Little River Canyon National Preserve

National Preserve · Alabama

Danger Closure See 4 current alerts

Fall Season in the Canyon
Photo: NPS Photo

Current alerts (4)

  • Danger

    SEASONAL SAFETY MESSAGE

    Be careful and safe while out in the canyon! Be cautious of your surroundings, don't cliff jump, don't stray off of the main trails, and don't get too close to Little River Falls or the canyon rim. These activities could result in injury or death.

  • Closure

    Backcountry Roads 8, 9, & 10 are closed

    Attention visitors: Roads 8, 9, and 10 in the backcountry of the Wildlife Management Area (WMA) are currently closed for road maintenance. For your safety, please do not go around road barriers. Doing so is also a violation of Title 36 CFR Chapter 1 Part 1.1.5 (f) regarding road closures. Thank you for your understanding, and we apologize for any inconvenience.

  • Closure

    Canyon Mouth Parking lot closed October 20-21, 2026

    Canyon Mouth Park will be closed to the public on October 20–21, 2026. We apologize for any inconvenience.

  • Closure

    Little River Falls Overlook Parking Lot closed October 22-23, 2026.

    Little River Falls Overlook parking lot will be closed on October 22–23, 2026. We apologize for any inconvenience. Parking will be available at the Canyon Center, and you can take the Bridge Trail to reach Little River Falls Overlook and Little Falls Trail.

Hours

Little River Canyon National Preserve

Usual hours: Little River Canyon National Preserve
Every daySunrise to Sunset

The main park is open during daylight hours every day including holidays.

Canyon Mouth Park
Usual hours
Every day8:00AM - 7:00PM

Summer Hours - Open Daily from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM (CST)
Fall/Spring Hours - Open Daily from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM (CST)
Winter Hours - Open Daily from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM (CST)

Visitor centers

Jacksonville State University Little River Canyon Center

Jacksonville State University Little River Canyon Center

Usual hours: Jacksonville State University Little River Canyon Center
MondayClosed
Tuesday – Sunday10:00AM - 4:00PM

The Jacksonville State University Little River Canyon Center is open from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM (Central Time) Tuesday through Sunday throughout the year, except on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day.

Visitor center page on nps.gov: Jacksonville State University Little River Canyon Center

About this park

Little River is unique because it flows for most of its length atop Lookout Mountain in northeast Alabama. Forested uplands, waterfalls, canyon rims and bluffs, pools, boulders, and sandstone cliffs offer settings for a variety of recreational activities. Natural resources and cultural heritage come together to tell the story of the Preserve, a special place in the Southern Appalachians.