Welti Falls

January 2, 2016

Welti Falls, located in the small town of Welti, where a beautiful waterfall created from the spillway of Forest Ingram Park flows over the rock facing creating a unexpectedly large fall.  It's just under a mile walk to this beautiful hidden waterfall and little over an hour drive north of Birmingham.  Let's just say it's well worth the adventure.  

On the day we went it was a cool winter's day and the sky was gloomy to start, but turned quite sunny by the time we got to the falls.  Not always a photographers favorite time of the day 1:30 and full sun, but the warmth on the cool day was welcome.  I enjoyed climbing the side of the falls, but chose a much easier path down then up.   Tip: Make sure to cross the rock path closest to the right side of the falls where a little stream comes in and stair step your way up the boulders.  Otherwise, enjoy some additional climbing through rugged terrain, mud, downed trees and having to cross back over in a more precarious way.  Once up to the top of the large fall area, there is a small place to climb (very slick) but more like a stair step.  Here you will be on top of the falls and will see a smaller fall leading down from the lake beyond.  It was like a field of lake flowing into this small area, but wow what a huge fall it creates.  The week before our visit flooding had occurred and lots of trash had covered the area below from the volume of water, but the falls were worthwhile.      

The drive is mainly interstate on I65N until you exit 287 and go right towards Hanceville, AL.  As you drive along AL 91 you will pass pastures of goats, farm land and a deer hunting camp.  Turn left onto County Road 747 heading towards Walkers Corner.  Once you come to a 4-way stop in the little community called Welti you will take a left.  Go approx. 2 miles where you will see a bridge.  Pull over before the bridge and find the trailhead here.    

After our adventures at the falls we continued over the bridge and took a left on County Road 700 which dead ends into 3rd Ave. SE.  Turn left and as you approach the train bridge you need to wait because only one car can enter at a time.  After going through the small tunnel we turned left on Hwy 31.  We did not have lunch and decided Subway was the best option in Hanceville.  Too bad on the day we went that the Coffee shop in the area was closed, but that will just have to be another day. 

An alternate route where it's more interstate then backroads is to take exit 308 in Cullman, go right traveling east on Hwy. 278.  Once you arrive at the caution light at Walkers Corner turning right on the county road.  Go about 2-3 miles until you come to a 4-way stop.  This is the little community called Welti.  Take a right here & go approx 2 miles until you see the bridge and reverse to go back home.  

Don't just stop here.   There is also the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Hanceville, Ava Marie Grotto in Cullman and you pass Rickwood Caverns on the Interstate along the way. 

Trailhead sign

Selfie

My best fur buddy!

Iphone shot of falls

The trash :(

Lake beyond the falls

Upper falls

Welti Falls