GEORGIA’S OWN LITTLE GRAND CANYONText by PamelaAnn CampbellPhotography by Bridget Azeez 
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Lumpkin, Georgia: Canyons always sound fascinating to me, but 16 canyons in a 1,109-acre park in Georgia promised to be downright incredible. I had to see this for myself!
For the outdoor traveler, Providence Canyon State Conservation Park is a haven. Take your pick - hikers, backpackers, pioneer campers and picnickers, you’re all welcome. Next time I’m in the area I’d love to explore the canyons as a pioneer “camper” because it sounds like a wonderful way of getting really close to nature to really understand the intricacies of how the canyons were formed more than 200 years ago. Back in the early 1800s undulating hills and trees dotted the countryside, eventually giving way to farmland once settlers began arriving steadily. In time ground erosion took place after repeated plowing weakened the soil and formed gullies. By |
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1850 water seepage had deepened trench lines around three to five feet.
Imagine taking a giant knife, cutting through the soil and being captivated by layer upon layer of colorful soil in different textures called “formations” (three of them.) From the rim rail, the vivid contrast of the canyon walls, accentuated by plants and flowers, present photographers and painters with some of the prettiest scenery in Georgia. Garden enthusiasts rave over the myriad of Plumleaf Azaleas that grow wild in the canyon and it is also a showplace for the Big Leaf Magnolia, the Passion Flower and the Trumpet Creeper Vine.
Eventually the “damage” penetrated the Perote Member of the Providence Formation at the base of the canyon. This clay-like mixture can be found in shallow depths of two to three feet, although it can be as much as 30 feet in others. The mica found in the gray sand often reflects gold or silver tones. Remarkably, the Ripley Formation at the canyon floor never sinks deeper, but becomes a receptacle for loosened soil washed onto the creek bed by rain which then travels via Grass Creek to the Chattahoochee River and finally into the Gulf of Mexico. The hour-long guided hike is ideal for catching glimpses of some to the park’s resident animals. Go either at the beginning of the day or in the late afternoon hours to see the red foxes. Turkeys, Eastern cottontail rabbits and white-tailed deer are also present, and you’ll never be far away from the sound of the woodpeckers “drilling” for bugs in the trees. The park is also home to the nocturnal armadillos. If you happen to visit during the spring you’re in for a super treat since that’s when the babies are born in predominantly litters of identical quadruplets. Initially the skin is the texture of leather, but by maturity they sport “armor plates” everywhere but their ears and legs. The Interpretive Center has lots of information about Providence Canyon and a 13-minute video also shows visitors how the canyons developed over the years. A fun way to end your visit is to “design” your very own sand bottle as a souvenir – child’s play in a sandbox! Here are some of the ongoing seasonal events that offer added incentive to visit the park, all you have to do is mark these dates on your calendar. The programs are available free of charge, but there is a $2 parking fee.
Astronomy Night
Christmas Workshop (PHOTO TREASURES on our cover page has more photos)
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Now in the year 2002 visitors to the park discover the downward trend has continued and the canyons may be as deep as 150 feet at different points. The result of misguided farming methods now affords us the joy of standing at several observation levels to marvel at the variegated colors of the canyon walls.
The Clayton Formation appears as the top layer, striking reddish-orange clay rich in iron ore deposits. Year after year the farmers worked the land and soon the Clayton Formation was exposed, revealing shades of white, pink, lavender and yellow. The white, gritty sand is a result of the presence of kaolin, while manganese promotes the pink and lavender range and the yellow comes from limonite.