Providence Canyon State Park is known as Georgia’s “Little Grand Canyon”.
Providence Canyon State Park covers 1,108 acres in southwestern Georgia and contains a series of 16 canyons. Overall, Providence Canyon is 150 deep and 300 feet wide. The canyon can easily be enjoyed from the rim trail that circles 9 of the canyons. The park includes 2 picnic shelters, 3 pioneer campsites and 6 backcountry campsites.
Rainbow of colors
The size of Providence Canyon is not spectacular and dramatic but what it lacks in size it makes up in beauty. The canyon wall make for a beautiful natural painting as the shades of color in the soil range from orange, salmon, red and scarlet to white, purples and pink. The various colors are attributed to following mineral deposits:
- Oranges and red comes from iron.
- Purples and pinks comes from manganese
- Yellows and tans comes from limonite
- Whites are from kaolin
Created by Erosion
Providence Canyon was created from the forces of erosion and it is also continuing to enlarge the canyon as the canyon is widening at a rate of 3-5 feet per year. It is easy to see where the canyon was once narrower as some large trees are growing on the edge of the canyon. These trees are too large to have grown to that size on the edge of the canyon. Some trees are even clinging to the canyon walls but could fall into the canyon when just a little more erosion occurs.
Hiking Trails
Visitors to the park can explore down to the canyon floor or there are two hiking trails that they can choose to discover. The trails begin and end at the visitor center.
The Canyon Loop Trail is a 2.5 miles loop and is estimated to take about 2 hours but if you are like me it will take longer as I like to spend extra time exploring. The trail is rated as easy to moderate and circles nine of the canyons. The views from the canyon rim are spectacular.
The Backcountry Trail is a 7 mile loop and is estimated to take about 6 hours. The trail is rated as extremely rugged and difficult. The trail leads into the forested area.
The Dust on My Shoes
I enjoy visiting state parks when I travel. State parks are typically not large like national parks but don’t let their size deter you from seeing what they have to offer. Many state parks have beautiful nature that can easily be seen and they are typically not as crowded as national parks.
Providence Canyon State Park is exactly the kind of place that I enjoy visiting because it has beautiful scenery and there aren’t too many people in the park. Additionally, I am a big fan of unusual rock formations and the unusually shaped canyon formations combined with the varied coloration really enhances look of the scenery.
I never get tired of spending time in nature! Everywhere I go in the world, I try to carve out a little bit of time to enjoy being in nature and to see a new part of the world.
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