The Little Para River is a seasonal creek flowing across the Adelaide Plains in South Australia, originating near Lower Hermitage in the Mount Lofty Ranges at an elevation of 284 metres (932 ft) and descending 279 metres over its 29-kilometre (18 mi) course before emptying into the Barker Inlet via Swan Creek and ultimately into Gulf St Vincent at Globe Derby Park. The river's name derives from the Kaurna language word Pari, meaning "a stream of flowing water." Its catchment feeds the Little Para Reservoir, which supplies water to Adelaide's northern suburbs. The river is a mixed-character waterway, with the upper reaches retaining reasonable biodiversity and the lower portions more heavily influenced by urban stormwater runoff and human activity. Average discharge runs around 36 m³/s, with flows ranging from completely dry (0 m³/s) to a recorded maximum of 204 m³/s (7,200 cu ft/s), reflecting its seasonal and storm-driven nature.