

LITTLE RIVER CANYON AREA

[6 PLACES]

(LITT)

LINK TO PHOTO OF LITTLE RIVER GORGE TO AREA MAP

TO STATE MAP TOWNS CHATTANOOGA (TN), FT. PAYNE (AL) (TN) STATE AL WATER Little River TYPE River DESCRIPTION Little River Canyon is one of the deepest gorges East of the Mississippi. It is very beautiful but hiking trails are not yet well developed. Much of the canyon is very hard to access. You can drive the 22 mi scenic road (RT 176) along the west rim of the canyon and, while there are several viewpoints, the road is very high above the river and there are few apparent points to hike down. See "directions" below for several swimming places.



Here's an email we got in 8/02 "My friend and I just went to the Little River Canyon gorge in Alabama, and swam in three places named in your reviews. It was WONDERFUL!! In the southernmost one, we had 3 kids for company. In the Lower 2-Mile one, we had opportunity to skinny dip. We also had some little fish for playmates when we were just sitting on a rock, dangling our feet. What a blast! And you can swim up under the actual waterfall (once you get to it) when the water is low in summer. "



NOTE: Swimming anywhere in Little River is NOT SAFE at high water levels - use caution and do not swim if water levels are high. AREAS Little River Canyon National Preserve (Nat'l Park Service) SANCTION Unofficial FEE None FACILITIES Toilets at parking area near Little River Falls and at Canyon Mouth Park. ACTIVITIES Swimming PHONE None CAMPING Nearby at Desoto S.P. (205)845-5075 BATHING SUITS Possibly optional; some places are very isolated, see above descriptions DIRECTIONS From Gadsden, take I-59 northeast about 35 mi to Ft. Payne. From Ft. Payne, follow RT 35 east to signs for Little River Canyon. (See local area map for details). Some possible swimming places are (in order from North to South in gorge):



LITTLE RIVER FALLS [LITF]: (See local area map) The falls are spectacular and beautiful and you can swim at the bottom WHEN WATER LEVELS ARE LOW! Park at the falls parking area off RT 35 and follow the paved walkway to a well travelled trail on the left. The trail leads to the bottom of the falls. LITTLE RIVER FALLS PHOTO , SWIMMING AT LITTLE RIVER FALLS . LAT, LON lat=34.3950, lon=-85.627(source: Topozone) (accuracy:approximate) LINK TO GOOGLE MAP. (If the kids just want to play in the water where it is not very deep and there is no hike, from the main parking lot at the falls, take the walk down to the falls and walk up the river a safe distance from falls. Alternatively, from the over flow parking lot on the other side of the road, follow signs that say "to falls" and when you get under the bridge that is the area.) Pretty confident. Not verified. Updated 1/29/2008.



MARTHA'S FALLS [MART]: (See local area map) This description by a visitor:" A swimming place known by locals as the Hippie Hole. Leaving the Little River Canyon Falls parking area turn right and just up the road on the right is another gravel parking area. Park there and follow the gravel trail which will lead to a rock path that ends at the Hippie Hole. The gravel trail is approximately 1/4 mile and then the rock path down to the hole is about 200 yds... It took us about twenty minutes to get there from the car. It was a bit difficult to hike back out but the swimming was awesome. Plenty of spots to jump... "



This from a visitor in 2008:"Directions were right on. The swimming is great. Plenty of people, but also plenty of space to lay out and swim. There are 3 places to jump, a 7; jump, a 12; jump and the main cliff in the photo is 20-25;.Watch the locals before jumping or swimming. High water levels are very dangerous here. The 200 yd. hill when leaving will have you panting for air. I don;t recommend this place for children under 10." PHOTO , PHOTO , PHOTO , YOUTUBE . LAT, LON lat=34.38942, lon=-85.62139(source: DeLorme) (accuracy:approximate) LINK TO GOOGLE MAP. Pretty confident. Not verified. Updated 1/29/2008.



UPPER HOLE [UPPE]: (See local area map) This description by a visitor in 8/2008: "There is a spot on the other side of the road (across from Hippie Hole) with a rope swing and no difficult hills. (This is above the falls.) This spot is great for anyone that can not climb the hills. PHOTO . The directions are, leaving the main (paved) parking area from Little River Canyon Falls make a right and go for about a ; mile. Watch for a dirt road on the LEFT that cuts back to the left at a sharp angle. Take this road about 200 yds. to a small parking area at the dead end. The river is right there with the rope swing. (If you get to the big gravel parking lot on the right for Hippie Hole, you just passed it up.) When water levels are low in later summer, the river above the main falls is a great place for young children to splash and play. The river is very wide with many small shallow pools. There were many couples with young children here in Aug. 08." LAT, LON lat=34.395306, lon=-85.621186(source: DeLorme) (accuracy:approximate) LINK TO GOOGLE MAP. Very confident. Not verified. Updated 10/2008.



LOWER TWO MILE [LOWE]: (See local area map) About 3.1 miles from the north end of the canyon rim parkway (RT 176), you will see a small pull out (partially hidden due to a sharp curve in the road, and easy to miss) and sign. The sign says "Lower two-mile" and gives boating advice. This is apparently a canoe put-in, although the trail, which begins at the sign, is very primitive, very steep and takes about 30 minutes to descend (and is quite a climb back up!) (There is an overlook just a short way by car further up the canyon and you can look over and see how far down you will be hiking.) Follow this trail to the river and there is a huge, deep swimming place, with a sandy beach and large rocks to sun on. You may well have this place all to yourself and bathing suits may well be optional here. LAT, LON lat=34.36397, lon=-85.65264(source: DeLorme) (accuracy:approximate) LINK TO GOOGLE MAP. LOWER TWO MILE PHOTO. Very confident. Verified. Updated 1/29/2008



EBERHART POINT [EBER]: (See local area map) A few miles from the south end of the canyon rim parkway (RT176), you will see a major pull out and sign. The sign says "Eberhart Point" and has pictures of the river below. There is a trail which begins here and goes down to the river and there are apparently swimming places there. LAT, LON lat=34.34997, lon=-85.67297(source: DeLorme) (accuracy:approximate) LINK TO GOOGLE MAP. Unknown how long or strenuous this trail is. Pretty confident. Partially verified. Updated 1/29/2008



CANYON MOUTH PARK [CANY]: (See local area map) There is a park, with rest rooms and picnic tables and boat ramp, at the south end of the Little River Canyon, called Canyon Mouth Park. Here the Little River emerges from the canyon and there is a large, deep, clear swimming place, easily accessed and with sandy bottom. It is very near where RT 15/273 meets the canyon rim parkway (RT176). LAT, LON lat=34.28814, lon=-85.68161(source: DeLorme) (accuracy:approximate) LINK TO GOOGLE MAP. CANYON MOUTH PARK PHOTO. Very confident. Verified. Updated 1/29/2008.





CONFIDENCE Pretty confident VERIFIED Partially - see above DATE UPDATED 1/28/2008