Incised into Lookout Mountain's flat surface, Alabama's Little River Canyon has one of eastern North America's deepest gorges: as much as 600 feet deep and three-quarters of a mile across. Cutting through Cumberland Plateau sandstone, limestone, and shale, Little River Canyon resembles Georgia's smaller Cloudland Canyon.
Little River runs its course on Lookout Mountain's top. Flowing southwest from near Mentone, Alabama, the river issues from the canyon's mouth almost directly into Lake Weiss. With a small watershed, Little River can run low in dry weather. Boating the canyon is chancy due to variable water level, brutal rapids, and rugged terrain. Hiking trails into the canyon are reputed to be difficult; hiking out of the canyon with a broken boat would not be fun.
Countryside around Little River Canyon has relatively little development. Rim Drive, a scenic drive at the canyon's edge, was at my last visit a twisted, scary strip of abandoned-looking two-lane asphalt. Against some local opposition, the canyon's wild scenery is coming under Federal protection.
For more information on Little River Canyon, consult: