Georgia's very own Grand Canyon
Photo by Salvador March
Although not as big as its massively famous counterpart Georgia's little grand canyon has a lot to offer. The park is open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Sept. 15 to April 14 and from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. from April 15 to Sept. 14. The visitor's center is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday.
You have to pay a small $5 fee to park, and annual passes are available for $50. If you're 62 or older, you can get the annual ParkPass at a 50% discount, and active military and veterans with a valid ID can get 25% off.
Photo by Salvador March
It is formally known as Providence canyon and it's located in Stewart County; southwest of Atlanta, south of Columbus and seven miles west of Lumpkin. It’s situated in an outdoor recreation area that encompasses 1,103 acres and 16 canyons
Providence Canyon consists of several chasms, plateaus, cliffs, and pinnacles that formed due to poor mining practice in the 1800's. Over the years the rate of erosion increased, and as a result minerals have stained the sediments, creating a display of colors that range from white to various shades of pink, purple, red, brown, yellow, and black. Making a beautiful spectacle of colors.
It has been identified by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources as one of the state's Seven Wonders, and the site is protected by Providence Canyon State Park. It makes a great place take photos and sight-see although it's not the only activity you can do.
Photo by Salvador March
Hiking
The park has around 10 miles of trails to hike, one of the most popular, it's the canyon loop train. It circles 9 canyons and it takes approximately 2 hours to hike. It is fairly easy to hike but I will advise you bring lightweight waterproof hiking boot. The trails are very sandy and most of them are wet, which can get very slippery.
If you're feeling adventurous and want to explore a little more of the site, you can take the trail at the opposite side of the road where you'll encounter a historic church and a cemetery with gravestones that date back to the 1800's.
Photo by Salvador March
Camping
You can camp overnight at Providence Canyon by making a reservation at one of three pioneer or six back-country campsites. Pioneer camps are private camping areas suitable for groups, and they're equipped with pit toilets and usually have water spigots and amenities such as picnic shelters and grills. Back-country sites are undeveloped, and you'll have to bring everything you need, including water.Pioneer campsites are $40 to $80, and back-country campsites can be booked beginning at a basic daily price of $10. The price may vary depending on dates.
Picnic
Bring a picnic to enjoy at the canyon's two shelters. Rentals for picnic shelters start at $25 per day and accommodate a maximum of 50 people.
Special Activities
You can attend one of the site's occasional astronomy nights. The lack of light pollution makes Providence Canyon an ideal setting for stargazing. In addition, the park also hosts geology programs and is perfect for photography.
Whatever you decide to do, I'm sure you'll enjoy your time at Georgia's little Grand Canyon.