Providence Canyon State Park: Georgia’s Little Grand Canyon

Nestled in the middle of Georgia’s farmland is a hidden gem known as the “Little Grand Canyon.” Providence Canyon State Park stands as a reminder of mankind’s impact on our planet. You see, Providence Canyon isn’t entirely natural…despite being one of The Seven Natural Wonders of Georgia.

This place will straight up make you feel like you’re out on the left coast. Strolling around the canyon gave me flashbacks of my time in Arizona and Nevada. It’s hard to believe this place is in Georgia!

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How Providence Canyon Was Formed

Most people will tell you that poor farming practices in the 1800s. Some farmers got a little saw-happy while trying to make the land more farmable and chopped down way too many trees. The lack of trees made the land super-vulnerable to erosion. What were once small ravines became massive gullies as deep as 150 feet.

While it may be true that erosion caused the canyon, there’s a little more to it than that. Evidence of these canyons can be found in historical documents dating back to 1836. So…maybe the ravines weren’t quite as dramatic as they are today, but they definitely existed.

About Providence Canyon State Park

Providence Canyon State Park was established in 1971. The park covers over 1,100 acres and holds 16 canyons. The canyons expose a rainbow of soil (red, orange, yellow, white, and even purple!) that is GORGEOUS!

Visiting Providence Canyon State Park

Providence Canyon State Park can be found in Lumpkin, Georgia, close to the Georgia-Alabama border.

Location: 8930 Canyon Road, Lumpkin, GA 31815

Admission: $5 per vehicle to enter the park. Cash is preferred. If you are paying with a card, you’ll need to do so at the Visitor Center.

Opening Hours: From September 15th to April 14th: 7:00 am-6:00 pm. From
April 15th to September 14th: 7:00 am–9:00 pm. Visitor Center 8:00 am- 5 pm.

Camping: You can camp overnight at Providence Canyon by making a reservation at one of three pioneer or six backcountry campsites. This is a popular option if you are hiking the 7-mile Backcountry Trail.

Hiking at Providence Canyon State Park

Canyon Loop Trail

2.5 miles | Easy to Moderate Hike | White Markers

The Canyon Loop (White Blaze) Trail is the most popular choice as it lets you experience 9 of the canyons from above and below. The walk is a 2.5-mile loop that goes down into the canyon and around the rim. The terrain is mostly flat with a few inclines. To see canyons 1-5, you will take a left at the first creek bed.

Backcountry Trail

7 miles | Difficult Hike | Red Markers

This 7-mile loop is quite a challenging hike that takes about 6 hours to complete. To get to the Backcountry Trail, you’ll take a right after the first creekbed, rather than left or straight.

Our Experience

I have a friend that lives just over an hour away from the canyon, so shot her a text and asked her if she’d like to meet us at Providence Canyon. I had been wanting to visit for a while and wanted to go before it heated up.

We made the drive from Jacksonville, FL to Auburn, AL where we’d be staying with my friend. On the day of our visit, we got to the park around 9 AM. The weather was absolutely gorgeous! When we pulled up to the payment stand, the attendant informed us that he could only take cash. After some back and forth, he finally told us we could pay at the Visitor’s Center with our card.

The trailhead is located right behind the Visitor’s Center. The path down to the floor of the canyon was gradual and quite enjoyable. Once we were at the canyon floor, there was water all over the trail. We basically had to walk through a creek to get to the canyons. Luckily, we came prepared to get dirty! The kids had so much fun splashing in the puddles and weaving in and out of the slot canyons.

We visited canyons 4-5 first and then 1-3. 4-5 were much more scenic. All in all, it was a wonderful day. I’m really glad we went just before spring, as I imagine the hike is dreadful in the humid months.

The Seven Natural Wonders of Georgia

Amicalola Falls
Okefenokee Swamp
Providence Canyon
Radium Springs
Stone Mountain
Tallulah Gorge
Warm Springs

What Should I Take With Me?

When you’re hiking, please remember to leave no trace! This means to pack out everything that you pack in and if you see trash, pick it up.

Backpack– to store all of your belongings
Dry Bag– to keep your electronics and wallet safe, in case of rain (or kayaking)
Trail GPS– the Garmin Oregon handled GPS works offline. You can view maps, waypoints, tracks, and trails even if you don’t have a signal.
First-Aid Kit– this ultralight, watertight medical kit is a must if you’re hitting the trails!
Sunscreen- yes, you can get sunburned in the forest.
Insect Repellant
Water Bottle– Always pack more water than you think you’ll need!
Snacks
Hammock– I honestly pack a hammock on most hiking trips. Psh, I even bring them along with me when we go on cruises. There are plenty of spots in the forest to put up a hammock and chill out for a bit.

If you’re traveling with your pup, like we often do, be sure to bring along their leash, poop bags, a water dish (this one is collapsible), extra water, food, and snacks.

Distance from Major Cities

Atlanta, GA – 148 miles
Birmingham, AL – 174 miles
Jacksonville, FL – 267 miles
Orlando, FL – 359 miles
Tampa, FL – 378 miles
Nashville, TN – 392 miles
Charlotte, NC – 392 miles
New Orleans, LA – 420 miles
Memphis, TN – 446 miles

Other Georgia State Parks

Etowah Indian Mounds

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While we were in the area, we also visited the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site, Auburn University, and the Jimmy Carter National Historic Park.