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Georgia's Providence Canyon State Park

A slice of Utah canyon in the heart of Dixie.

by: Bruce Hunt

Contact Information:

Providence Canyon State Park Rt. 1, Box 158 Lumpkin, GA 31815 (912) 838-6202 Location: Providence Canyon State Park is in west-central Georgia, 20 miles northeast of Eufaula, Alabama, and 35 miles southwest of Columbus, Georgia.

Getting There: Take U.S. Hwy. 27 south from Columbus or Georgia State Hwy. 27 north from Eufaula to Lumpkin, Georgia, and turn west on 39C for seven miles to the park.

Seasonal Information: Temperatures average a steamy 96 degrees F in summer and a mild 45 degrees F in winter. Early winter and early spring would be ideal seasons for this trip.

Wildlife: Primitive campsites along the way offer a chance to spot the wildlife that inhabit Providence Canyon: deer, raccoons, armadillos, and a variety of lizards and snakes.

Insects: No information available.

Plant Life: The bottom of the canyon is a haven for wildflowers, some of them rare, such as the red and orange wild plum leaf azalea that flourishes there. These wildflowers give color to pine and scrub oak.

Facilities: Along the 7-mile Red Blaze Trail, primitive backpacking campsites are available for $3 per person per night, and a pioneer group site is available for $15-$30 per night, depending on season.

Parking: No information available.

Permits: Georgia State Parks entry fee is $2 per vehicle. Free backcountry-use permits are required for all except the three-mile trail. All are available at the ranger station.

Policies:

• Campfires are allowed at designated sites.
• No rappelling.

Hazards:

• Be prepared for heat during summer.
• Pack in your own water.

Leave No Trace: All LNT guidelines apply.

Maps: Photocopied trail maps are available at the ranger station.

A topo map that includes Providence Canyon (map 624) is available for $3.50 from: Georgia Geological Survey/Map & Publications Dept. 19 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Room 400 Atlanta, GA 30334 (404) 656-3214.

USGS 7.5-minute "Lumpkin" and "Lumpkin SW" quads cover the area.

Other Trip Options:

• Florence Marina State Park is 8 miles north.
• And it's always 1862 at the living history museum at Westville Historic Village.

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