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- Oct 26, 2000
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I just discovered today(yesterday, now) that Little River Canyon National Preserve has a backcountry section above the falls that is separate from the canyon and scenic drive. I felt like crap, and had been rejecting ideas for what to do as quick as I came up with them, but when I happened on that backcountry map, I had to go check it out.
There is also a trail called the DeSoto Scout Trail, ~16 miles long, that I just learned of, and will post info about in a reply. It runs from DeSoto State Park, and through this section of backcountry.
First I visited the falls.
The last time I was up there was around this time last year, but in the spring, Little River Falls often looks like this:
This time of year they dry up, though.
edit: don't know what's up with this pic, is it loading huge for everybody else all of a sudden?
After that, I checked out the backcountry area north of the falls.
You can hike, but it's really just a system of numbered dirt roads with multiple river accesses, small stream crossings, and a couple of major fords(not necessary to connect the roads-I'm trying to find an online map to add *added link in reply below). The dirt roads are in good shape, but some places require more clearance than a car would have, plus the fords, and a stream crossing or two probably require 4WD. I preemptively popped it in 4Hi a few times, but can't say that it was absolutely necessary, except for starting across Billy's Ford, and one of the little turnoffs for river access.
From the horse poop on the road, and the three people on horses I met on my way out, some horseback riding obviously goes on there. It would make a good romp on a mountain bike, too. It's commonly used for hunting, as there are many places for vehicles to pull off, and the season for using either of the established backcountry campsites adjacent to the fords(pretty nice, 10'x20' "platform" for pitching tents in, outhouse, fire ring, and garbage can at each campsite) only runs through the end of September(?). I came thinking I would car camp, and hike up and down the river some, but had forgotten my trekking poles. Even with my reef shoes on, the riverbed was so slippery that it would have been impossible to hike the river like I'd planned without the poles. It gets really deep, anyway, so I doubt I'd have made it very far. When I pulled up to the campsite near Hartline Ford, just thinking of setting up camp and sitting around made it feel like a cloud of impending boredom was settling over me, so I left. I brought some pics back with me, though...
Billy's Ford
Since I didn't have my kayak, I had to run the rapids in my truck, too...
High Rock
Hartline Ford
[youtube]zUZ1AzAUcVQ[/youtube]
A few of the many random river accesses-some were not very pleasant places to access the river!
I have to say that I do seem to cover a lot more ground hiking in my truck than out of it. Maybe I've had it backwards all this time
There is also a trail called the DeSoto Scout Trail, ~16 miles long, that I just learned of, and will post info about in a reply. It runs from DeSoto State Park, and through this section of backcountry.
First I visited the falls.
The last time I was up there was around this time last year, but in the spring, Little River Falls often looks like this:
This time of year they dry up, though.
edit: don't know what's up with this pic, is it loading huge for everybody else all of a sudden?
After that, I checked out the backcountry area north of the falls.
You can hike, but it's really just a system of numbered dirt roads with multiple river accesses, small stream crossings, and a couple of major fords(not necessary to connect the roads-I'm trying to find an online map to add *added link in reply below). The dirt roads are in good shape, but some places require more clearance than a car would have, plus the fords, and a stream crossing or two probably require 4WD. I preemptively popped it in 4Hi a few times, but can't say that it was absolutely necessary, except for starting across Billy's Ford, and one of the little turnoffs for river access.
From the horse poop on the road, and the three people on horses I met on my way out, some horseback riding obviously goes on there. It would make a good romp on a mountain bike, too. It's commonly used for hunting, as there are many places for vehicles to pull off, and the season for using either of the established backcountry campsites adjacent to the fords(pretty nice, 10'x20' "platform" for pitching tents in, outhouse, fire ring, and garbage can at each campsite) only runs through the end of September(?). I came thinking I would car camp, and hike up and down the river some, but had forgotten my trekking poles. Even with my reef shoes on, the riverbed was so slippery that it would have been impossible to hike the river like I'd planned without the poles. It gets really deep, anyway, so I doubt I'd have made it very far. When I pulled up to the campsite near Hartline Ford, just thinking of setting up camp and sitting around made it feel like a cloud of impending boredom was settling over me, so I left. I brought some pics back with me, though...
Billy's Ford
Since I didn't have my kayak, I had to run the rapids in my truck, too...
High Rock
Hartline Ford
[youtube]zUZ1AzAUcVQ[/youtube]
A few of the many random river accesses-some were not very pleasant places to access the river!
I have to say that I do seem to cover a lot more ground hiking in my truck than out of it. Maybe I've had it backwards all this time
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