About
Little River, Alabama — 1820s-1840s Frontier, 1840s-1880s Milling, 1992 Little River Canyon NP 14,000 ac 30-mi DeKalb. Little River Canyon cuts a 22-mile gorge through Lookout Mountain in DeKalb County, dropping from scenic Class II floats above the falls to technical Class III-IV water through the canyon mouth. At 580 CFS average, the river runs best between 300-2000 CFS on gauge 02399200. The upper canyon offers mellower water for paddlers wanting the sandstone walls without the consequences, while the Canyon Mouth to Eberhart Point section delivers the goods — a true gorge run with Class III-IV rapids between vertical canyon walls. Below that, Chair Factory Shoals to Highway 35 settles back to Class II-III over the final miles. Cherokee people called Lookout Mountain home before European contact. Congress established Little River Canyon National Preserve in 1992, putting the entire watershed under National Park Service management. Little River Outfitters runs commercial trips through the preserve, and the Canyon Rim Trail expansion in 2022 opened new overlooks above the whitewater sections.
River conditions are community-verified. CFS ranges, difficulty ratings, and access points may not reflect every flow level or seasonal change. Always check current conditions, scout unfamiliar rapids, and paddle within your skill level.