Peavine Falls and Peavine Gorge (Oak Mountain State Park) Hiking Guide
Peavine Falls is the waterfall at Oak Mountain State Park, Alabama's largest state park at 11,861 acres, and the park says its two most common questions are how to get there and whether it has any water in it. The falls drop about 65 feet near the park's highest ridge, and the flow depends on recent rain. This route starts at the Peavine Falls parking lot, drops to the base of the falls and adds a short spur to overlooks of Peavine Gorge.
Permit: Oak Mountain State Park charges per-person day-use admission at the gate: $5 ages 12+, $2 ages 4-11 and 62+, free for ages 3 and under and for active military, retirees and veterans. No trail permit is needed.
Distance and Route
Hiking Project maps this route at 1.8 miles out and back with about 359 feet of climbing and rates it intermediate. From the Peavine Falls lot, take the White Trail (Shackleford Point Trail) from the east side of the parking area; it descends gradually for about half a mile. Keep left where the Falls Creek Trail branches off, then turn right onto the Blue Trail (South Rim Trail) and cross Peavine Branch to reach the falls. Past the falls, the Blue Trail continues to the Rim Shelter Trail, a spur with views down Peavine Gorge. Falls Creek Trail makes a shorter return to the White Trail.
The Green Trail Doesn't Go There
The Green Trail is officially named the Peavine Falls Trail, but it does not lead to the waterfall. It starts near the park office on Terrace Drive and climbs to the Peavine Falls parking lot, rising from about 550 feet to about 1,100 feet in 1.9 miles, which the park says makes it the steepest trail at Oak Mountain. Hikers who want a harder day can climb it from below and then pick up the White or Blue Trail to the falls. Everyone else should drive to the upper lot and start there.
At the Base of the Falls
The park calls the descent to the base of the falls a steep climb down, and Hiking Project warns that the terrain is slippery in places. Expect rock and loose footing on the last stretch, and save energy for the walk back up. The pool below the falls draws people on hot days. After a dry spell the falls can shrink to a trickle, so time the visit for a few days after rain if the waterfall is the point.
Entry Fee and Hours
Oak Mountain charges admission per person at the gate, not per car: $5 for ages 12 and up, $2 for children 4 to 11 and for seniors 62 and older, and free for children 3 and under and for active military, retirees and veterans. The gate takes cash and cards. An individual annual pass costs $180 and is good only at Oak Mountain. The park is open from 7 a.m. until sunset.
Deer Hunts and Trail Posts
Oak Mountain thins its deer herd with archery-only hunts by drawn permit. In the 2025-26 season they ran Monday through Thursday in weekly blocks from early November to early February, with each hunter confined to an assigned unit. The hiking trails carry colored, numbered posts about every quarter mile; the White Trail uses 27 to 51 and the Blue Trail 1 to 26. If someone is hurt or lost, call the park at 205-620-2520 with the last post number you passed.
Hiking tips for Peavine Falls and Peavine Gorge (Oak Mountain State Park)
- Drive to the Peavine Falls parking lot rather than starting on the Green Trail, which ends at the lot, not the falls.
- Visit within a few days of rain for the strongest flow.
- Wear shoes with grip for the steep, slick descent to the pool.
- Note the numbered trail posts as you pass them in case you need to call the park.
- Bring cash or a card for the per-person gate fee.
Nearby trails to explore
- Maggie's Glen Loop (Oak Mountain State Park)
- Boulder Gorge Loop (Moss Rock Preserve)
- Red Mountain Park Loop
Hike this trail with TrailMates
Peavine Falls is a short hike with a steep finish, and it is easier with someone to spot you on the slick rocks. Use TrailMates to find hikers for a trip to the falls after a good rain, sort out who's driving to the upper lot in the event's group chat, and meet at the Peavine Falls trailhead. Download TrailMates on the App Store or Google Play.