Little River Canyon National Preserve

Little River is unusual: it forms and flows for almost its entire length on top of Lookout Mountain rather than in a valley between mountains, and it has cut a canyon up to about two hundred metres deep into the plateau it runs across - among the deepest canyons east of the Mississippi. Little River Falls at the head drops about fourteen metres. A rim road follows the western edge with overlooks. Whitewater in the upper canyon is technical and runs only after rain; flow drops to nothing in dry spells. The plateau supports rare plants including green pitcher plant, and the preserve is one of the more biologically diverse areas in the region. Grace's High Falls, seasonal, is the tallest in Alabama.

What you actually see

• A river running on top of a mountain - for nearly its whole length.
• A canyon up to two hundred metres deep - among the deepest in the east.
• Little River Falls - about fourteen metres at the head.
• Grace's High Falls - seasonal, the tallest in Alabama.

When to go

March to June for water; October for colour. Half a day.

Honest expectations

Water levels vary enormously - late summer can leave the falls dry. Whitewater is expert-only and rain-dependent. The rim road has limited guardrails. Swimming holes have caused drownings.

Nearby

Fort Payne is west; Lookout Mountain runs north into Georgia.