Georgia’s ‘Little Grand Canyon’ Was Fashioned by Accident—and It Has 150-foot Drops and Scenic Mountaineering

Take one have a look at a photograph of Windfall Canyon State Park, and also you may assume it’s a snapshot of someplace like Bryce Canyon or Arches Nationwide Park; the coloring of the panorama is comparable, and the canyons are dramatic. However, upon nearer inspection, you’ll discover that the canyons on this Georgia park are literally gullies, and so they’re fairly a bit youthful than the eroded landscapes you’ll discover out west.

“A real testomony of man’s influence on the land, Windfall Canyon is without doubt one of the most excellent examples of (unintentional) artifical erosion, created lower than 200 years in the past by poor farming practices,” Reba Bolton, the park’s assistant supervisor, tells Journey + Leisure. Plus, she provides, whereas it could seem like it’s fabricated from rock, Windfall Canyon is shaped by 43 totally different shades of sand and soil. “Looking, you’ll be able to see the totally different layers of sand and soil together with kaolin, limonite, manganese, and the well-known crimson Georgia clay,” she says.

Referred to as Georgia’s “Little Grand Canyon,” the park’s gullies are as deep as 150 toes, and so they’re extremely fragile. Guests are reminded to maintain on the path and keep behind fences in case of a collapse. Maintain that in thoughts as you discover the two,706-acre park, and heed Bolton’s sensible phrases of recommendation: “You must put on sneakers you don’t thoughts getting muddy and sneakers with good traction, and climbing sticks are beneficial,” she warns. She additionally recommends bringing your individual snack or lunch, as there aren’t many meals choices close by.

Begin your Windfall Canyon State Park journey on the customer heart, the place you’ll be able to choose up a map and ask for instructions. “These trails may be difficult, and it is simple to finish up on the incorrect one,” she says.

What to Do

Apart from marveling on the many-hued gullies, the primary exercise throughout the park is climbing, and Bolton has two ideas. “The Canyon Loop Path is 2.5 miles and goes across the rim of the canyons, giving view of the overlooks,” she says. Based on Georgia State Parks, it’s an easy-to-moderate path, and sometimes takes round two hours to finish.

“One other good hike is climbing the underside of the canyon and following the path into canyons one to eight. This provides view of the canyon formation and soil layers up shut,” Bolton says. The trailhead for all hikes is on the customer heart. These hikers with tenting expertise can even decide to spend the night time throughout the park. There are six backcountry tenting websites, in addition to three pioneer campsites; the latter require reservations. For campsites with extra facilities, look to arrange camp at close by Florence Marina State Park, which she notes is “an awesome place for fishing, birding, and renting boats.

Greatest Time to Go to

Whereas Windfall Canyon State Park is open year-round, your expertise shall be significantly formed by the season and the temperature. “The most effective time of yr to go to is the autumn, October or November. As soon as the climate is cooling off and the leaves are altering, you’ll be able to actually see the fantastic thing about the canyons,” says Bolton.

Though chances are you’ll be tempted to go to in the summertime—when the uncommon plumleaf azalea blooms—suppose once more. “Mid-summer might be the harshest time of yr with us being in South Georgia, and temperatures can rise to the excessive ‘90s, generally even as much as 100 levels. Mountaineering throughout that point of yr may be harmful for people who find themselves not staying hydrated or have underlying circumstances,” she says. Irrespective of once you select to go, you’ll want to pack loads of water and people aforementioned climbing sneakers.

How you can Get There

Windfall Canyon State Park is positioned in Lumpkin, Georgia, about 150 miles south of Atlanta. In the event you’re flying into the world, your finest guess is to guide flights to and from Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Worldwide Airport (ATL). From there, the drive ought to take round 2 hours. Alabama’s Montgomery Regional Airport (MGM) is about the identical distance away, though you’ll hop time zones throughout the drive. Admission to the park is $5 per automobile.