Spring Break Adventures: Exploring 'Georgia's Little Grand Canyon'

LUMPKIN, Ga. - It’s hard to believe, but students and families across North Georgia are already preparing for another Spring Break.  And if you’re just plain out of ideas to keep everyone busy, Good Day Atlanta is criss-crossing the state in search of unique (and easy to access) destinations that just might fit the bill.

Our second stop is Lumpkin, located in Stewart County, south of Columbus.  Situated here is one of the true marvels of Georgia, Providence Canyon State Outdoor Recreation Area — otherwise known as “Georgia’s Little Grand Canyon.”  And when you lay eyes on Providence Canyon, you’ll understand why it’s called that; decades of poor farming techniques resulted in erosion, creating gullies as deep as 150 feet and a landscape that truly looks like something from the Western United States.

Visitors to Providence Canyon State Outdoor Recreation Area can explore the site’s one-thousand acres by hiking trails and camping overnight in one of the six backcountry or three pioneer campsites.  There’s also a Visitor Center, open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Mondays through Thursdays and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays through Sundays.  The Recreation Area is open daily from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. through April 14, after which point hours extend until 9 p.m. nightly.  Admission, by the way, is just a $5 parking fee.  

Click on the video above to Good Day Atlanta’s Paul Milliken’s journey to “Georgia’s Little Grand Canyon” — and don’t miss the rest of his Spring Break Adventures this week!