Little River Canyon Alabama trails?

[eroc37]

Anyone run the supposed 23 miles of trails here?

I'm wondering if they are glorified forest service roads or something interesting...

It says there are 3 water crossings...

Anyone?

 

[ChuckstrPT]

Never been there. I've heard talk about dirt roads up there...not much of a trail though. Let us know if you find something up there!

 

[Ghost]

Anyone run the supposed 23 miles of trails here?

I'm wondering if they are glorified forest service roads or something interesting...

It says there are 3 water crossings...

Anyone?

Isn't that area a Nat. Forest becase of the Gorge? Never heard of any trails there at all. Last time I checked it out was by foot and in the late 80's so I'm sure its different.

 

[256offroad]

Anyone run the supposed 23 miles of trails here?

I'm wondering if they are glorified forest service roads or something interesting...

It says there are 3 water crossings...

Anyone?

they are pretty much just glorified forest service roads.... talk to the park ranger and he will tell you can and can not go

 

[eroc37]

figured as much. going anyway for the waterfalls and scenery. just wanted to know if i should take off the mall terrains and put on the swampers.

Doesn't sound like it.

 

[eroc37]

I'll report on the conditions when i get back. we are going the 29th.

 

[iBarsky]

going anyway for the waterfalls and scenery..

Well, I hope you're not driving all the way up here just for the "trails", lol.
Little River is part National Preserve and part State wildlife management area, co-owned by the State of Alabama and the Alabama Power Company.

There are two water crossings and both are solid rock.. Depending on how much it's rained in the last two days the crossings may or may not be doable. The river rises quickly due to all of the small creeks and streams that feed it. Some people try it anyway and get a nice fine when their rig has to be dragged back up the river. During the summer the crossings are nothing, as the water is barely moving. This fall the river has been up more than normal due to all the rain.
The "trails" are numbered and you are required to stay on them. If you like owning your vehicle and not having to pay big fines. It's not just the rangers you have to watch out for. Most locals don't want anymore of the roads in the preserve to be gated. You'll see a lot of atv's, kids trying to get dirt on their trucks, and horses.
This time of year there will be more hunters than anything.

As for the "trails". You can ride all of the roads in an hour of so. In a stock Civic, for the most part. This was true before the recent floods anyway. I haven't been there since then.
Some of us use "trail 6" as a place to do shakedown runs. Most of it is just a couple of small mud holes, but the end is a rutted uphill. I've seen stuff flop on it's side there, but that's because of driver error. An XJ on 30's won't have much issue. At the top of the small hill you hit a paved county road. Stay on the trail until you hit the road because the topside is private property and they are not friendly. Or usually sober. Or unarmed.

There's a couple of nice swimming holes for summer and the actual canyon (south of the trails across Hwy. 35) has some short hiking trails and a couple of good (short)kayaking runs.

All in all it's a nice place to ride around if you're in the area, but don't expect to use anything except 2WD.
There are a couple of ways to get in via Hwy 35, Hwy 89 or from Georgia across "10 mile" road (County Rd 103).

eroc37,
PM me if you have any questions about the area.

 

[iBarsky]

http://www.nps.gov/liri/planyourvisit/upload/backcountrynew.pdf

Here is a rather crappy map of the preserve. Not that there is much to map, but this is an old one that leaves a couple of the trails off.
It does show the location of the three camping spots in the preserve, but they are closed until Spring.

 

[bmanga]

Many moons ago when I was on 30's I went there with a buddy to explore. Pretty much leisure forestry roads with some mud. Interesting falls area and a good place to take a family for picnic more or less. One area near I believe Hartline Ford has a few huge interesting boulders/rocks to play on but that is about it for rocks.

 

[eroc37]

Ummm.. not so sure i want to drive 2.5 hours for that...

 

[iBarsky]

Many moons ago when I was on 30's I went there with a buddy to explore. Pretty much leisure forestry roads with some mud. Interesting falls area and a good place to take a family for picnic more or less. One area near I believe Hartline Ford has a few huge interesting boulders/rocks to play on but that is about it for rocks.

Not too long ago a kid rolled his daddy's new Tacoma off that very rock.
Less than 10K miles. 4 door, TRD package. Totaled trying to impress a girl.
We left when the dad arrived 'cause I didn't want to be witness to murder.

And yeah....those two rocks in the field are it as for as rocks. They're also not in the Fed preserve, but in the WMA portion so it just depends on whether the AL DNR is in a ticket giving mood or not if you get caught.

Ummm.. not so sure i want to drive 2.5 hours for that...

If you're coming up this way for the wheel'n then you'd be better off driving another hour and a half north to Aetna or an hour +/- south to Mountainside.

 

[eroc37]

Well... we are heading up on the 29th. if it's too boring we'll continue on to mountainside. just really a shakedown trip to put some miles on the stroker and slowly introduce the wife to 4 wheeling.

been to mt aetna, Loved it, especially all the crazy locals. but we're rolling with some mildly built newbies so that will have to wait for another time.

hopefully the floods carved up something interesting.

 

[bmanga]

Mountainside is an awesome place for all levels of rigs. Bob the owner is a great guy too! Problem is if your heading up there on the 29th. The park is open the 1st and 3rd weekends for open rides. Morris Mountain has a private ride on that date. Choccolocco Mountain ORV Park might be a good option. They're open every weekend and no event is planned then. Lots of trails for newbies and some harder stuff too.

 

[ChuckstrPT]

Mountainside is an awesome place for all levels of rigs. Bob the owner is a great guy too! Problem is if your heading up there on the 29th. The park is open the 1st and 3rd weekends for open rides. Morris Mountain has a private ride on that date. Choccolocco Mountain ORV Park might be a good option. They're open every weekend and no event is planned then. Lots of trails for newbies and some harder stuff too.

Don't forget, trail ride at Mountain Side Jan 16-17 2010.....be there:conceited
And I think there is a Toy ride at Morris Mtn Dec 5th??

 

[eroc37]

That place looks cool. AND it'd sorta on the way back to the ATL if we take I-20.

Thanks for the heads up!

 

[bmanga]

And I think there is a Toy ride at Morris Mtn Dec 5th??

You would be correct sir! :greensmok Trails for Tots putt on by OffCamber.

http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=1014054&highlight=tots


NP eroc37 Choccolocco Mnt a stock vehicle can get around on the main loop trail everywhere. I can't remember the name but when you sign the waiver at the entry they'll have maps. The map will have trail ratings on it for each trail but I found them to be a little off since trails change quickly. Suffice it to say 1 and 2's are stock.

If your looking for more places I created a google map with places on it here: http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=U...35.236646,-82.375488&spn=4.48611,9.613037&z=7

 

[ChuckstrPT]

If your looking for more places I created a google map with places on it here: http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=U...35.236646,-82.375488&spn=4.48611,9.613037&z=7

That's pretty cool. I haven't been to Chocco yet. We should have a ride there!:eyes::viking:

 

[eroc37]

WOW! is great! Super helpful post!

i'm joining next time i sit down at the computer with my wallet in my pocket!

Can't wait to ride with the SE chapter!

i'll post pics of little river canyon (probably canYAWN) and wherever else we end up.

 

[iBarsky]

i'll post pics of little river canyon (probably canYAWN) and wherever else we end up.

The falls area which begins the canyon is a good place for pics. The area is a little screwed up right now because they are in the process of replacing the bridge on Hwy. 35 above the falls.

Make sure and drive the canyon rim road. They're several good overlooks and a couple of short hiking trails down into the canyon if you're so inclined. The road ends in the valley at the Canyon mouth day use area. You can check out the remains of a "canyon theme park" that some a**clown politicians and wealthy investors tried to establish many years ago. There's still quite a bit of crap down in the canyon where the chairlift ended. When the Feds took over they stopped all crap like that, although they didn't get both sides of the canyon rim so there are a couple of houses right on the edge across from the overlooks. One day maybe we'll get a good earthquake. lol.

Other places to check out in the area are DeSoto state park and DeSoto Falls.

 

[ChuckstrPT]

Make sure and drive the canyon rim road. They're several good overlooks and a couple of short hiking trails down into the canyon if you're so inclined. The road ends in the valley at the Canyon mouth day use area. You can check out the remains of a "canyon theme park" that some a**clown politicians and wealthy investors tried to establish many years ago. There's still quite a bit of crap down in the canyon where the chairlift ended. When the Feds took over they stopped all crap like that, although they didn't get both sides of the canyon rim so there are a couple of houses right on the edge across from the overlooks. One day maybe we'll get a good earthquake. lol.

We've driven that rim road. There are some great overlooks. I forget where we were coming back from when we hit that. Oh yeah, my wife reminded me....Sequoyah Caverns...that was cool if you are into caverns. It was a nice drive. I didn't know anything about those early theme park facts...we missed that part. I did think it was a little strange having houses right there.:doh: Be careful with the earthquake wishes....remember the World Series Earthquake? I was there. No need to repeat that any more.:cheers: