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Little River Canyon National Preserve
4.8 ★★★★★ 2,466 Google reviews · Running trail in Fort Payne, Alabama · Hours vary
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Mixed
- Distance
- 4 mi
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Not reported
Confirmed from Little River Canyon National Preserve's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Forested nature preserve around Little River which runs along the top of Lookout Mountain.
What runners say about Little River Canyon National Preserve
“There were plenty of scenic spots to stop and take photos, and the trails were well kept.”
“Amazing place, and a must see if you're in the area or visiting Alabama want to see some beautiful scenery.”
“Visitors can swim in the Blue Hole, a beautiful pool of water above the falls, or, when the water is calm, in the deeper pool below the falls.”
This is a beautiful place with several cool things to see and do. There are several scenic overlooks that stretch roughly 8 miles by car. There is a awesome swimming hole called the hippie hole that gets over 20 feet deep in places. There are several areas to jump off rocks into the water.
Bob and I recently went on a 3-day camping trip to Desoto State Park in Alabama and visited the Little River Canyon National Preserve atop Lookout Mountain in Alabama. Nearly the entire length of the Little River flows along the middle of Lookout Mountain from Georgia to Alabama.
Little river, canyon, national preserve was well worth the visit! They got a great viewing area to see the waterfalls with good safety railings. You can take a trail to the right of this to go swim in the river above the falls, but be careful because there’s no lifeguard on duty and to go over the falls would most…
An absolutely stunning place. We did hike to the falls from the back of the building amd it was less than a mile which was great for the littles. It was mostly flat with some tree roots and rocks to navigate in areas. It was rather steep getting down to the lower area.
Trail conditions & character
“We weren't sure what we were going to find on that winding road along Bear Creek with all its roadside overlooks, but my goodness were we in for a treat!”
“An ADA-accessible boardwalk overlooks the 45-foot-high falls and a hiking trail to the water.”
“The land is really rocky, which makes it more challenging because you have to watch your footing.”
“If you park at the Falls they have a boardwalk amd observation deck for those not able to get to the bottom.”
“The rock scramble at the end of the path to get to the falls and water was manageable if you can step down and climb.”
“The size of the parking lot near the falls suggests that this place gets very crowded on hot summer weekends.”
“Trails, waterfalls, rock formations, and wildlife make for a peaceful and relaxing visit.”
“Before embarking on your drive along the Little River Canyon Rim Parkway you can use the restrooms here, as the next facilities will be at the other end of the parkway.”
Plan your run at Little River Canyon National Preserve
The practical stuff
- AccessHours vary — hours are not posted for this trail, so check before an early or late run
- SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
- Distance4 mi as reported — check whether that is one way or a round trip before you commit
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms — reported by runners
- Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
- Websitenps.gov
- Phone+1 256-845-9605
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Running trails near Fort Payne
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Little River Canyon Falls Park
4.9 ★★★★★ 2,078 reviews
Scenic park featuring trails along a river, plus picnic tables and a waterfall.
Indian Falls
4.6 ★★★★★ 122 reviews
Located in Desoto State Park, this hiking area features a kid-friendly trail leading to a waterfall.