Little River Canyon National Preserve is a National Preserve in Alabama. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 9 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Little River Canyon
We matched 9 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Little River Canyon. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Scenic Viewpoints (5)
Scenic ViewpointScenic ViewpointScenic ViewpointScenic ViewpointScenic ViewpointWaterfalls (3)
Natural Arches (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Little River Canyon the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 61° (ENE) at the June solstice and 118° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 300° (WNW) in June to 242° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 79° in summer but only 32° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6:49 AM | 7:27 AM | 4:18 PM | 4:56 PM | 245° | 10h 06m |
| February | 6:29 AM | 7:03 AM | 4:52 PM | 5:26 PM | 255° | 10h 58m |
| March | 6:54 AM | 7:27 AM | 6:17 PM | 6:51 PM | 268° | 11h 57m |
| April | 6:12 AM | 6:45 AM | 6:41 PM | 7:14 PM | 283° | 13h 03m |
| May | 5:41 AM | 6:17 AM | 7:03 PM | 7:38 PM | 294° | 13h 57m |
| June | 5:31 AM | 6:08 AM | 7:20 PM | 7:57 PM | 299° | 14h 27m |
| July | 5:42 AM | 6:18 AM | 7:20 PM | 7:56 PM | 297° | 14h 14m |
| August | 6:04 AM | 6:39 AM | 6:57 PM | 7:32 PM | 288° | 13h 27m |
| September | 6:26 AM | 7:00 AM | 6:18 PM | 6:51 PM | 274° | 12h 25m |
| October | 6:48 AM | 7:22 AM | 5:35 PM | 6:09 PM | 260° | 11h 21m |
| November | 6:17 AM | 6:53 AM | 4:03 PM | 4:39 PM | 248° | 10h 23m |
| December | 6:42 AM | 7:21 AM | 3:56 PM | 4:35 PM | 242° | 9h 52m |
Computed for the park's reference point (34.4146, -85.6173); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Little River Canyon, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.0 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 27° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 4 (rural / suburban transition), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | 4:20 AM – 5:00 AM | 0.7 | 16° |
| March | 3:34 AM – 5:24 AM | 1.8 | 23° |
| April | 1:32 AM – 4:32 AM | 3.0 | 26° |
| May | 11:36 PM – 3:56 AM | 4.3 | 27° |
| June | 9:42 PM – 3:42 AM | 6.0 | 27° |
| July | 9:38 PM – 2:18 AM | 4.7 | 27° |
| August | 9:03 PM – 12:13 AM | 3.2 | 27° |
| September | 8:15 PM – 10:15 PM | 2.0 | 23° |
| October | 7:32 PM – 8:12 PM | 0.7 | 16° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
4 Estimated Bortle 4 — Rural / suburban transition. Light domes are visible in several directions; the Milky Way is clear but lacks detail near the horizon.
Weather & best time to visit
The weather in Fort Payne, Alabama is mild. The average temperature in the winter is in the 50's. The average summer temperature is in the high 80's with high humidity. We receive about 55 inches of rain each year. Snowfall varies, but only lasts a few days per event.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show October as the clearest month (about 45% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (64%). July is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
| Entrance fee | Cost (USD) |
|---|---|
| Entrance - Private Vehicle | $15.00 |
| Entrance - Motorcycle | $15.00 |
Fees as published by the NPS when this page was built — confirm on nps.gov before you go.
Getting there
Little River Canyon National Preserve follows along the Little River and covers approximately 40 miles from the northeast corner to the southwest corner. The easiest way to access the park is by Alabama Highway 35 about 10 miles east out of Fort Payne, Alabama. Interstate 59 is the closest interstate.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Auto and ATV
- Scenic Driving
- Biking
- Mountain Biking
- Road Biking
- Climbing
- Rock Climbing
- Fishing
- Freshwater Fishing
- Fly Fishing
- Food
- Picnicking
- Hiking
- Backcountry Hiking
- Front-Country Hiking
- Horse Trekking
- Horseback Riding
- Hunting and Gathering
- Hunting
- Paddling
- Canoeing
- Kayaking
- Junior Ranger Program
- Swimming
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