Visiting Alabama State Parks - Desoto State Park

No visit to northern Alabama would be complete without visiting this gem. Desoto State Park is located right beside the most beautiful wonder in Alabama. It has been referred to as the Grand Canyon of the east. While the size pales in comparison to the Grand Canyon its beauty rivals any place in the United States. Little River Canyon is of course what I am writing about.

Take a full day and slowly drive the canyon, being sure to stop at every overlook to enjoy the view. Do not forget to pack a picnic lunch. After that there are many activities to keep you busy. Kayak down little river canyon, fighting the rapids at every turn. Rock climb the sheer rock faces of the canyon there are many routes of varying difficulty, from traditional to sport. Are you scared of heights but still want to climb? Bring a crash pad and never even leave the park. There are plenty of bouldering problems to be solved, from the really easy ones on to the world class challenging problems. There are many days worth of bouldering inside the park. Is that not your cup of tea? How about horseback riding? There are over twenty-three miles of horseback trails in little river canyon. You can also ride all terrain vehicles in the designated back country areas with a permit. Or maybe you would just like to relax and watch nature. There are plenty of opportunities for this as well, both inside the park and inside the Little River Canyon Preserve area. Or spend a relaxed, or not so relaxed day hiking the many miles of trails inside of the park. Or for a real challenge take the trail to the bottom of the canyon and back. Or just relax around the hotel and lodge area.