Fall Break Adventures Part 1: Camping at DeSoto State Park
Rather than sitting at home watching TV and playing video games on Fall Break, I wanted the kids to have a week full of great experiences, so we started things off with a 2-day camping trip to DeSoto State Park and Little River Canyon National Preserve, both of which are about 50 miles from our house. I had never been to these parks before, so I was not sure what to expect. I was honestly shocked that all these waterfalls and a giant canyon were only an hour away. Check out all the pictures from our camping trip.
Loaded up and headed out for our 2nd camping trip this year! Sam is back there too, but he is hidden behind me in this selfie.
The kids immediately found a giant log to play on behind our campsite.
Excited to set-up the tent and collect firewood.
This tent goes up no problem.
We took the smaller tent this time since I was the only adult, and we were packed in like sardines.
Our 1st wildlife find… in the bathhouse.
We collected enough firewood so we didn’t have to buy any from the camp store.
Headed to the start of our 1st hike.
Hike #1 began on a long wooden boardwalk.
Hiking to look for waterfalls.
The kids loved all the boulders they could climb at Desoto State Park.
Cool mushrooms growing from a log.
Field of white moss was very cool.
Me at waterfall #1.
The boys.
The kids at waterfall #1.
Our 1st hike included 4 waterfalls, but they were all small like this.
Waterfall #2
The kids at waterfall #2.
Will at a waterfall.
The kids climbed another boulder.
I carried the water for everyone on this slow 3-hour hike.
Waterfall #3.
Creature #2.
Julie Beth climbing.
Waterfall #4 on our 3-hour hike.
We had to drive to get to waterfall #5, but it was worth it! We got there right at sunset. This is the dam that leads into the big waterfall.
Panoramic of the river view leading up to Desoto Falls.
The scenic river view leading up to the dam at Desoto Falls.
The kids standing on the dam.
The dam leads into these cascades, which then drop down to the bigger waterfall, Desoto Falls.
Desoto Falls is about 100 feet tall and drops into this huge, beautiful water hole.
We all got pretty scraped up on the 1st day while hiking and searching for firewood. Julie Beth’s leg was no exception.
We had a huge campfire with all the wood we collected.
The kids LOVE to roast marshmallows. They don’t like to actually eat the roasted marshmallows, but just to burn them for fun.
What would sleeping in a tent be without iPads? Hey I was camping by myself with 3 young kids, so I think it is alright to let them have at least 1 luxury.
The water on top of our tent when we woke up in the morning was nothing compared to all the water INSIDE our tent. It stormed for several hours, like really, really stormed. Lightning, thunder, heavy rainfall, leaky tent, soaked sleeping bags and pillows… fun night.
We had so much firewood leftover from the night before that we had a morning fire, which kept the kids entertained while I packed up the wet tent and sleeping bags. The wood was wet from the storms, but dry cardboard, a starter log and some lighter fluid helped it burn.
After we got our wet camping supplied loaded up, we headed off for day 2 of our camping adventures. We left Desoto State Park and drove to nearby Little River Canyon National Preserve. We started things off with this view of Little River Falls.
Another view of Little River Falls.
The kids at Little River Falls.
Selfie at Little River Falls.
Mushroom Rock
More boulders to climb by Mushroom Rock!
This tree was pretty cool. It grew in this bent position, following the shape of the boulder beneath it.
The bent tree had branches growing vertically that looked like small trees themselves.
Little River Canyon
The kids on top of another big rock at Little River Canyon.
Little River Canyon
The last place we visited before we drove home was Little River, at the bottom of Little River Canyon. The hike was straight down a steep, gravel path. This meant the hike back was straight up the same gravel path. I had to carry my 3-year old Sam, and it was quite painful! It was only .35 miles back up to the car, but it inclined almost 400 feet in elevation in such a short distance.
The kids by Little River.
Another lizard was found on a rock in the Little River.
Me and the kids by Little River.
Me and the kids by Little River.
Me and Sam by Little River before I carried him back up the giant hill of death.