White Falls is a 5.3 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Double Springs, Alabama that features a waterfall and is rated as moderate. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, nature trips, and bird watching and is accessible year-round. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash.
The first few segments of the White Falls loop are on system trails, 201 and 209. When 209 meets the Sipsey Fork, one must go off trail (although there is an impacted foot path, it is still considered off trail) and hike downstream and then go up the first drainage which is White Creek. One will then arrive at the falls and the upper falls is above that. Note that trying to reach the upper falls is VERY dangerous with one spot having a 30 foot drop off merely a few feet away.
February 22, 2021This is a great exercise hike - the first part is not the most beautiful section of Bankhead - it is mostly warmup exercise. Follow to the point where two former trail posts have sharpie written arrows for white falls - this is where the social trail starts (not marked, not mapped) follow to the first true creek, turn right and follow upstream to lower falls. There is a fairly manageable dangerous climb to the upper falls along the rock face to the right. Mileage ends up being 6-7 miles total. Part of trail 209 is a waterfall after a rain. Tread carefully on wet rocks.
January 17, 2021December 15, 2020
December 13, 2020November 15, 2020I hiked all the way to the end and it doesn’t take you to the waterfall all I found was two posts telling you to keep going down the creek and I went another 1.5 miles down and finally gave up so don’t even waste your time if you are just going for the waterfall.
October 14, 2020Trail 201 is just woods very dull. Once we hit the river we saw a sign for white falls but that's when all trail ends and we stumbled their by accident. I would not recommend any of this hike.
September 26, 2020The distance to the falls definitely was longer than the description indicated. My in and out distance was 6.3 miles and never found the falls. With the recent heavy rain this past week I figured at least I would be able to hear them. Trail 201 was nothing spectacular but the 209 heading down to sipsey creek was nice and once along the creek had some nice scenery.
April 30, 2020Great trail. The creek was down a bit and. The mud was deep to cross the creek. Next time I’ll look a bit closer on a better path to cross the creek. We ran out of time and didn’t get all the way to the waterfall. This hike to get to the waterfall is longer than suggested. We did 5.6 and didn’t see it. We will be back though when we have more time!
March 22, 2020To white falls and valentine pool was a 7.5 mile hike round trip. This description says a 5.3 so not accurate. Great waterfalls and beautiful sipsey experience. Counted 9 varieties of wildflowers blooming along the water.
August 24, 2019April 26, 2019Trail 201 was merely a woods trail to us....just a trail through the woods. Once we hit 209 down to Sipsey, the scenery improved greatly. We hiked south along Sipsey, then turned and followed the first creek we came to (which appeared to be White Creek), up to a waterfall, then hiked beyond to an upper waterfall. We then hiked back toward Sipsey before stopping to camp for the night at a beautiful campsite on the east side of the creek. Not sure what all the hype is about, as the trail was no worse than we've encountered elsewhere in the Sipsey Wilderness. Beautiful waterfalls for sure!
April 20, 2019I'm the guy Kim and some 200 others spend three days looking for. Believe her!
March 27, 2019Ended up hiking down 202 nice easy walk
March 16, 2019More difficult than I expected when trying to get out. The waterfall is kinda off trail but was definitely worth the hike!
October 20, 2018
First to ReviewChose this trail because it had no pictures and only one review. So glad I did. I followed the loop counterclockwise. Eventually the trail descended slightly through a canyon — slippery when wet. At the bottom you’ll see water to the left and large rock formations to the right. Follow the trail inland until there are more rock formations of even greater magnificence off to the left. The falls are straight ahead shortly thereafter. I’m not so sure this trail really is a loop like the map shows. After resting and enjoying the sound of the falls I attempted to continue the loop and ended up just drudging SW through incommodiously fallen trees until I rejoined the straightaway portion of the trail. Would’ve been better off turning around at the falls and exiting the way I entered. Not sure who is more tired, me or my dog.
February 23, 2021February 9, 2021January 22, 2021January 2, 2021December 5, 2020November 28, 2020November 7, 2020August 22, 2020August 1, 2020
