Enjoy your Favorite Outdoor Activities at Little River Canyon National Preserve

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Anyone spending time in northeast Alabama will want to explore scenic Little River Canyon National Preserve.  Located in the Southern Appalachians, the Preserve features a variety of natural attractions. You can hike, camp, horseback ride or take a scenic drive among sandstone cliffs, bluffs and boulders, waterfalls and forested areas. From a simple picnic to a backcountry adventure, it’s all available at Little River Canyon National Preserve.

If you would like to spend a relaxing day seeing some of the Preserve’s most scenic spots, take the eleven-mile Scenic Drive along Highway 176.  There are many overlooks that provide spectacular views along this free scenic route.  Drivers can stop and picnic or take photos in many different areas.

Little River Falls is the first overlook point along the scenic drive.  Here you can see the place where water starts to descend down into the Canyon.  You can picnic here and take a short walk along a paved trail to enjoy a spectacular view of a 45-foot waterfall.  The paved walkway is wheelchair accessible.  There are picnic areas located on site at this Overlook area, too. 

You can enjoy one of the scenic drive’s most incredible views at Wolf Creek Overlook.  This area provides a very high view of the canyon and the river below, and you can see the area where Wolf Creek and Little River merge.  This is another wonderful place to stop for a rest or picnic along your scenic drive. It is also a prime vantage point for taking photos. 

Canyon Mouth Day Use Area is a popular place to stop and spend some time along the water.  The Day Area features picnic tables, grills, fresh water and restrooms and an easy walking trail that provides access to the water.  The trail is approximately one mile long.  

If you would like to explore the Preserve on horseback or take an ATV or 4-wheel drive excursion, head to the Backcountry Area of the Little River Canyon National Preserve.  The Preserve’s Backcountry features 23 miles of narrow, primitive roads that are shared by all users, including horseback riders. This area is located north of the canyon, across from Highway 35. This is the only area of the Preserve where camping is allowed, and there are three camping sites located here. 

Whether you are hiking, splashing in the water or exploring the Backcountry by ATV, take care not to destroy or disturb any wildlife or features of the Preserve’s natural habitats.  Over one hundred plant and animals species that are rare, endangered or threatened live at Little River Canyon National Preserve.

Littering, taking plants or rocks or destroying natural areas is taken seriously here.  Visitors are expected to observe the Preserve’s regulations, and violators are likely to be fined.