This Alabama State Park named one of the best places to visit in the South this Fall by World Atlas

One of our favorite digital publications, World Atlas, released their list of the best places to visit in the South this Fall. Can you guess which Alabama destination they chose?

Drumroll please… Desoto State Park!

Quite frankly, we love Dekalb County in the Fall. Little River Canyon, Mentone, High Falls are  a few of our favorite places. And of course World Atlas agrees.

Here is what they had to say about Desoto State Park:

“Studded with fall-blooming wildflowers, the North Alabama highlands become a patchwork of yellow poplars, scarlet dogwoods, orange maples, and golden hickories, with lakes and waterfalls stark against the foliage…With log and rustic cabins, chalets, and campsites, you can lose yourself in the sea of gold from late October to early November over family-friendly hikes like the moderate, 2.3-mile Laurel Falls and Lost Falls Trails near Fort Payne.”

Desoto State Park is breathtaking

Still need to be convinced Desoto State Park is one of the most beautiful places in Alabama and the South? We asked John Dersham President/CEO DeKalb Tourism to tell us why it is a special place.

“Nestled in the beautiful hardwood forests of Northeast Alabama, atop Lookout Mountain lies one of the most beautiful state parks to be found anywhere in the United States. Visitors love us year around but especially in the fall when the forest turns to bright red, orange, yellow and many shades in between. DeSoto Falls drops 104′ from the Little River above at the park’s lake, creating a spectacular breathtaking view from above the falls or from the trails at the bottom. The Lookout Mountain Scenic Byway runs through the park, providing easy access to great attractions within the park including the lodge, restaurant, two campgrounds, rental cabins and some wonderful hikes and picnic areas throughout the colorful wilderness.”

John Dersham, President and CEO, DeKalb Tourism

World Atlas’s 7 other destinations

Joining Desoto State Park on the World Atlas list of the best Southern destinations are the following memorable places:

• Savannah, Georgia
• Tallulah Falls, Georgia
• Cumberland, Maryland
• Bryson Trail/Appalachian Trail North Carolina
• Nantahala National Forest, North Carolina
• Shenandoah Park/Valley Virginia
• New River Gorge Bridge, West Virginia

“DeSoto State Park is often thought of as the gateway to Little River Canyon, one of the South’s iconic places that is always pleasing to the eye in the Fall leaf season. Whether you’re hiking the river and trails within the park, or viewing DeSoto Falls or the canyon overlooks, DeSoto State Park never disappoints those who make time to know its many wonders.”

Greg Lein, Director of Alabama State Parks

Did World Atlas get it right? Tell us your favorite Fall spots, especially here in Alabama on social media. Make sure to tag us at @Bhamnow