Nocho Park

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Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Noccalula Falls Park is a popular tourist destination in Gadsden, Alabama, located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains.


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Summary

The park is famous for its 90-foot waterfall, which is the main attraction that draws visitors from across the state.

In addition to the waterfall, the park offers several other points of interest, including a pioneer homestead, an animal habitat, and a botanical garden. Visitors can also hike along the Black Creek Trail, which runs through the park and offers scenic views of the surrounding area.

One interesting fact about Noccalula Falls Park is that it was named after a Cherokee princess who supposedly jumped to her death from the waterfall rather than marry a man she did not love. The park also hosts several events throughout the year, including the annual Noccalula Falls Arts and Crafts Fair and the Christmas at the Falls celebration.

The best time of year to visit Noccalula Falls Park is during the spring and fall, when the weather is mild and the foliage is at its most colorful. However, the park is open year-round and offers activities and events throughout the year, making it a great destination for visitors of all ages.

       

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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