What Is the Little River Canyon National Preserve

Tripadvisor (568) · Nature reserve in Fort Payne, United States
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Little River is unique because it flows for most of its length atop Lookout Mountain in northeast Alabama. Forested uplands, waterfalls, canyon rims …

Reviews

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4.5/5 · 568 reviews
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Jul 29, 2024
Awesome adventure. Who would have thought so much to do. If you love outdoors and nature visiting this area is a go to must. We will return in the fall with the older grands so they can enjoy some aw… Full review by Melissa F
Jun 5, 2024
make sure the GPS is taking you to the visitor center or parking lot for the little river canyon falls; we used Waze and it took us to a gravel 11 mile road that was on opposite side of the falls and… Full review by Trisha K
May 3, 2024
We spent several hours driving (and viewing) the many scenic features of Little River Canyon along the 11-mile drive. For whatever odd reason, the Canyon Visitor’s Center does not open until 10:00 a.… Full review by runner19492002
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Questions & answers

Q:
Are the roads paved?
A:
Yes...the roads are paved and in good shape. The pullouts are a bit rough though.
A:
Answer by kevan j · Sep 21, 2023
Q:
We will be traveling through Fort Payne. Would it be possible to pit stop though and see the falls with kids in ~30 minutes?
A:
If you want to stop and see the falls, it could take a little longer, because by going back thru Ft Payne, you do some backtracking. Here is a shortcut and might make the …
A:
If you want to stop and see the falls, it could take a little longer, because by going back thru Ft Payne, you do some backtracking. Here is a shortcut and might make the round trip about 40 min. Exit 218, right turn on hwy 35, follow that thru town. It will turn right and go up the mountain. You will cross hwy 89 and the falls are about 5 miles ahead. On the way back, when you get to Hwy 89 turn right, immediately you will turn left on Beason Gap Rd. Follow it downhill, when it dead ends, turn left, then the first right. This will take you to hwy 11, turn right and follow signs to exit 222 I-59. Another option would be to go straight on hwy 89 thru Desoto State park you will want to stay there sometime. Stay on 89 until you get to Desoto Falls, turn right. Visit the falls, 8 min, then when you come back, go straight across hwy 89 and take that short cut down down to I -59. I take the scouts up there on the way to summer camp and we usually spend two days there, hiking, swimming
Q:
Is there kayaks available to rent at Little River?
A:
Little River is a whitewater river. There are 3 sections, upper-experts, upper two (lower two) advanced, and chairlift to canyon mouth park is intermediate with a couple class IV rapids.
Q:
What are the must see areas to see in the park?
A:
That all depends on your conditioning. You can drive along the scenic highway, walk and view the water fall, go swimming at the falls, or "little falls" all of which are fairly easy to get to, …
A:
That all depends on your conditioning. You can drive along the scenic highway, walk and view the water fall, go swimming at the falls, or "little falls" all of which are fairly easy to get to, or rappel and climb cliff's, whitewater kayak the river, basically for experts and advanced paddlers,and there are a couple of hiking trail. Need more explicit info, find solo nutiket
Q:
How long does it take to get to the talks from the parking area? And how far is the hike to the swimming area? Im …
Q:
How long does it take to get to the talks from the parking area? And how far is the hike to the swimming area? Im handicapped and can't handle very long distances.
A:
There is handicapped parking in front of the visitors center but I do not know where the swimming area is.
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