View of Little River Canyon and the Little River from an overlook on the Canyon Rim Drive, Little River Canyon National Preserve
A 23-mile scenic drive through Little River Canyon National Preserve starts at the Little River Canyon Center and ends at Canyon Mouth Park. Along the way are a number of overlooks with great views of Little River Canyon. The drive is made up of Alabama Highway 176 and Country Roads 148 and 275. Signs point the way whenever you need to turn onto a new road. The National Park Service refers to all three roads collectively as the Little River Canyon Rim Parkway, though technically this is the name of Hwy 176, the northernmost segment of the drive. The drive itself is called the Canyon Rim Drive.
Note that due to steep grades and tight curves that CR 148 and 275 are closed to RVs and vehicles with trailers.
Canyon Rim Drive and Canyon Area map (click to enlarge)
As with any National Park, the scenic drive and overlooks are the way most people experience a park, which is a shame, but that’s the way it is. There are nine named overlooks along Little River Canyon Rim Parkway, one named rock formation, and a few unnamed pullouts with views of the canyon. Some overlooks offer better views than others, but even at the best of them you probably won’t spend more than 10 minutes to get your photos, unless you plan to picnic or relax and meditate (there are picnic tables at most overlooks). You can do the entire scenic drive and stop at all of the overlooks in no more than 2 hours.
The following is a list of overlooks, complete with photos of the views. The overlooks are listed from north to south. At the bottom of each page is a menu that connects to the next and previous stops on the scenic drive.
The last overlook on the Canyon Rim Drive is Dee’s Branch Overlook, but this is not mentioned on the map. There is a sign identifying it along the road. However, other than in the winter when the leaves are off the trees, vegetation blocks any view. There is supposedly a waterfall down below, but how you get to it is beyond me.
There are also four hiking trails along the Canyon Rim Drive. See the following web pages for complete details.
View from the Wolf Creek Overlook on the Canyon Rim Drive, Little River Canyon National Preserve
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Last updated on June 2, 2025
