Seven
miles west (downstream) on AL-176 from Little River Falls is a very special, but seasonal, waterfall: the 100+ foot high Grace's High Falls. Starting as a cascade, it abruptly plummets about 90 feet to the canyon floor. Best times to view this waterfall are Fall, Winter, Spring and after a heavy rain (and we do get a few of these, here).
Local Boy Scouts improved the trail to a nice viewing platform. There's even a handy bench from which to relax and enjoy the view. For your safety, the Park Service built a new split rail fence. You won't want to miss Grace's High Falls.
Little River Falls is located off AL-35 east of Fort Payne.
How to get there:
From I-75 northbound (e.g., from Atlanta):
- Take exit 290 and turn left at the foot of the exit ramp.
- Follow Ga-20 west, through Rome, into Alabama to the intersection of AL-35
(about 22 miles from
Rome)
(Note: GA-20 becomes AL-9 at the state line)
- Turn right onto AL-35 and drive about
16 miles past Little River Falls (it will be on your left immediately before the bridge) to AL-176. Turn left on 176 and follow it about 7 miles to the Grace's High Falls overlook.
From I-59 northbound (e.g., from
Chattanooga or Birmingham):
- Take exit 222 and turn toward Fort Payne (south on US-11). Follow US-11
into Fort Payne (where US-11 becomes Gault Ave N.)*
- Turn left on 20th Street (traffic light) and go east, crossing railroad tracks, for 3 blocks to Godfrey Ave (traffic
light)
- Turn left. Go 1 block (another traffic
light)
- Turn right onto Beason Gap Road (21st St???). Follow
Beason Gap Road to its end at Beason Gap (about 1.2 miles).
- Turn right onto DeSoto Parkway (County Rd 89) and go 1 block to AL-35 (blink yellow
light)
- Turn left and follow AL-35
to AL-176. Turn
right on 176 and follow it about 7 miles to the Grace's High Falls overlook.
*Note: The Superintendent's
Office of the Little River Canyon Nat'l Preserve will be on your left - across the street from Smith Wheels auto store and just beyond the Western Sizzlin
Restaurant. We suggest you stop in and get your map and other useful
information about the Preserve and its facilities.
To get to Superintendent's office* from Little River Falls:
*Little River Canyon National Preserve
- From Grace's High Falls,
drive east (up river) to the end of AL-176 at AL35.
- Turn left and
follow AL-35 for 5 about miles to a flashing yellow light.
- Turn right at flashing yellow light on DeSoto Parkway (County Road 89).
- Turn on the first road to your left (Beason Gap Road, very curvy go
slow) and continue to the traffic light.
- Turn left onto Godfrey
Avenue and, almost immediately, you will come to another traffic light. (Conoco on your right).
- Turn right, cross
the rail road tracks and go to Gault Avenue North (another traffic light).
- Turn onto Gault Avenue
North (Earthgrains bread store on your right) and go 1 block to the Superintendent's office.
(The Superintendent's office
is directly across from Smith Wheels Inc.on the right
side of Gault Ave - just before the Western Sizzlin Restaurant.)
About the Little River Canyon:
Little River, the only river in the United States to flows its entire length on top of a mountain, has formed the deepest canyon east of the Rocky Mountains. With a maximum depth of 600 feet and maximum width of 3,800+ feet, it presents a vivid contrast to America's western canyons. Green, green, green everywhere from Spring into Autumn at which time it becomes a riot of color. The Little River Canyon is classified as an Alabama Wild and Scenic River as a 'preserve' under the protection of the National Park Service.
Links to photos:
For more information:
Little River Canyon National Preserve
John Bundy, Superintendent
2141 Gault Ave N (US-11 / AL-7)
Fort Payne, AL 35967
256-845-9605
e-mail: LIRI_superintendent@nps.gov
web site: www.nps.gov/liri/
