Little River Falls, Ala.
By Elliott Brack, editor and publisher | All too often we find it difficult for most of us to bust through our own boundaries.
Most of us don’t reach out to others, or try to look at a different viewpoint. We also see this in the political boundaries that hem us in. There are so many boundaries which limit us.
For instance, though Greenville, S.C. is said to be a snazzy place to visit, there’s that state boundary line that separates that city from Georgians. We’ve been meaning to visit that area for some time, but never seem to get there.
However, we broke out of our boundaries. We got outside our Georgia boundary line, dipping about 25 miles into Alabama, visiting friends at a home with a great view at Weiss Lake. (Not “Lake Weiss” as we thought it was.) This is near Centre, Ala., slightly past the border near Rome, Ga.
Now let me tell you what we found on an outing: Little River Falls, a gem of a natural scenic area, part of the Little River Canyon National Preserve. It’s located on Alabama Highway 35 in northeast Alabama, being an outdoorsman’s delight. This river for most of its length flows atop the Lookout Mountain, and is one of the wildest and cleanest rivers in the Southeast. The park preserve system here includes 15,286 acres, protecting many rare, threatened or endangered species.
The Little River Falls are gorgeous, with a width of about 100 feet, wider than any falls we know of in North Georgia. The river was boiling and sounding loudly, falling about 45 feet over a wide rocky ledge right in sight of Highway 35. When we visited it was at one of its strongest flows of the winter season, sending mist up around it and down the river in the 50-degree temperature. During summers, the falls becomes a much tamer stream over these falls.
But, there’s more. As this river has flowed for eons, it has cut through the Cumberland Plateau and etched one of the deepest and most extensive canyon and gorge systems in the eastern United States, at points 500 feet from the top to the river bottom. The Little River is a favorite of expert-level canoeists or kayakers, who test themselves by first falling over the 45 foot drop of the Little River Falls, then continuing to test themselves along the many massive rocks in the river as they maneuver downstream.
The canyon often has sheer rock walls, something climbers enjoy. Add to this that it is unspoiled, with modern noises and distractions seldom heard or seen. Fishing is allowed anywhere along the river in the preserve.
You can visit the entire length of the canyon from the falls to where it joins Weiss Lake, via a 11-mile scenic and winding drive, with many designated overlooks.
At the northern edge of the preserve boundary, the State of Alabama operates DeSoto State Park and Lodge, with a motel, cabins, chalets and campground, near Mentone, Ala. about 10 miles from the Little River Falls. Jacksonville State University operates a Little River Canyon Center across the highway from the falls, with extensive meeting and classrooms, a natural history library, exhibits, and programs. Be sure to see the film about the area. Attendants ran the film for the four of our group.
- To get an idea about the Little River Falls, visit https://www.nps.gov/liri/index.htm.
Consider getting outside any of your boundaries to visit this spectacular area, and other interesting places, then consider telling us about your adventure!
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
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