A Complete Guide to Hiking in Providence Canyon State Park
Hiking in Providence Canyon State Park is the best way to explore Georgia’s Little Grand Canyon!
This incredible place is a hidden gem in southwest Georgia, and it offers more than 6 miles of trails into and around the canyon.
Providence Canyon was created by accident in the late 1800s thanks to mismanaged agricultural run-off and rapid deforestation.
What began as a 5 foot washout quickly grew into the 110-foot deep (and growing!) canyon that you see today.
In the 1930s, this area was heavily considered to be a national park, but the funding didn’t work out thanks to the Great Depression.
Thankfully, the state of Georgia ultimately took over ownership and management in the 1970s in order to preserve this place for the public.
Ultimately, Providence Canyon State Park is a surprising and incredible treat among the rolling green farms along the Georgia-Alabama line.
It really is one of the most interesting of the Georgia State Parks, and it is not to be missed.
Below, you’ll find our complete guide to hiking in Providence Canyon State Park to help you prepare for a wonderful day exploring with your family.
The beautiful colors of Providence Canyon rim
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What to Bring Hiking in Providence Canyon State Park
Southern Georgia has mild winters with average daytime temperatures in the lower 60s during the winter months.
This means that the perfect hiking time here is anytime between October and April.
During late spring, summer, and late fall, the temperatures rise into the 80s and beyond, with peak summer temperatures soaring into the 90s with 100% humidity.
The Camping Kiddos wearing their Kikki packs on the canyon floor at the park
Regardless of when you choose to go hiking here, you’ll want to bring plenty of water and snacks are there aren’t any facilities once you leave the visitors center.
In fact, the closest location for food is in Lumpkin, Georgia, about a 10 minute drive to the east.
I always carry my Osprey Skimmer 28 for day hikes as it allows me to carry everything I need for myself and my kids.
My kids carry their Deuter Kikki hiking packs, which are adorable and functional.
These parks are on our recommend list of the best kids hiking gear, thanks to their durability, lightweight feel, and cute design.
I’d also recommend sunscreen and/or a sun shirt, especially during the warmer months.
This colorful kids’ sunshirt has been our go-to while hiking across the United States. [You can see it in action while we were sledding in White Sands National Park!]
While the canyon does have some great tree cover for most of the available hiking trails, there are sections where you’re hiking in partial or full sun.
Hiking sticks are another good idea, especially if you’re used to hiking in flatter areas. The path down into the canyon and then back up again has a moderate grade.
Definitely plan to wear good quality hiking shoes as the trail can be rocky in places.
Those protective shoes are also helpful when navigating the variety of trail coverings—rocks, sandy soil, and hard packed dirt—in different areas of the park.
>> Check out our guide to the best toddler hiking shoes! And for the hiking moms, I have shoe recommendations on my list of best hiking clothes for women. <<
Keep in mind that the canyon is still in the process of forming and growing, so every time the area has a heavy rainfall, the canyon trails and canyon floor get muddy as more clay washes away.
That red clay sticks to everything, so I’d suggest wearing a pair of hiking shoes that are either dark or old.
Your hiking shoes will be caked with mud if you’re visiting right after a rainstorm.
During the summer, Georgia’s temperatures almost guarantee a late afternoon thunderstorm.
If you’re going to be out at this time, I recommend bringing a lightweight raincoat or rain poncho as there aren’t any shelters to duck under on the trail (other than the trees).
Are you taking your little ones on the trail? Check out our tips and tricks for hiking with toddlers.
What to Expect while Hiking in Providence Canyon State Park
Staying on the trail here is important as the canyon walls are made of crumbly clay.
With a name like “Providence Canyon,” you’re likely envisioning something huge like the Grand Canyon National Park or the Canyon at Yellowstone National Park.
While Providence Canyon is pretty impressive—especially when you see how flat the surrounding farmland is—it is also manageable enough for a family to hike in 1 day.
My two kids, who were 9 and 6 at the time of our hike, managed the entire 5.5 mile loop trail without too many issues.
Keep in mind that the main Canyon Loop Trail has a bit of a “choose your own adventure” feel to it.
There’s a large loop trail that runs from and then back to the visitors center. This trail at its most basic takes hikers from the rim, down to the canyon and then back up again.
However, once you’re on the bottom of the canyon, you can choose to add in walks to 1 or more of the 9 individual canyon floor hikes.
(See below for our recommended hiking route through the canyon floor.)
Once on these shorter canyon floor hikes, you’ll duck below trees, jump around small rivulets of water, and walk among the towering clay cliff walls.
Our son hiking near Canyon #9 in Providence Canyon State Park
Recommended Route for Hiking in Providence Canyon State Park
In order to maximize your time and your family’s enjoyment while hiking, I recommend starting the Canyon Loop Trail at the visitor center and going to the right.
Doing so allows you to go down the steeper, rockier descent path to the canyon floor.
Going this way means you have quick descent into the canyon and then a gentler, more evenly packed dirt path on the other side of the canyon to get you back to the rim.
The ascent from the canyon floor is much easier when going counterclockwise on the Loop Trail.
It also allows you to get into the canyon much more quickly than if you were to start the loop by going to the left at the visitors center.
PIN ME!
Once you’re down on the canyon floor via that steeper path, you’ll want to turn to your left and hike into the canyon’s first 4 floor areas.
[Note: if you turn to the right once on the canyon floor, you’ll head into the backcountry trail of the park. We’re not going to focus on these as they’re a bit much for family day hikers.]
Each of the 9 canyon floor areas stretch out like fingers from this main path.
You can choose to do 1 or all of them. Each of them offers something a little different in terms of how close you get to the canyon walls, how much tree cover you have, and how deeply you got into the canyon.
Once you’ve explored as many of the canyon floor trails as you’d like, it’s time to head back up to the rim.
Return to the main canyon floor corridor and head onto to ascending path.
If you’re following my suggested route, and you’re doing the loop counterclockwise around the park, the path will rise fairly gently through the pine forest.
Along the way, you’ll see a series of old, rusted out cars that once belonged to homesteaders prior to the canyon being turned into a state park.
Towards the end of the loop as you approach the visitors center, you’ll be treated to spectacular views of the canyon from the rim.
Approaching the loop from this perspective gives you that “wow” factor at the end when everyone is sure to be getting hot and tired.
If you’re new to hiking, check out our guide on hiking for beginners on a budget.
What Else to Know about Providence Canyon State Park
There are so many hidden places to explore on the canyon floor trails!
If you’re traveling with kids, you’ll need a place for them to burn off some steam. There is a playground and picnic area in the park just beyond the turn off from Canyon Road into the park.
The small white church on Canyon Road was once on the other side of the street. However, the canyon has continued to expand, and the church was moved in the 1970s to prevent it from falling into the canyon.
There is ice cream at the visitor center, which is the perfect end to a hot hike. The small store onsite only has those ice cream bars, a few candy bars, and some sodas in the way of food or snacks.
The only bathrooms in the park are at the visitors center.
The parking lot requires a paid hang tag for daily visitors. You can purchase these inexpensive tags in the box near the trailhead in front of the visitors center.
There isn’t any overnight RV camping in the park. The closest place to stay with your camper is the Florence Marina State Park campground, which we recommend.
>> Read our full Florence Marina State Park campsite review with photos here. <<
Providence Canyon State Park FAQs
Where is Providence Canyon State Park located?
Providence Canyon State Park is located near Lumpkin, Georgia in southwest Georgia.
The state park is about 9 miles from the Georgia-Alabama border.
Is Providence Canyon a hard hike?
The Providence Canyon State Park Loop Trail is a fairly easy trail. The most difficult parts are the descent into and ascent from the canyon floor.
However, both of these are are well-marked paths and require no rock scrambling.
The only significant elevation change is the 110 feet to the canyon floor.
Can I see Providence Canyon without hiking?
Yes! Providence Canyon is easily accessible by any members of your family who don’t want to hike to the canyon floor.
There are observation platforms behind the visitors center. Follow the loop trail to the left from the visitors center to find even more within a short walking distance of the parking lot.
What else is nearby to this state park?
Florence Marina State Park is less than 7 miles from Providence Canyon State Park and offers fishing, boating, and camping.
The Hills and Hollers ATV Park offers rentals about 10 miles southwest of Providence Canyon. Nearby Lumpkin, Georgia, has a Dollar Tree, a few restaurants, and the colorful Lonnie Holley mural.
Does Providence Canyon have a waterfall?
No, Providence Canyon State Park doesn’t have any waterfalls, but the main path through the canyon floor will turn into a small stream after a rain.
What is the closest town to Providence Canyon State Park?
Providence Canyon State Park is located just outside of Lumpkin, Georgia.
The actual town of Lumpkin in about 7 miles to the east of the entrance to Providence Canyon.
