What a beautiful place. Found it more than 30 years ago. Kayaking the river you see a lot that cannot be seen from the rim. I bring my scouts there every summer on the way to summer camp to go swimming. I have made a couple of trails down into the canyon to one of the large rapids (not much water in the summer) Just right for swimming and exploring rocks recently gave copies of my maps to a friend of my daughters. They went there and hiked down to the swimming hole. Played all day, and then took some of the more extreme hikes out. The National Park service has done a good job maintaining the scenic road along the canyon. They took it over in 1992. I have special places to swim, wine and cheese rock overlook, and more.
I have been to the canyon since it got National Reserve designation. Some of the old trails I suggest wearing jeans and light boots so you don’t get scratched up. Others that enjoy your walk into the canyon.
Don't bother with the campground at Desoto State Park. They installed sodium vapor lights that stay on all night. No star gazing here. There are several good camping locations nearby. We kayak the river when the water is up. Just beautiful. all the rock formations, and caves. There are three sections of the river. 1) Suicide section, from the waterfall down to 2)Upper II also called the lower II, and 3) lower 6 miles from Eberhart Point down to Canyon Mouth Park, which only has a couple of large rapids, easily walked, but mostly just fast running water.
That name of that rock in the road real name is needle eye rock ben that for yrs before the state took it over. Mushroom rock is some stupid crap the state come up with
