“Gullies are the region’s receipts for the ‘bargains’ the system got out of virgin soil, slavery, and farm tenancy combined.” -Arthur Raper, 1937

It turns out that Georgia’s “Little Grand Canyon” is actually the result of poor farming practices leading to rapid erosion in the 1800s. Specifically, cotton farming using slave labor although that detail was not specified at the park; I learned it later when doing a little research for my post. The signs of erosion are quite evident as you hike around the canyon, but it admittedly does lead to quite a stunning view.

Providence Canyon State Park is considered one of the 7 Natural Wonders of Georgia, and upon learning that fact I looked up the rest only to discover I have been to 4 of the 7 – Amicalola Falls, Stone Mountain, Okefenokee Swamp, and now Providence Canyon. Apparently I have Warm Springs, Radium Springs, and Tallulah Gorge to go.

We chose to do the Canyon Loop Trail so we could get more of the above canyon views – it took us 1:20:46 (with some of that time stopping to take pictures) over a distance of 2.50 miles with an elevation gain of 256 ft (I use AllTrails when hiking). Some of the birds I captured through recording on the Merlin app were Great Crested Flycatcher, Northern Cardinal, Red-eyed Vireo, Carolina Wren, American Robin, Sumer Tanager, Tufted Titmouse, Hooded Warbler, Broad-winged Hawk, Acadian Flycatcher, and the White-eyed Vireo. There is a section of the hike before you get to the views that is an abandoned homestead with 1950s cars eroding away in the soil – apparently, trying to remove them would cause more damage to the environment since they are located on top of one of the canyons. As we were reaching the end of our hike, we heard a rumble of thunder and hurried back to the car so we could head to our next destination – F.D. Roosevelt State Park.

F.D. Roosevelt State Park is Georgia’s largest park at 9049 acres. For the second time on the trip, F.D. Roosevelt would pop up, although this time I was expecting it based on the name. His influence is seen in multiple state parks since many of them had parts built by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression, although his history with the Windsor Hotel and with the Pine Mountain area surrounding F.D. Roosevelt State Park pre-dates his presidency; he originally came to the area to find relief from his polio symptoms.

When we arrived at the park, we checked in at the visitor’s center and grabbed some snacks to go with our lunch. We ate lunch at a picnic table outside with a wonderful view of the valley below and with a group of vultures flying around as a form of entertainment. Thankfully, the thunderstorm that had been forming at Providence Canyon was not impacting F.D. Roosevelt and after checking the weather we headed to our next hike on the Pine Mountain Trail to Cascade Falls.

This hike was more difficult than the last one with 489 ft elevation gain and it took us 2:48:19 to complete the 4.06 mile hike (again with some stops to rest and take pictures). This was probably my favorite hike of the whole trip due to the variety of features included – you get to step along wooden planks over the water, climb on rocks, see multiple mini falls leading up to the main fall, and there’s also a cavern next to the Cascade Falls. Unfortunately it is one of those waterfalls where you hike down to it which means the first part of the trip is nice and easy and the return trip is more difficult. It was totally worth it for the view though.

On this hike we heard a Pileated Woodpecker, Northern Cardinal, Hooded Warbler, Carolina Wren, Blue Jay, and an Acadian Flycatcher. Once we had finally gotten back to the car, we were exhausted and ready to check in at the Callaway Garden Lodge where we would be staying for the night. Having AC and access to a shower was certainly a treat after going on two hikes in the same day. After getting cleaned up, we ate dinner at the Piedmont Dining Room before returning to our room and having our own mini spa with face masks and foot masks before bed – we needed our beauty rest before going to visit the gardens the next day.