Mentone, Alabama, is a small mountain town on top of Lookout Mountain in DeKalb County, and it is the best base in the state for a fall cabin weekend. Stay in a cabin or bed and breakfast, see DeSoto Falls and Little River Canyon by day, browse the galleries along Highway 117 and eat by a fireplace at night.
This guide covers every place to stay we list in Mentone, where to eat and shop, what to see and how to plan a weekend around peak fall color. For the bigger picture of the season across the state, see our guide to fall in Alabama.
Mentone at a glance
- Where: On Lookout Mountain in DeKalb County, Northeast Alabama, near Fort Payne.
- Getting there: AL 117 climbs the mountain from I-59 at Hammondville, or come up through Fort Payne. Birmingham is about two hours away and Huntsville about an hour and a half.
- Nearest airports: Chattanooga Metropolitan (CHA), about an hour; Huntsville International (HSV), about 1 hour 45 minutes.
- Best months: October for fall color, April and May for rhododendron and mountain laurel and full waterfalls.
- Don’t miss: DeSoto Falls, DeSoto State Park, Mentone Brow Park at sunset, the Sallie Howard Memorial Chapel and Little River Canyon.
What is Mentone, Alabama known for?
Mentone is known for mountain scenery, cabins and fall color. The town began as a mountain resort in the 1880s, when visitors came up Lookout Mountain for the cool air and mineral springs, and summer camps have operated here for generations. Today it has fewer than 500 year-round residents, a handful of shops and restaurants along AL 117, and an arts community out of proportion to its size. The setting is the draw: hardwood forest, sandstone bluffs and the West Fork of the Little River running through DeSoto State Park. Our Mentone area guide lists every local business.
Where should you stay in Mentone?
Choose a cabin if you want a hot tub and a kitchen, a bed and breakfast if you want breakfast made for you, and a lodge if you want activities built in. Every option below is locally owned and listed in our directory; see all of them on our Mentone places to stay page.
Mentone cabins
Mentone Log Cabins rents two hand-built, family-owned cabins on County Road 600, each with a fireplace, a full kitchen and a hot tub. Rates are listed from $130 a night, which makes it one of the better values on the mountain.
Mentone Cozy Cabins is a small family business run by Jeff and Laura Nobles, who bought cabins of their own after Jeff spent childhood summers in Mentone. Cabins have full kitchens, hot tubs, wood stoves and mountain views, and they are pet friendly, which is rare up here.
Cottages of Mentone manages five of its own cottages in wooded settings on County Road 89, between the town and DeSoto State Park. It is one outfit with one phone number, not a booking platform, and it also hosts small weddings and events.
Mentone inns and bed and breakfasts
Bee on the Brow sits on the brow of the mountain on County Road 89, with a deck and sunset views, private baths, free Wi-Fi and a gourmet breakfast included. Owners Pete and Rachel Stern bought the property after more than 25 years as a military family. Rates are listed from $290 to $1,015 a night, and the whole house can be rented for a group.
The Hatter Country Inn on Highway 117 has two whimsical, Alice in Wonderland themed suites, each with a private jacuzzi porch and room for up to four, from a $179 nightly base rate. The Hatter Cafe next door makes breakfast an easy walk.
Andiamo Lodge
Andiamo Lodge on County Road 106 fills the old Shiloh Lodge building, bought and reworked by photographer and creative director Colleen Duffley and her husband Steve Carpenter. It leans into experiences: art workshops, culinary classes, and outdoor adventures like kayaking and rock climbing, with wood-burning fireplaces for the evenings.
How do Mentone’s places to stay compare?
| Place | Type | Highlights | Listed rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mentone Log Cabins | Two cabins | Fireplace, hot tub, full kitchen | From $130 a night |
| Mentone Cozy Cabins | Cabins | Hot tub, wood stove, pet friendly | Check with owners |
| Cottages of Mentone | Five cottages | Wooded settings near DeSoto State Park | Check with owners |
| The Hatter Country Inn | Two suites | Jacuzzi porches, cafe next door | From $179 a night base rate |
| Bee on the Brow | Bed and breakfast | Sunset deck, gourmet breakfast | $290 to $1,015 a night |
| Andiamo Lodge | Lodge | Workshops, classes, guided adventures | Check with lodge |
Rates are as listed in our directory and change by season. Ask about minimum stays when you book October weekends.
What are the best things to do in Mentone?
Start with DeSoto Falls, then spend the rest of the day between the canyon, the galleries and a sunset overlook.
- DeSoto Falls: The West Fork of the Little River drops more than 100 feet into a gorge just below the A.A. Miller Dam, a few minutes north of town.
- DeSoto State Park: Trails and smaller waterfalls a few miles south of Mentone.
- Little River Canyon National Preserve: About 30 minutes away, with a scenic drive along the rim. Our DeSoto Falls and Little River Canyon guide has the route.
- Sallie Howard Memorial Chapel: A small chapel built in 1937 around a huge rock.
- Mentone Brow Park: The place to watch the sun set over the valley.
- Galleries: The Mentone Arts Center on Highway 117 is a nonprofit with rotating exhibits, classes and a gift shop. Little River Art Gallery, run by the Little River Arts Council, and Coming Up Violets, artist Amanda Grace Gamsby’s studio and shop, share the Moon Lake Village area off Highway 117, with parking behind the Baptist church.
- Golf: Lil’ Mole Run Golf Course is an 18-hole, par-71 course on County Road 647 with a driving range and lake fishing.
Where should you eat in Mentone?
Mentone has only a few places to eat, so plan meals and make a dinner reservation on busy weekends.
- The Hatter Cafe serves breakfast and lunch in a room full of chandeliers, teapots and Alice in Wonderland touches, with Southern comfort food and dinner service on weekends. Roger and Pamela Wald opened it in 2018.
- Elevation Bistro on Highway 117 is the dinner spot, with fireplace seating, a small bar, craft cocktails and locally sourced ingredients.
- Mentone Market has been the town’s general store for more than 80 years. Stop for gas, a deli sandwich, wood-fired pizza, homemade food and local gifts. It is open daily.
Where can you shop in Mentone?
Shopping in Mentone means antiques, farm goods and local art. The Possum Emporium on County Road 642, run by Meg and Al Richardson, is full of antiques, consigned art and curiosities. The Farm at Windy Hill on Road 942 sells grass-fed beef, pasture-raised eggs and seasonal produce, and hosts farm-to-table dinners. Pick up groceries there or at Mentone Market before you settle into a cabin.
How do you plan a fall weekend in Mentone?
Book early, arrive Friday and keep Saturday morning for the waterfalls before the crowds. October is Mentone’s busiest month, and the town’s fall festival is on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at the Moon Lake Campus.
- Friday evening: Check in, pick up supplies at Mentone Market and have dinner at Elevation Bistro.
- Saturday morning: Breakfast at The Hatter Cafe, then DeSoto Falls and a short hike in DeSoto State Park.
- Saturday afternoon: The galleries at Moon Lake Village and the Mentone Arts Center, then sunset at Mentone Brow Park.
- Sunday: Drive the Little River Canyon rim before heading home. Our Alabama fall foliage guide explains the best timing.
Other fall weekends are busy too. Check our list of Alabama fall festivals for 2026 before you choose dates.
FAQ
When is the best time to visit Mentone, Alabama?
October is the most popular month, when the leaves change on Lookout Mountain and the town holds its fall festival. Spring brings rhododendrons, mountain laurel and strong waterfalls, and summer is cooler than most of Alabama.
How far is Mentone from Birmingham and Huntsville?
Mentone is about two hours from Birmingham and about an hour and a half from Huntsville by car. Chattanooga, Tennessee, is about an hour away and has the closest commercial airport.
Are there cabins with hot tubs in Mentone?
Yes. Mentone Log Cabins and Mentone Cozy Cabins both list hot tubs, and The Hatter Country Inn has private jacuzzi porches. Book early for October weekends.
Are there pet-friendly cabins in Mentone?
Mentone Cozy Cabins lists its cabins as pet friendly. Check the pet policy and any fee directly with the owners when you book.
How far is DeSoto Falls from Mentone?
DeSoto Falls is a few minutes’ drive north of downtown Mentone, in a separate section of DeSoto State Park. The main part of DeSoto State Park is a few miles south of town.
Is Mentone worth visiting?
Yes, if you want a quiet mountain weekend. Mentone has waterfalls, a canyon nearby, galleries and cozy cabins, but very little nightlife, so it suits couples, families and anyone who wants to slow down.