Little River Canyon National Preserve facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Little River Canyon National Preserve |
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Little River Canyon
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 Little River Canyon National Preserve
Location in Alabama
Little River Canyon National Preserve
Location in the United States
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| Location | Cherokee and DeKalb County, Alabama, U.S. |
| Nearest city | Fort Payne, Alabama |
| Area | 15,288 acres (61.87 km2) |
| Established | October 21, 1992 |
| Visitors | 462,700 (in 2016) |
| Governing body | National Park Service |
| Website | Little River Canyon National Preserve |
The Little River Canyon National Preserve is a special protected area in the United States. It's found on top of Lookout Mountain near Fort Payne, Alabama and DeSoto State Park in Alabama. The U.S. government created this preserve in 1992.
This preserve protects about 15,288 acres of land. It's home to the Little River, which some say is the longest river on a mountaintop in the country! Long ago, people called this canyon "May's Gulf." A "gulf" is a common name for deep valleys in the Cumberland Plateau area. Before it became a National Preserve, this area was part of DeSoto State Park in Alabama.
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Exploring the Little River
The Little River flows for almost its entire length along the middle of Lookout Mountain. This is in northeast Alabama. Over many, many years, the Little River has carved out one of the deepest canyons in the Southeast.
The river starts in Georgia. It then winds its way through the canyon. Finally, it leaves the mountain and flows into the Coosa River near Leesburg, Alabama. The main part of the river is formed by two smaller rivers joining together. These are the East Fork Little River, which is about 17 miles long, and the West Fork, which is about 25 miles long. From where these two forks meet, the Little River flows another 23 miles through the canyon. It ends at Weiss Lake.
Discovering the Canyon's Wonders
Many people say the Little River is one of the cleanest and wildest waterways in the South. It doesn't have any dams, except for a small, old hydroelectric project. This project is at DeSoto Falls on the West Fork near Mentone, Alabama.
The canyon has tall sandstone cliffs that can reach up to 600 feet high. You can often see these cliffs from the 23-mile-long scenic drive. This drive is called the Little River Canyon Rim Parkway. It follows the western edge of the canyon. The northern part of this road was built a long time ago during the New Deal era.
The river has three main waterfalls. These are DeSoto Falls, Little River Falls (which is at the start of the canyon), and the seasonal Grace's High Falls. Grace's High Falls is Alabama's highest waterfall, dropping 133 feet! It falls into a side canyon created by Bear Creek.
Eberhart Point is a good spot to start if you want to hike down into the canyon. There's a rough path that hikers can follow. This path was once a road for a ski-lift and amusement park project. That project was started in the 1960s but was later stopped. You might still see some old pieces from it in Pine Tree Hole at the bottom of the canyon.
There is a trail that goes about eight miles to the mouth of the canyon. Hiking upstream is much harder and should only be done by experienced hikers. The river is also popular with people who enjoy whitewater rafting. They carry their boats down to Pine Tree Hole. Right now, you are not allowed to camp inside the canyon.
Visitor Facilities and Activities
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The National Park Service operates a few visitor facilities in the preserve. DeSoto State Park is also located within the preserve's boundaries. It has a lodge, a restaurant, and several campgrounds. There is also a day-use area at the mouth of the canyon. This area is great for picnics and is a popular spot for swimming.
Backcountry camping is no longer allowed in the Little River Canyon National Preserve. If you want to hunt in the preserve, you need a hunting license from Alabama or any other state. Riding ATVs is also not allowed anymore. If you want to fish, you need an Alabama fishing license. Using a net or seine fishing is not permitted.
The Jacksonville State University Little River Canyon Center is a large visitor center. It is about 23,000 square feet in size.
Images for kids
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Little River Canyon
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Little River Canyon from Wolf Creek Overlook
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Grace's High Falls, a day after abundant rain.
