Landscapes of Little River Canyon National Preserve

Less than 1000 feet from the front door of the Jacksonville State University Canyon Center is the 15,000 acre Little River Canyon National Preserve. The award winning welcome center in NE Alabama is a local headquarters for the National Park Service and the gateway to an explosion of biological diversity. Come to discover the landscapes, swimming holes, wildlife, and people who offer remarkable hospitality and fascinating environmental education programs. For more information please go to: www.canyoncenter.org

Little River Canyon National Preserve by Hal YeagerJacksonville State University's Little River Canyon Center

The 15,288 acre Little River Canyon National Preserve is located in northeast Alabama on top of Lookout Mountain.

Little River Canyon National Preserve by Hal YeagerJacksonville State University's Little River Canyon Center

The Preserve, a unit of the National Park Service, protects Little River and is often referred to as the Nation's longest mountaintop river.

Little River Canyon National Preserve by Hal YeagerJacksonville State University's Little River Canyon Center

Steep sandstone canyon walls provide spectacular views from the 23-mile scenic drive known as the Little River Canyon Rim Parkway.

Little River Canyon National Preserve by Hal YeagerJacksonville State University's Little River Canyon Center

Sandstone outcrops and shallow soils over bedrock provide habitat for rare plants, such as little river onion, that have evolved on these extreme site conditions.

Little River Canyon National Preserve by Hal YeagerJacksonville State University's Little River Canyon Center

Overlooks along the parkway provide access to the canyon rim and rare plant communities.

Little River Canyon National Preserve by Hal YeagerJacksonville State University's Little River Canyon Center

The river flows for almost it's entire length down the middle of Lookout Mountain carving out one of the Southeast's deepest canyons.

Little River Canyon National Preserve by Hal YeagerJacksonville State University's Little River Canyon Center

The Preserve boasts three major waterfalls with Little River Falls visible from Alabama State Route 35.

Little River Canyon National Preserve by Hal YeagerJacksonville State University's Little River Canyon Center

Hardwood and mixed pine forests cover the Preserve where soils are able to support mature trees.

Canyon CenterJacksonville State University's Little River Canyon Center

Little River Canyon Center provides administration offices for the National Park Service, a visitor and welcome center for the public, and environmental education programs through Jacksonville State University

Credits: Story

Constructed by Bill Garland, written by Bill Garland and Pete Conroy, and photography by Hal Yeager and Pete Conroy

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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