Providence Canyon is true to it's name — a beautifully sculpted compilation of rich orange, ginger and ivory cliff faces, worn down by centuries of erosion. This was a hike I was eager to do, and after seeing a few photos posted by fellow hikers, I grabbed my pack and gathered enough CDs for the three-hour drive.

"The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness." — John Muir

Providence Canyon is hidden in the southwestern region of Georgia, settled near the border of Alabama in Columbus, Georgia. The park's so close, in fact, that about halfway through your hike, you'll find yourself in another time zone, which is pretty neat.

The canyons are said to have been created by poor farming practices in the 1800s, which lead to mass erosion and hollowed out the canyons that exist today. The canyon floor still has small streams that flow through it, and hikers commonly see small pools of stagnant water or mushy patches on the trails.

The park offers several hiking trails, the easiest and most commonly hiked being the Canyon Loop Trail. This trail is about 2.5 miles (marked with white blazes), taking a little over two hours as it guides you around nine of the canyons. Wear your hiking boots, and heed the warning sighs on the fences. The canyon walls are unstable past the wooden barriers and could collapse.

There are often guided tours (tickets are $5) of the Canyon Loop Trail available if you and a group of friends are seeking a more in-depth historical tour of the park.

While enjoying your embrace with nature, you'll find there is a section along the top rim of the canyon that is littered with abandoned 1950s era cars. Fear not! The cars serve a deeper purpose than rusting. Park officials ruled that due to the increase in animal and botanical ecosystems existing in the cars' presence, the cars would be left to remain on the property undisturbed.

There is another hike available to the brave. The red blazed Backcountry trail stretches seven miles long through the most strenuous parts of the park. This trail offers primitive campsites along an old logging road, just beyond the forested areas of the Canyon Loop Trail. Allow yourself plenty of time (it takes on average about six hours if you aren't camping) to explore the region, and please pack plenty of water and food as this hike is a doozy.

Want to take this hike a step further? Try hiking it at night! The park is offering a Halloween Hike (tickets $5) on Saturday, October 28 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Hikers are encouraged to bring a flash light and prepare for spooky stories told by the accompanying ranger.

Providence Canyon is a unique park in Georgia and deserves to be on every hiker's bucket list. Be sure to dress appropriately (for this hike that means waterproof boots or shoes), pack snacks and water and as always hikers...leave no trace! I'll see you on the trails!