Peavine Falls Trail

Peavine Falls Trail descends into a narrow sandstone gorge to reach Peavine Falls, a two-tier plunge waterfall that drops approximately 65 feet total over two distinct steps before pooling in a rocky basin at the gorge bottom. Peavine Falls is the most dramatic waterfall in the Birmingham area and the most visited feature in Oak Mountain State Park. The trail drops steeply from the ridgetop parking area through increasingly dense forest as it enters the gorge, with the sound of falling water announcing the falls well before they come into view. The gorge walls are sandstone of the Pottsville Formation, the same rock unit that underlies most of the Birmingham coal-mining district, and the layered bedrock is exposed beautifully in the gorge cross-section. The falls flow strongest after winter rains and during spring snowmelt from the ridge above. The plunge pool below the lower tier is a popular wading spot in summer, though swimming is officially prohibited due to the slippery rocks and unpredictable water depths. Ferns and mosses colonize the spray zone around the falls in dense carpets. The $5 vehicle fee applies. The trailhead is located in the park's western area, accessible from Peavine Road off Highway 119. This trail is suitable for most fitness levels despite the steep descent and return climb.