Providence Canyon State Park Campground

We stayed at the Pioneer 1 campsite. The entrance is about a half mile down a winding curvy road from the main entrance and comes out of nowhere. This is a message to anyone considering renting from Pioneer Site 1 or 2: the road is not paved and meant for a vehicle with 4 wheel drive. If you have a small car, it is likely to get some damage from the drive in. The road in has became very eroded away, so use caution. The site is awesome. 1 and 2 are probably at least a .25 mile away from each other, so you don’t need to worry about your neighbors. Has a great fire pit, canopy and 2 picnic tables. Also comes with a pit privy, so bring some toilet paper and flashlights are a must. The privy does have solar lights outside and inside, but won’t last all night.

As far as the canyon, it’s absolutely amazing. Pictures do no justice. Walking sticks are helpful. There is quite a ways of small streams that you have to walk thru to get to 1-5. Wasn’t too deep as long as you watch where you walk. Remember where you hike to you have to go back. The walk back up is a little tough, but just make sure you have water.

Overall great place to camp and hike. Only thing to note is that road into the pioneer campsite area. Luckily we had a big truck but our neighbors had a small car and couldn’t imagine what that road did to their car.

Overall, there was some good views and inside the canyons was pretty cool. We hiked in on Friday and stayed at campsite 4. You hike down from the visitor center and turn right at the creek bed and hike along that. It will be muddy and about an inch of water in some places, so were some waterproof shoes. We saw one snake in the creek bed(not sure what kind, but wasn’t a copperhead) but that was it. The trail was well marked and easy to follow. After you follow along the creek bed there’s a small wooden bridge on the left followed by a steep incline. At the top is campsite 6 which has a wooden shelter and is probably the least private. Campsite 5 is down a short path off the trail(maybe 25 yards). Campsite 4 is on the left side of the trail and pushed about 10-15 feet off the trail. Campsite 3 is on the right and also about 15 feet off the trail. Campsite 1& 2 are down the trail on the right, but we took the left path to the white blaze trail so we didn’t see them. Campsite 5 is the most secluded. The campsites are spread far enough out that there’s plenty of firewood laying around. Looked like all the campsites had a grill over the fire pit. We brought our sawyer, but there weren’t any water sources nearby. Saturday the high was 74 and a beautiful day. 

We started seeing hikers passing our campsite around 8am. We hiked on the backcountry trail to the white blaze trail and took a right where there’s some old abandoned cars. From here to the visitor center there are a few really good lookout points to the canyons. We stopped by the bathrooms by the playground which were super clean and there’s also water fountains to fill up at. We went down into the canyons which are also muddy and had about an inch of water. The canyons we’re pretty packed with tourists so we only did a couple(I think 1& 3). We got back to the campsite around 1 and probably saw a group of hikers every 10- 15 minutes until the about 5pm. I saw some wild boar from a long distance, but other than that we didn’t see anything else. 

Overall, it was a good hike and camp with some cool views, but once is enough and we probably won’t do it again.

Camping review: Backcountry. It is$10/person/night with$10 overnight parking fee. Campsite 1 and 2 are closest to scenic views, and have shortcuts. If those are not available, campsite 6 is the closest when you go through the red-blaze trail.

The hikes to the campsites are up and down hill drastically(some places felt like a 80 degree incline) and are usually a two mile hike, so plan accordingly. There was plenty of dry dead wood available even after rain because if the canapes, we discovered carrying wood up hill was not worth it. Calculate how much water you need pr day, for drinking, cooking and cleaning your utensils. They recommend, when hiking or physically asserting yourself,.5 liters/person/hour and I agree. 

You WILL stand in about 2 inches of water in some areas when hiking so water proof shoes are almost a necessity. There is a shallow Creek with an orange clay bed running through the area. Only animals to watch out for are hogs(especially mother's with babies) and small coyotes, but we saw none of them. This is in the middle of no where and the nearest grocery store is about a 30 min drive, so plan accordingly. 

It is beautiful and the people running it are super super sweet and helpful. I loved my stay, just wish I had calculated my water a bit more accurately and that I had believed people when they said there would be enough wood before carrying that extra weight. Credit cards accepted for camping reservations and parking fees but not accepted if just hiking for the day. $5 day parking cash only.

This place is excellent for hiking. There are several trails to take. Some of the trails definitely get your heart pumping. The views here are excellent so many different colors. Being from Florida you don't really get to see views like this. This park has Backcountry camping only does not have any hookups. We camped at nearby Florence Marina State Park which was only 9 miles away. We spent two days here hiking you definitely can spend extra time here. There are nine different canyons to explore. There is a steady stream of water flowing on the bottom of the canyon. At the time we went it was a small trickle but you will get wet and muddy. There is also a 7 Mile trail you can take but we did not take that trail. There is a trail that goes around the rim of the canyon that is easier for someone who is not as mobile. The views from the rim of the canyon were outstanding. One part of the trail has some old abandoned cars from the homestead that used to be there which made for an interesting part of the trail. This park also has a visitor center picnic area and playground. If you live in the Southeast this is a must go place. It would be a great place to take your kids.

Providence Canyon State Park, Lumpkin, GA

https://gastateparks.org/ProvidenceCanyon 

Providence Canyon State Park is tucked away in the southwest corner of Georgia...but offers a surprising beauty as a result of erosion. As you enter the State Park, it is fairly linear running alongside the roadway. Day use appears to be the high volume. 

Two children’s playgrounds, two picnic pavilions and two restrooms are positioned along the upper rim as you head to the visitor center. The visitor center offers location specific clothing, souvenirs and some snack items...along with additional restrooms. 

Opposite the first playground, on the right side of the roadway when you enter the park is a Methodist church from 1832 and a small pioneer cemetery that offers a realistic view of the hardships faced by these adventurous folks. 

The actual“Georgia Grand Canyon” is barely visible as you make your way to the visitors center. But once you’ve paid the daily use fee($5) and signed in...you can choose the trails you desire to explore. An upper rim trail, fenced by split rail, travels the canyon rim... is easiest and offers a splendid Birdseye view and wonderful photo opportunities.. 

Hiking down into the shallow canyon affords a worthwhile close-up view and nicer photographs (in my opinion) especially with the backdrop of azure skies. Because the canyon and formations are merely sand and clay, they are fragile. As I briefly climb upon my soapbox, the plethora of posted warning signs are not heeded, so violators climb and scramble for their coveted selfies...defacing the natural beauty and causing more damage. While warning signs make threat of prosecution, without consistent or constant enforcement it will continue. 

Once on the canyon floor, you have a few options...but for the best views hang a left and follow the small wooden Canyon 1-5 signs. All the reviews state canyons 4 and 5 are the nicest...and they are...but if you explore the canyons in numerical sequence, each gets better as you go. With fully leafed trees and foliage, viewing is tough in canyons 1-3. Signage is absent as to where the trails end, as past hikers tread further and higher in each canyon. Canyons 4 and 5 offer more prohibitive signage. 

The canyon floor is a mixture of wet and dry sand. In areas a steady stream of water flows. It was dry weather on my visit so I can only assume the water would be deeper during or immediately following rains. During my late October visit, water wasn’t deep enough to enter your hiking shoes. Heed the heat and drinking water warnings during hot days, Little to no breeze in the canyon. 

I did not travel the longer backcountry trail on this visit, so defer to other reviewers comments on its enjoyment.

 Camping: You have two choices...a handful of Backcountry Primitive Camping that require a backpack into the canyon and 3 Pioneer Group Campsites. It’s easy to miss Pioneer Campsites 1& 2, as they are located beyond the gated park and down a two track gravel drive. Unfortunately, from the campsite, the roadway can be seen through the trees and traffic noise is loud when traveling by. During normal sleep hours (midweek) night traffic was sparse, but still disruptive. Because of road construction during my visit, it wasn’t excessive during daylight hours. 

Pioneer 1-3 are essentially group sites designed to accommodate larger camping parties. But for one tent and two people $43.00 was an exorbitant price, especially with merely a pit toilet, two picnic tables and a fire ring...NO electric, NO water. But I’ve found Georgia parks a tad steep in cost in comparison to other State’s parks. 

Interestingly, time zones shift from Eastern at the visitors center to Central Time at Pioneer Campsites 1& 2...so be cognizant of the switch. Pioneer 1 group site boasts a newer pit latrine with a solar spot light for nighttime...and was amply stocked. Previous campers removed the two large picnic tables from beneath the shed style shelter to the campfire ring area. The picnic tables are large and heavy, so without a group present, you won’t be moving them back to their rightful location. 

For a tent camping location...there is negligible flat ground to pitch a tent, but if you are a hammock camper there are plenty of trees. The grounds at Pioneer 1 where strewn with plastic and pop tops, cigarette butts, partially melted plastic ware and snack food wrappers littered the wooded area. Not cool. A lidded plastic garbage can is tethered to the shelter so there is no excuse.

 Pioneer site 2 had a grassy field, flatter area for tents and further down into the canyon past Pioneer site 1. 

Pioneer site 3 is appears to be the coveted group site with ample flat, grassy field for tents, area for parking and a huge shelter. The long winding gravel two-track is also located immediately to the left upon entering the main entrance so you have the“security” of the park’s front gate being locked at 6:00 p.m.(A pavement sensor permits egress if you need to exit, but you won’t be driving back in til morning when they reopen.) 

Overall, if you shared the site as a group, defraying the cost...midweek camping would not be bad. After visiting the canyon for a couple hours, there is not much else to visit in the immediate area, so bring a book. 

Wildlife: you’ll likely hear some owls calling out throughout the night and woodpeckers in early morning. Small yellow finch’s were abundant. Mention of wild hogs in the park as well. 

Final thoughts: A one time camping visit is sufficient for my tastes. Even at half the price, I’m not sure I’d camp here solo. However, I will likely visit the canyon in the future to see possible changes due to further erosion.

We visited Providence Canyon and was amazed by the size of this park. We were skeptical as the area is sometimes referred to as Georgia's little grand canyon. I still have a problem with that comparison but what a great place to visit. We did not camp here as the park only has a few hike in campsites and we had our A-Frame camper with us. We were able to park the camper at another Georgia state park (Florence Marina) very near by which made this a good area for a day trip. We hiked the canyon trails which was very interesting but be prepared, the canyon floor can be wet and the dirt is red, you will get dirty. There's also trails that allow you to hike the canyon's perimeter which offers views from a higher vantage point, this allows you to really see the size of these canyons. There are numerous picnic tables scattered throughout the upper area of the park with a restroom. This area can get really crowded in the summer which makes parking a challenge so plan accordingly.  

A great way to spend a day outdoors!

Providence Canyon State Outdoor Recreation Area is called Georgia’s “little Grand Canyon”. 

There is no regular campground but there are 6 backcountry campsites and three pioneer group sites. We visited the pioneer site #3 with enclosed pavilion , grill, picnic tables and restroom facilities. Excellent for large group outings. Reservations online can be for specific pioneer sites. If you reserve a backcountry site it is not specific. 

The Canyon offers a lot to explore. Realize you will have sand in everything by the time your done ;). 

The Canyon was created by bad farming practices in the 1800 but it now offers some picturesque views. While your hiking the rim you will see some of the “refuse” left on old homesteads, (ie rusted vehicles).

Some of the canyons open up into barren “valleys” others have a LOT of vegetation. 

There’s not much nearby so make sure you pack what you need the first time. Bug spray is a must and mosquito screen or netting. 

I completed the Canyon Climbers Club this year and this was one of the four canyons to hike. https://gastateparks.org/CanyonClimbersClub