The scenic drive worth building a day around
Use Mentone and DeSoto as the setup, then let the Little River Canyon Rim Parkway do the heavy lifting.
The canyon segment
NPS describes the Rim Parkway as an 11-mile drive with eight overlooks. The route is narrow, curvy and not recommended for RVs or trailers.
Do not time it by mileage
Eleven miles can take the better part of a half day if you actually stop, walk out to overlooks and eat lunch. That is the point.
The route that makes sense
- Little River Falls: begin with the river before seeing the canyon it carved.
- Canyon View: take the broad orientation stop early.
- Wolf Creek or Crow Point: choose one additional rim perspective rather than racing through both.
- Eberhart Point: stop only if the group wants a more committing descent and has the footwear, time and daylight.
- Canyon Mouth: finish low beside the river when seasonal hours and the day-use area fit the plan.
Build in a fallback
Fog, hard rain or a late start can erase the reason for an overlook drive. When visibility is poor, shorten the route to Little River Falls, the Canyon Center and a Mentone meal. Never chase a view by speeding between turnouts or crossing a wet road for a marginal photograph.
Who should choose something else
Travelers prone to motion sickness, anyone towing and families already exhausted from a long drive may enjoy DeSoto’s shorter moves more. The parkway rewards attention; it is not the relaxing option when the driver is tense.