Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Little River Canyon, which is part of DeSoto State Park, is spectacular. While the Little
River has two forks that run over much of Lookout Mountain, the canyon itself begins at
Little River Falls and courses ten miles before it ends on the southeast side of the mountain.
The falls are encased in a bowllike cradle with sandstone walls; along these walls, many
rough-winged swallows nest. The rims of the canyon are covered with laurel, with pines
farther back, and the canyon itself contains a mixture of large hardwoods and pines. A road
runs along the western rim of the canyon and provides a number of scenic vistas. From the
falls, a trail follows the eastern rim of the canyon, and about 0.5 mile downstream descent in-
to the canyon is possible. Pine warblers can be sighted in the tops of the pine trees rising out
of the canyon. Watch the thickets for American woodcock moving through the brush away
from the rim. Also look for Swainson's warbler and worm-eating warbler.
On the floor of the canyon, hooded warbler, eastern phoebe, and Louisiana waterthrush can
be seen. Peregrine falcons have been seen on rare occasions in the canyon and patrolling the
skies above. More likely to be seen over the canyon are broad-winged hawks.
Information on the park, campground, and rates for the lodge and cabins can be obtained
by writing: Division of State Parks, Alabama Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources,
64 North Union Street, Montgomery, AL 36130. Or you can call 1-800-ALA-PARK, nation-
wide. In 1992, Congress designated Little River Canyon as a national recreation area to be
administered by the National Park Service. The change in administration from the state to the
Park Service had not yet occurred at the time of this writing.
The town of Mentone has a number of antique and craft shops where a small village at-
mosphere is preserved. At the main intersection in town are a beautiful Episcopal church, the
Mentone Inn (a bed and breakfast), a crafts village with the Log Cabin Deli, and the historic
Mentone Hotel, which is a large, rambling structure filled with various stores and shops.
