Nearby Attractions

Located at the southern end of the Appalachian Mountains, the area around Little River Canyon National Preserve abounds with outdoor recreational opportunities, and is conveniently located within a two hour drive of the cities of Chattanooga, Tennessee; Huntsville, Alabama; Birmingham, Alabama; and Atlanta, Georgia.

Visitors can find 32 National Park Service units within four hours of Little River Canyon, and all 22 Alabama State Park units are within a five and a half hour drive (four of which are an hour or less away).

 

National Park Service Units

The struggle for civil rights. The War of 1812. The Civil War. Areas steeped in the rich heritage of our nation. Scenic Trails and Recreation Areas. Mammoth Cave and Great Smoky Mountains National Parks. All these can be found in the 32 National Park Service units found within a four hour drive of Little River Canyon National Preserve. Click on the lists below and start planning your National Park road trip today!

Within 2 Hours of Little River Canyon National Preserve

 

 

Within 3 Hours of Little River Canyon National Preserve

The following National Park units are within a three hour drive of Little River Canyon:

Appalachian National Scenic Trail

Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Horsehoe Bend National Military Park

Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park

Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area

Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail

Natchez Trace Parkway

Obed Wild & Scenic River

Stones River National Battlefield

Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area

 

Within 4 Hours of Little River Canyon National Preserve

The following National Park units are within a four hour drive of Little River Canyon:

Andrew Johnson National Historic Site

Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area

Brices Cross Roads National Battlefield Site

Cumberland Gap National Historical Park

Fort Donelson National Battlefield

Jimmy Carter National Historic Site

Mammoth Cave National Park

Mississippi Hills National Heritage Area

Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park

Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail

Shiloh National Military Park

Tupelo National Battlefield

Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site

Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site

 

Other Nearby Federal Public Lands

USDA Forest Service

Talladega National Forest (including Dugger Mountain Wilderness and Cheaha Wilderness

Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest (Conasauga District)

US Fish & Wildlife Service

Fern Cave National Wildlife Refuge

Sauta Cave National Wildlife Refuge

Mountain Longleaf National Wildlife Refuge

Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge

 

Nearby State Parks

Little River Canyon National Preserve lies in the northeast corner of Alabama, with Georgia and Tennessee both very nearby. All three states offer wonderful State Parks and historical sites. While at Little River Canyon, check out the following state parks - listed from closest to furtherst - all within an hour's drive!

DeSoto State Park

7104 DeSoto Parkway NE
Fort Payne, AL 35967
[phone]
Continuing in the rustic tradition of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), mountainous Desoto State Park is nestled atop beautiful Lookout Mountain in scenic Northeast Alabama and accented by many rushing waterfalls and fragrant wildflowers that will simply take your breath away. Developed in the late 1930s, the hard-working and dedicated men of the CCC made many natural enhancements to the park that have withstood the test of time and will last for future generations. Come commune with Mother Nature as DeSoto State Park offers a family-friendly atmosphere that holds wonders for people of all ages!
* 15 minutes from the Little River Canyon Center

James H. "Sloppy" Floyd State Park

2800 Sloppy Floyd Lake Road
Summerville, GA 30747
[phone]
Hike into history along the Marble Mine trail at James H. “Sloppy” Floyd State Park and immerse yourself in tranquility and the gorgeous setting of one of Georgia’s best kept secrets while hiking, fishing, and boating in the state’s geologically significant Ridge and Valley region.
* 37 minutes from the Little River Canyon Center

Rocky Mountain Recreation & Public Fishing Area

4054 Big Texas Valley Road NW
Rome, GA 30165
[phone]
The Rocky Mountain Recreation and Public Fishing Area is located near the Chattahoochee National Forest and offers 2 lakes totaling 559 acres. Anglers can catch largemouth bass, bluegill, channel catfish, redear sunfish, crappie, and walleye.
* 43 minutes from the Little River Canyon Center

Cloudland Canyon State Park

122 Cloudland Canyon Park Road
Rising Fawn, GA 30739
[phone]
Located on the western edge of Lookout Mountain, Cloudland Canyon is one of the largest and most scenic parks in the state. Home to thousand-foot deep canyons, sandstone cliffs, wild caves, waterfalls, cascading creeks, dense woodland and abundant wildlife, the park offers ample outdoor recreation opportunities.
* 45 minutes from the Little River Canyon Center

Bucks Pocket State Park

393 County Road 174
Oak Grove, AL 35976
1-800-252-7275
Located in three counties (DeKalb, Jackson and Marshall), the Cherokee Indians once lived on what now is park land before the Trail of Tears. The area was also used for growing coffee and olives by the French during the 1700s and later for logging in the 1940s. As local legend goes, Buck's Pocket also served as a retreat for defeated public officials after unsuccessful elections.
* 48 minutes from the Little River Canyon Center

Cathedral Caverns State Park

637 Cave Road
Woodville, AL 35769
[phone]
Originally called Bat Cave, Cathedral Caverns was opened to the public by Jacob Gurley in the 1950's. The cave was renamed because of its cathedral-like appearance. Purchased by the state in 1987, it was opened as a State Park in the summer of 2000. The first feature most people notice about Cathedral Caverns is its massive entrance. The huge opening measures 126 feet wide and 25 feet high, a possible world record for commercial caves. The grand entrance is only the beginning. Inside the cavern are some of the most beautiful formations Mother Nature has ever created including “Goliath”- one of the largest stalagmites in the world measuring 45 feet tall and 243 feet in circumference. Cathedral Caverns features many amazing sites: a "caveman" perched atop a flowstone wall, a "frozen" waterfall, a large stalagmite forest and a most improbable stone formation - a stalagmite that is 27 feet tall and 3 inches wide!
* 1 hour from the Little River Canyon Center

Lake Guntersville State Park

1155 Lodge Drive
Guntersville, AL 35976
[phone]
Located along the banks of the Tennessee River in Northeast Alabama, Lake Guntersville Resort State Park promises to satisfy whether you are looking for a resort style retreat or an outdoor adventure in the park’s 6,000 acres of natural woodlands. Among the park’s many recreational offerings are an 18-hole championship golf course, a beach complex, an outdoor nature center, excellent fishing in Alabama’s largest lake, 36 miles of hiking and biking trails, weekly guided hikes and a day-use area.
* 1 hour from the Little River Canyon Center

Find out more about local state parks at the links below:

Alabama State Parks

Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites

Tennessee State Parks

 

Nearby Communities

The City of Fort Payne, Alabama, is four miles west of the Little River Canyon Center, and offers numerous restaurants, shopping, city parks, lodging, and recreational opportunities.

The town of Mentone, Alabama, is 18 miles north of the Little River Canyon Center, and offers restaurants, boutique shopping, vacation rentals, and a number of private summer camps.

The City of Rome, Georgia, is 40 miles east of the Little River Canyon Center, and offers numerous restaurants, shopping, city parks, lodging, and recreational opportunities.

The City of Chattanooga, Tennessee, is 57 miles north of the Little River Canyon Center and offers numerous restaurants, shopping, city parks, lodging, and recreational opportunities. Chattanooga has the closest airport serving the area around Little River Canyon National Preserve.

Below is a map of the Lookout Mountain Parkway, a scenic drive which connects Chattanooga, Tennessee, with Gadsden, Alabama, and brings you within close range of Little River Canyon National Preserve, De Soto State Park (AL), Cloudland Canyon State Park (GA), Noccalula Falls Park (AL) and privately-owned tourist attractions.