07 Providence Canyon State Outdoor Recreation Area – Lumpkin
What started out as a manmade debacle ended up as a stunning natural wonder. The area is also known as “Georgia’s Little Grand Canyon.” In the 1800s, soil management had a steep learning curve for farmers and experts alike. Unmanaged furrows deepened and widened as wind and rain flowed through the path of least resistance. Furrows graduated to ravines and ravines morphed into canyons. Don’t be surprised if you are sharing the nature trails with flora groupies. This is the only place that the rare and vividly hued red-and-orange plumleaf azalea grows in its natural habitat. An unexpected sight in this gorgeous landscape are the 1950s-era cars that litter the canyons. At some point, it was determined to be environmentally unsafe to remove the automobiles.
