| Little River Canyon National Preserve |
Article Index for Little River |
Limousines in Little River |
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Information AboutLittle River Canyon National Preserve |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT LITTLE RIVER CANYON NATIONAL PRESERVE | |
| 1992 establishments | |
| geography of alabama | |
| landmarks in alabama | |
| national preserves of the united states | |
| rivers of alabama | |
| SHOPPER'S DELIGHT | |
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Little River Canyon National Preserve occupies 14,000 acres (57 km²) and protects the nation's longest mountaintop river, the Little River. Created in 1992 by Congress, the preserve is located near Fort Payne , Alabama and nearby DeSoto State Park . The Little River flows for almost its entire length down the middle of Lookout Mountain in northeast Alabama. Over eons of geologic time, Little River has carved out one of the Southeast's deepest canyons as it winds its way from headwaters in Georgia before exiting the mountain and emptying into Weiss Lake near Leesburg, Alabama . Because there are no dams to regulate its flow and few man-made developments to pollute its waters, the river is among the cleanest and wildest waterways in the South. Sandstone cliffs tower up to 600 feet (300 m) above the narrow canyon floor, providing a rock climber's paradise and eye-popping vistas from overlooks along the 23 mile (37 km) scenic drive known as Little River Canyon Rim Parkway ( AL 176 , Dekalb C.R. 148, Cherokee C.R. 275) on the canyon's western rim. |