Haz click aquí por Español Jacksonsville State University Little River Canyon Center432 Little River Canyon Parkway, Fort Payne, AL 35967 For infomation on Little River Canyon National Preserve or to view a movie on the area, visit the Little River Canyon Center, which is owned and operated by the Jacksonville State University. The front desk is staffed by National Park Service staff, Volunteers, and Jacksonville State University staff. Gift Shop is owned and operated by Jacksonville State University Field School Open Tuesdays through Sundays from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM (CST). Canyon Mouth Park Day-Use Area(Current hours are in bold print) Spring Hours - Open Daily from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM (Central time) Summer Hours - Open Daily from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM (Central time) Fall Hours - Open Daily from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM (Central time) Winter Hours - Open Daily from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM (Central time) $15 day-use pass fee per vehicle * Fee machine accepts CASH and CARD only (no checks) - exact change ONLY. No change given. This is a wonderful place to bring the family for a day of outdoor fun. Canyon Mouth Park features:
Canyon Mouth Park closes promptly at the posted closing time - vehicles within the gates after hours are subject to being ticketed and/or towed.  .  Blue HoleA wonderful swimming hole located on AL Highway 35 just 1/4 mile east of Little River Falls. This spot is perfect for families with young children or new swimmers, featuring calm, easy flowing waters and is close to the parking lot. A small parking lot limits crowding at this location. Recent improvements include picnic benches and fixed-in-place charcoal grills for visitor use. * On late spring and summer weekends, the Blue Hole parking lot often is full by 11:00 AM (CST) and park staff will close the lot until spaces become available. Have a back-up plan in case this area is inaccessible due to a full parking lot.  Scenic Drive - Little River Canyon Rim Parkway23 miles, 8 overlooks, 4 trails, 1 unique rock formation, and rock climbing access points! Connecting Little River Falls and Canyon Mouth Park, the Little River Canyon Rim Parkway grants visitors the opportunity to take in the beauty of the canyon from the west rim, and the challenge of hiking down into the canyon to the river below. The Parkway itself is popular with bicyclist in the warmer months, and with those chasing the brilliant reds, oranges, and yellows of changing leaves in the fall. Rock climbers can also be found year-round accessing world-class climbing along the canyon. This winding road offers something for visitors year-round. Travel time from the Little River Canyon Center to Canyon Mouth Park along the Little River Canyon Rim Parkway takes approximately 45 minutes (without stopping at overlooks) - the 11 miles from Eberhart Point to Canyon Mouth Park is steep and windy in areas and impassable to trailers and RVs. WaterfallsLittle River Canyon National Preserve is home to three named waterfalls, with multiple unnamed seasonal falls during the winter and spring or after periods of intense rainfall. Little River Falls The most popular feature of Little River Canyon National Preserve is Little River Falls. At 45 feet (13.7 m) high, Little River Falls demonstrates the power of water, with Little River carving it's way through the sandstone bedrock and creating the beautiful canyon surrounding it. The flow of the falls varies with the season. Summer and fall find the river low, exposing the picturesque sandstone beneath while leaving pools of water perfect for wading in above the falls, and a wonderful swimming hole below the falls. Winter and spring rains bring the waterfall to it's full glory. Access to Little River Falls can be found from the paved parking lot on the west side of the Highway 35 bridge. An ADA accessible boardwalk leads visitors to a close view of the falls. * On late spring and summer weekends, the Little River Falls parking lot often is full by 11:00 AM (CST) and park staff will close the lot until spaces become available. Have a back-up plan in case this area is inaccessible due to a full parking lot. Little Falls (formerly known as Martha's Falls) This mini-waterfall, formed by water cascading over a sandstone ledge the width of the river, is a favorite swimming spot in the summer. Access to Little Falls can be had from the paved Little River Falls parking lot on Highway 35. The Little Falls Trail is a .75 mile hike which leads to 137 stone stairs down into the canyon to the river. * On late spring and summer weekends, the Little River Falls parking lot often is full by 11:00 AM (CST) and park staff will close the lot until spaces become available. Have a back-up plan in case this area is inaccessible due to a full parking lot. Graces High Falls (seasonal waterfall) At 133' high, Graces High Falls is the tallest above ground waterfall in Alabama. This waterfall is dependent on rainfall and does not flow year-round. Graces High Falls Overlook features a viewing platform on Little River Canyon Rim Parkway.  . TrailsLittle River Canyon features over 26 miles of trail, from serene river-side hikes to steep, strenuous trails leading down the canyon to the river below. Jacksonville State University also offers the Path To Learning Trail, a gentle stroll through the woods behind the Canyon Center. Stop by the information desk at the Little River Canyon Center for suggestions for your hike, or consult the table below and choose your own adventure!
 Wildlife Management AreaThe backcountry of Little River Canyon National Preserve is a landscape of rolling hills and dense woodlands, where Little River runs calm and wildlife abounds. The 23 miles of road in the Wildlife Management Area are open to 4 wheel drive vehicles, horseback riders, bicyclist, and hikers, and is popular for kayaks and canoes during the wetter months. The backcountry is accessible by a series of numbered roads off Cherokee County Road 103, DeKalb County Road 295, Oakhill Road, and Dunn Road. 4 wheel drive vehicles are required to traverse many of the backcountry roads in the Wildlife Management Area. * Off-Highway Vehicles (OHVs) such as ATVs, UTVs, and non-street legal dirt bikes are NOT allowed on any road at Little River Canyon National Preserve. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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FAQs
Places To Go - Little River Canyon National Preserve (U.S. National Park Service)? ›
Top ways to experience Little River Canyon National Preserve and nearby attractions. 98% of travelers recommend this experience. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. 100% of travelers recommend this experience.
Is Little River Canyon worth visiting? ›Top ways to experience Little River Canyon National Preserve and nearby attractions. 98% of travelers recommend this experience. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. 100% of travelers recommend this experience.
Do you have to pay for Little River Canyon? ›Canyon Mouth Day Use Area
This is the only area that requires a fee within the Preserve. There is no fee to tour the Scenic Drive, Little River Falls or the Backcountry Area.
432 Little River Canyon Parkway, Fort Payne, AL 35967
For infomation on Little River Canyon National Preserve or to view a movie on the area, visit the Little River Canyon Center, which is owned and operated by the Jacksonville State University.
A Special Place in the Southern Appalachians
Beautiful waterfalls, breath-taking overlooks, wooded trails, and peaceful picnic areas - Little River Canyon has something for everyone.
Little River Canyon National Preserve is home to three named waterfalls, with multiple unnamed seasonal falls during the winter and spring or after periods of intense rainfall. The most popular feature of Little River Canyon National Preserve is Little River Falls.
Do you need a tour guide for Waterhole canyon? ›You must have a guide to access this hike. There is a fee and reservation system that are required to enter this park. The cost for a MANDATORY tour ranges every year and you cannot enter the canyon without paying for a tour.
How do you get to the bottom of the Little River Canyon? ›There are trails available for exploring. Eberhart Trail has the easiest access to the bottom of the canyon down to the river. It is 3/4 miles from the top to the bottom; once you are at the bottom of the canyon, you can hike as far as you want. Beaver Pond Trail is a 1.5 mile loop.
What time does Little River Canyon open? ›Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day. The Jacksonville State University Little River Canyon Center is open from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM (Central Time) Tuesday through Sunday throughout the year, except on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day. Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Where does Little River Canyon start and end? ›Little River Falls marks the start of the Canyon Area, which runs the length of the canyon, terminating at Canyon Mouth Park. World class kayaking can be found below the falls, with water so dangerous that the U. S. Olympic Kayak team has trained here. Rock climbers can have a go at the miles of sheer canyon walls.
Where does Little River canyon start? ›
Start at Alabama Hwy. 35 at the Canyon Center or Little River Falls. Start at the JSU Little River Canyon Center if you are there during their business hours. Then drive the short distance across the Hwy.
Why is it called Little Grand Canyon? ›Providence Canyon is known as “Georgia's Little Grand Canyon” because of a group of massive gullies as deep as 150 feet that were caused by poor farming practices in the 1800s. This is one of Georgia's most beautiful outdoor recreational areas.
What city is the Little Grand Canyon in? ›About 150 miles southwest of Atlanta, the canyon is south of Columbus, about seven miles west of Lumpkin. It's situated in an outdoor recreation area that encompasses 1,103 acres and 16 canyons. The canyons were formed by poor farming practices during the 1800s, when farmers took no steps to avoid soil erosion.
What river is Hells Canyon? ›Carved by the great Snake River, Hells Canyon plunges more than a mile below Oregon's west rim, and 8,000 feet below snowcapped He Devil Peak of Idaho's Seven Devils Mountains.
How many national parks are in Alabama? ›Alabama is home to 11 national park service sites, including national monuments, a military park, a preserve, a parkway, historic and scenic trails and historic sites.
Why is it called Little River? ›Indian tribes called the stream Mineola, meaning “l*ttle river” and that became its name. Little River is one of the oldest settlements along the coast, with fishermen and farmers coming to stay in the late 1600s and 1700s.
What is the least touristy part of Grand Canyon? ›The whole North Rim is a hidden gem. Only 10% of Grand Canyon visitors make the long spectacular drive to reach this side of the Big Ditch. (The North Rim is only open 15 May though 15 October.) Those who do are rewarded with lush forests and green meadows.
Is canyon Land worth visiting? ›Yes! The Needles District is worth visiting because it offers a scenic drive, accessible rock art, some nice day hikes, and fewer crowds. Keep on reading for our complete guide to visiting the Needles. Read An Easy Guide to Visiting Canyonlands National Park.
Is Kings Canyon National Park worth it? ›Being that Kings Canyon has so little roads, it's primarily a hiking / backpacking destination, rather than a drive and pull over kind of park. If you're not a hiker, don't let that detour you. The drive into Kings Canyon is second to none, and I'd say that's worth the visit alone.
What is the main attraction Kings river canyon? ›The Roaring River Falls is a 40-foot waterfall that plummets over granite monoliths into a glistening emerald pool. The dramatic drop and scenic surroundings make it one of the most beautiful Kings Canyon National Park attractions. To access the waterfall, take a 0.3-mile easy walk from the Cedar Grove Area.