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Providence Canyon State Park: Georgia’s Little Grand Canyon

Providence Canyon State Park
Providence Canyon State Park

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!

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  Evidence of these canyons can be found in historical documents dating back to 1836.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

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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.

Be sure to give us a like on Facebook or follow us on Instagram for more travel tips and tricks. See you next time!

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Categories
Georgia Georgia State Parks State Parks United States

The Impressive Etowah Indian Mounds- The Remains of an Ancient Civilization

Did you know that the remains of an ancient settlement are hidden in the hills of rural Georgia?  If you find yourself in the Atlanta area, we strongly suggest making the trip to the Etowah Indian Mounds.  The Etowah Indian Mounds are an archaeological site located in Cartersville, Georgia. The mounds are what remains of the ancient civilization that once called this area “home”.   Between 1000 AD and 1550 AD, thousands of indigenous people resided on this 54-acre site.  The site features six earthen mounds, a plaza, a village site, borrow pits, and a moat.

The Etowah Indian Mounds are the most intact Mississippian Culture site in the Southeast.  On site, there is a museum that showcases how the indigenous people once lived.  Their shell beads, paint, ornate hairdos, and jewelry indicate that this was a well-to-do society.

Amazingly, less than 10% of the site has been excavated.  It’ll be interesting to see what historians unearth about this sacred site in the future!

We really enjoyed exploring this park.  Our favorite part was ascending the mounds!  The views were absolutely breathtaking and reminded us of climbing the Maya ruins of Cahal Pech and Xunantunich in Belize.  In fact, the mounds themselves are very similar to Maya pyramids.

So... what are these mounds all about?

The indigenous people of North America built mounds like these for over a thousand years.  Archaeologists have uncovered mounds that date beach to the Archaic Period (8000-1000 BC).  

The indigenous people would hold religious ceremonies on top of these four-sided mounds.  The mounds also supported the tribal leaders homes, temples, and other residences.  Mounds were also used to contain the remains of the dead.

The History of the Etowah Indian Mounds and the Mississippian People

For more than 800 years, the Mississippian culture dominated the southeastern and midwestern United States.  The culture, which originated in the Mississippi River Valley, expanded from Texas, to Illinois, and to North Carolina.  These early people built impressive earth mounds as a testimony of their power.

The Etowah Indian Mounds are the really impressive.  There are three primary mounds and three secondary mounds.  Mound A is the second largest mound in the United States!  It is as tall as a 6-story building.  Archaeologists believe that Mound A was where the chief lived, Mound B served as a spot for religious rituals, and Mound C was a burial site for the elite.  

The largest mound is the Cahokia, located in Illinois.  It’s remarkable to think that the Mississippian culture spanned the length of the United States!  The Cahokia Mounds are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  

The Mississippians were also known for their shell-tempered pottery and their widespread trade networks (that extended as far west as the Rocky Mountains).

Etowah Indian Mounds Visiting Information

Address

813 Indian Mounds Road SE
Cartersville, GA
30120

Historic Site Admission

  • Adults (18–61): $6.00
  • Seniors (62+): $5.00
  • Youth (6–17): $4.00
  • Youth Groups: $3.50
  • Children (under 6): $2.00
The site is open 7 days a week from 9-5.  The mounds area closes at 4:30 PM.  Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day.

The park offers a self-guided tour that begins in the Visitors Center.  A short video details the history of the mounds.  From here, visitors can explore the artifacts on display in the museum before heading out to the mounds.

The walk from the Visitor’s Center to the mounds is short and easy.  On the way, you’ll pass borrow pits, a wattle and daub house, a dugout canoe, and the area that was believed to be the plaza.  

If you’re able, you should most definitely hike the steps up to the top of Mound A for impressive views of the countryside (and the other mounds).  It can be quite strenuous but, the hike up to the top is worth it, if you’re able.

After you visit the mounds, head towards the Etowah River.  If you turn left and head alongside the river, you can see the remains of a fish dam trap.  Here, rocks form a V shape at the center of the river.  A trap would be placed at the tip of the V.  Fish would get trapped in this space which allowed them to be easily caught.

Pro-Tip:  There are benches on the riverbank overlooking the Etowah River.  This is a great spot for a picnic!

In 1964, Etowah was named a National Historic Site and is a sacred place for the Cherokee and Creek- descendants of the original inhabitants.  

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.

What is there to do Nearby?

  • Pettit Environment Preserve
  • Booth Western Art Museum
  • Allatoona Pass Battlefield
  • Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park

Save a Pin & Start Planning Your Adventure

Be sure to give us a like on Facebook or follow us on Instagram and Twitter for more travel tips and tricks. See you next time!

**This post contains affiliate links. This means that I receive a small commission from your purchase at no extra cost to you**

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