Little River Canyon National Preserve, a national preserve in northeastern Alabama, features one of the deepest canyon systems east of the Mississippi River, carved by the Little River atop Lookout Mountain. This unique geological setting creates a landscape of sandstone cliffs, bluffs, and waterfalls, providing varied terrain for outdoor pursuits. The preserve offers opportunities for several sports like hiking and road cycling, with routes traversing both the canyon rim and the extensive Wildlife Management Area.
12
Routes
5
(10)
Average rating
93
People visited

4
hikers
4.51km
01:12
50m
50m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
4
hikers
5.51km
01:28
60m
60m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

2
hikers
3.44km
00:54
30m
30m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

684m
00:12
30m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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5
riders
29.8km
01:34
300m
300m
Easy road ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

4
riders
25.4km
01:17
240m
240m
Easy road ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

7
riders
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

2
riders
88.5km
05:00
930m
930m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
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Little River Canyon National Preserve offers opportunities for hiking and road cycling. The preserve features a diverse landscape with trails ranging from easy walks to strenuous descents into the canyon, as well as scenic drives for cyclists.
The preserve offers a variety of hiking trails, including accessible paths like the Path to Learning Trail and Bridge Trail. More challenging options include the Lower Two-Mile Trail, Eberhart Trail, and Powell Trail. For a comprehensive overview, refer to the Hiking in Little River Canyon National Preserve guide.
Yes, Little River Canyon National Preserve features easy hiking trails suitable for various skill levels. Examples include the Path to Learning Trail and Bridge Trail. More options are detailed in the Easy hikes in Little River Canyon National Preserve guide.
Little River Canyon National Preserve offers trails suitable for families. These often include less strenuous paths with interesting natural features. Specific family-friendly options can be found in the Family-friendly hikes in Little River Canyon National Preserve guide.
Road cycling is a popular activity in Little River Canyon National Preserve. Cyclists frequently use the scenic Canyon Rim Parkway (Highway 176), which offers panoramic views. For detailed routes, consult the Road Cycling Routes in Little River Canyon National Preserve guide.
The preserve offers options for traffic-free bike rides, particularly within the Wildlife Management Area, which has 23 miles (37 kilometers) of dirt and gravel roads. These routes are shared with hikers and horseback riders. More information is available in the Traffic-free bike rides in Little River Canyon National Preserve guide.
Key natural features include Little River Falls, a 45-foot (14-meter) waterfall, and Grace's High Falls, Alabama's highest waterfall at 133 feet (41 meters). The Canyon Rim Parkway offers numerous overlooks with panoramic views of the canyon, which is more than 600 feet (183 meters) deep.
Little River Canyon is one of the deepest canyon systems east of the Mississippi River. It reaches depths exceeding 600 feet (183 meters). The Little River carved this canyon as it flows atop Lookout Mountain.
Komoot offers several guides for the preserve, including Easy hikes, General hiking, and Family-friendly hikes. For cyclists, there are guides for Road Cycling Routes and Traffic-free bike rides.
Little River Canyon National Preserve is highly rated on komoot, with an average rating of 5.0 out of 5 stars from more than 30 ratings. Over 240 visitors have shared their experiences, contributing to a total of 16 routes across various sports.
The official website for Little River Canyon National Preserve is nps.gov/liri. This site provides comprehensive information about the preserve, including alerts, conditions, and visitor services.
For inquiries, Little River Canyon National Preserve can be contacted by phone. The main phone number for the preserve is (256) 845-9605.

