Little River Canyon - Bear Creek Hike

[jaybird]

Took a drive up to Little River Canyon today.  With all the rain, the place is phenomenal.  The highlight of the day was 133 foot Grace's High Falls, or should I say being right at the foot of it.

Little River Canyon - Bear Creek Hike

Little River Canyon - Bear Creek Hike

Little River Canyon - Bear Creek Hike

Little River Canyon - Bear Creek Hike

Little River Canyon - Bear Creek Hike

Little River Canyon - Bear Creek Hike

Little River Canyon - Bear Creek Hike

[Joshua Szulecki]

You lucky... I never contemplated a ground approach.

[jaybird]

It wasn't easy.  Bear Creek is 3 miles long, and Grace's High Falls is about 1 mile or so upstream from the junction with Little River.  I've read where this 133 foot falls is the tallest in Alabama, but can't find clarification on that.  Whatever the ranking -- gosh, it's hard hiking.  Rocks, rocks, and more rocks.  At one point, you must climb the hillside at greater than a 45 degree angle to find a way around the creek.  This goes on for the length of 2-3 football fields before spitting you out back down by the creek.  While up there, you've had to pick through mountain laurel, downed trees, and of course -- the loose rocks.  I kicked one just for fun -- it tumbled all the way down taking some tree limbs out with it, and ended up in the creek with a loud splash.  The side stream created by Grace's High Falls was tricky to get across too.  An extremely wild day.  Easy to see how this place is the deepest gorge east of the Mississippi.  West of the Mississippi is the Grand Canyon and east is LRC here in Alabama.  Go figure.

[Rob]

Magnificent!! I have never had the privilege of seeing Grace's High Falls at such a high flow. I have hiked a portion of the canyon before and the rocks are very difficult to traverse, especially after a lot of wet weather they are very slippery. What a great opportunity you had Jay. Thanks for sharing.

[WolfVanZandt]

Nice picture of Grace's. I'd love to do that!

[PastorLarryT]

Absolutely outstanding Jay!!!  Thank you for sharing your adventure with us.  I know what you mean about hiking over, through, and around those "boulders", though I've not yet had the privilege of hiking to Gracie.  Looks like it is something I "need to put on my list". 

[Lane]

Nice shots, Jay.  We went back during fall break in Oct last year and the flow over Grace's was probably double what you saw.  Unfortunately, that meant that water levels down in the canyon were also higher, so having the kids along meant no hiking up Bear Creek.  There is a trail down from the road without going down Eberhart and around.  Near where Grace's creek (for lack of a better name) goes under the road, there's a circle around one of the road reflectors.  You can go down right there (said the lady renting the cabin to us) but it's real steep. Brings you out in Bear Creek Canyon just upstream of Grace's.  Maybe some day when the kids are bigger.