
What else is there to do at Noccalula Falls Park?
Besides the waterfall, the park has enough to fill a family afternoon. Highlights include:
- Pioneer village: Historic log buildings that show what settler life looked like in northeast Alabama.
- Gilliland-Reese Covered Bridge: A wooden covered bridge built in 1899 and moved into the park.
- Miniature train: A replica of an 1863 C.P. Huntington locomotive that circles the park.
- Botanical gardens: Known for spring azaleas, with a butterfly garden nearby.
- Animal habitat and petting zoo: A favorite with younger kids.
- Miniature golf: A landscaped course with waterfalls and rock formations, open seasonally.
- Playground and picnic pavilions: Good for a packed lunch.
The park also hosts big annual events, including a barbecue competition in spring and the start of the World’s Longest Yard Sale in August, when crowds are heavy.
Is there camping at Noccalula Falls?
Yes. Noccalula Falls Park Campground, at 1890 Noccalula Road, has 73 full-hookup sites, a pool, renovated bathhouses, a pavilion and a camp store, with two rustic log cabins as well. It is a convenient base for a fall or spring weekend that combines the falls with a drive up Lookout Mountain. For more ideas, see our guide to fall camping in Alabama.
When is the best time to visit Noccalula Falls?
The best time for waterfall flow is late February through May, after winter and spring rains, when the park’s regular season is also open. Spring brings azaleas in the gardens, and weekday mornings are the quietest. Summer is busy with families, and by late summer the falls can slow considerably. In fall, check recent rainfall before you go, and remember that the regular season ends in late October.
- Best flow: Late winter and spring.
- Best for families: Spring and early summer, when all attractions are running.
- Least crowded: Weekday mornings outside summer and big event weekends.
- Holiday lights: Christmas at the Falls, nightly in the holiday season (check dates).
How far is Noccalula Falls from Anniston and Oxford?
Noccalula Falls is roughly 30 to 40 minutes north of Anniston and Oxford by way of US 431 or I-59, depending on where you start. That makes it an easy morning trip on a weekend based in Calhoun County: see the falls early, then head back south for lunch. From Birmingham, Gadsden is about an hour northeast on I-59.
Gadsden is also the southern gateway to Lookout Mountain, so you can continue north toward Little River Canyon National Preserve and DeSoto State Park for more waterfalls if you have a full day.
Where should you eat and stay near Noccalula Falls?
For a weekend trip, base yourself in Anniston or Oxford, where our directory lists locally owned restaurants and places to stay. We don’t yet have Gadsden listings, but we’re working on it.
Where to eat
Back in Anniston, Coldwater Mountain Brewpub serves house-brewed beer and a full menu in the old L&N freight depot, with a dog-friendly beer garden. In Oxford, Brad’s Bar-B-Que on US Highway 78 East has served smoked pork and fried catfish since 1988. Our guide to where to eat in Anniston and Oxford has more picks.
Where to stay
Southern Soho Boutique Hotel, just off I-20 Exit 186 in Oxford, is an independent hotel with individually themed rooms, free parking and pet-friendly options. For a historic inn, see our Anniston B&B weekend guide, and for the whole region, our guide to Anniston, Oxford and East Alabama.
FAQ
Is Noccalula Falls free?
No, not during the regular season. Admission to Noccalula Falls Park is $10 for adults, $8 for children 4 to 12 and $8 for seniors 55 and up, and it includes the gorge trail, gardens, pioneer village and train ride. Children 3 and under are free.
How long does it take to see Noccalula Falls?
Plan on an hour to see the falls from the overlook and walk the gorge trail behind the water. To see the whole park, including the pioneer village, gardens and train, allow two to three hours.
Can you swim at Noccalula Falls?
Swimming is not one of the park’s listed activities, and the gorge has slippery rocks and strong currents after rain. Enjoy the falls from the overlook and the gorge trail, and ask park staff about current rules.
Is Noccalula Falls open in winter?
The park’s regular season runs from mid-February through late October, and the park is closed in January. During the holidays, Christmas at the Falls opens nightly from 4 to 10 p.m.; check the park website for this season’s dates.
What county is Noccalula Falls in?
Noccalula Falls Park is in Gadsden, the seat of Etowah County, in northeast Alabama. It is about 30 to 40 minutes north of Anniston and Oxford.