Chewacla State Park
4393 Wrights Mill Rd, Auburn, AL
Auburn, AL
A waterfall spilling over a Depression-era stone dam, a quiet lake, and miles of woodland trails, all just minutes from Auburn.
Chewacla State Park is the beloved backyard wild place of Auburn, a pocket of woods, water, and stone just south of the university town. Its centerpiece is a waterfall that spills over an old stone dam below a small lake, a picturesque spot that has drawn generations of students and families to cool off and take photographs.
Beyond the falls, the park holds a quiet lake for paddling and fishing, historic cabins and structures built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, and a well-developed network of trails that has made it one of the region's favorite spots for mountain biking and hiking. Compact but full of character, Chewacla packs a lot of Alabama Piedmont beauty into an easy day trip.
What Guests Love
- The waterfall spilling over the old stone dam below the lake
- A small, quiet lake for paddling, fishing, and swimming in season
- A well-loved network of mountain-bike and hiking trails
- The Depression-era stone cabins and structures built by the CCC
Worth Knowing
- The park charges a small day-use fee for entry
- The waterfall runs strongest after rain and can slow to a trickle in dry spells
- The trails are popular with mountain bikers, so hikers should stay alert on shared paths
- Weekends and Auburn game days can be busy, so arrive early for parking
Details
Auburn, AL
Learn about Chewacla State Park
The waterfall and the dam
The most photographed feature of Chewacla is its waterfall, where water from the lake spills over a curved stone dam and tumbles into the creek below. The dam and the falls were shaped in the 1930s, and the mix of natural rock and handcrafted stonework gives the scene its distinctive look, part wild cascade, part built landmark.
The falls run fullest after rain, when the creek is high, and slow in dry spells, so their character changes with the weather and season. On warm days the pools and rocks around the falls become a gathering place, and the spot is a favorite for wading, sunning, and cooling off, especially with the Auburn campus so close.
A CCC park
Like many of Alabama's state parks, Chewacla was built during the Great Depression by the Civilian Conservation Corps, the New Deal program that put young men to work on public lands. The CCC created the lake and dam and built cabins and other stone structures, working in the rustic, handcrafted style that still defines the park.
Several of those Depression-era stone cabins survive and can be rented, letting visitors stay overnight in a piece of history overlooking the woods and water. The durable stonework, now weathered and mossy, blends into the forest and gives Chewacla a sense of age and craft that newer parks lack.
Trails and mountain biking
Over the years Chewacla has become one of the most popular trail destinations in east Alabama, especially for mountain bikers. Volunteers and the park have built an extensive network of purpose-designed trails winding through the hilly woods, ranging from beginner-friendly loops to more technical rides, drawing riders from around the region.
The same trail system, along with hiking-specific paths, makes the park excellent for walkers and trail runners as well. Because the trails are shared, hikers keep an eye out for cyclists on the fast sections, but the network is large enough that it rarely feels crowded, and it offers a genuine woodland escape minutes from town.
The lake and the town
Chewacla Lake is a small, tranquil reservoir where visitors can paddle canoes and kayaks, fish from the bank or a boat, and swim in season, all framed by wooded hills. Picnic areas and pavilions along the shore make it a natural spot for a family outing or a lakeside afternoon.
The park's closeness to Auburn is part of its charm, a genuine natural retreat only minutes from campus, downtown, and the neighboring city of Opelika. For students, locals, and travelers alike, Chewacla offers a quick, satisfying dose of Alabama's Piedmont woods, water, and history without ever leaving the edge of town.
Closest Boutels
The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is an independently owned, editorially selected place to stay.
Things to Do Near Auburn
Auburn University
About 5 miles
The flagship campus with Jordan-Hare Stadium, the Jule Collins Smith art museum, and a lively college town.
Historic Downtown Opelika
About 8 miles
A restored downtown of brick storefronts, restaurants, and shops in Auburn's twin city.
Tuskegee
About 25 miles
Home to Tuskegee University and historic sites tied to the Tuskegee Airmen and George Washington Carver.
Museum of East Alabama
About 8 miles
A local history museum in downtown Opelika covering the region's railroad and mill heritage.