Little River Canyon National Preserve

The new entrance to the Little River Canyon Center was complete on my mid-November, 2012, visit.  It is directly across Alabama highway 35 from the Little River Canyon Parkway, Alabama route 176.  The new intersection includes a turn lane on Highway 35 and vastly improved sight distances.  The center is a multiple-use facility owned by Jacksonville State University.  The National Park Service has a visitor center inside and shows an excellent 20-minute movie in the large auditorium.  A gift shop is also located in the center as well as restroom facilities with running water.

Little River Canyon Center

Compared to my last visit during the summer, the flow of the Little River was greatly reduced.  Because of the lower flows, much of the area above the falls was dry.  A short trail leads from the parking lot toward the Highway 35 bridge and then drops down to the river by way of several rock steps and ledges.

Little River Falls, November 2012

Little River Falls, June 2012

Fall colors at Little River Falls

The river flows over a series of small rock ledges above the falls

Shallow pool reflects Highway 35 bridge

A smattering of fall colors remains at Lynn Overlook

My previous Little River Canyon National Preserve post is at http://americantraveljournal.blogspot.com/2012/06/little-river-canyon.html.
The preserve website is http://www.nps.gov/liri/index.htm.