The Little River flows for most of its length atop Lookout Mountain in northeastern Alabama, making it the longest mountain top river in the United States. Carving it s way down the mountain, Little River Canyon is also home to the deepest canyon in the southeastern United States, and is a major draw for rock climbers and white water paddlers throughout the southeast. With an annual visitation of only 300,000, Little River Canyon National Preserve is arguably one of the most under appreciated parks in the United States National Park system. A visit to this park feels more like Tennessee than Alabama, with it's cliffs and scenic views. Accessible any season of the year, spring blooms give way to humid wet summers with dense forest.
Spectacular color sets in for the fall and winter can bring an occasional snow to the area.
Crashing down the side of Lookout Mountain, the Little River features a number of waterfalls and pools as it cuts through the parks. Because the Little River does not have any dams and does not pass through many man made or impacted areas, it is one of the wildest cleanest rivers in the southeast. Sandstone and boulder cliffs rise up over 600 feet in some places from the river base. A 23-mile road cuts through the park and passes a number of these attractions. The park has three main units.