Our Forests

Find A Forest

National Forests in Mississippi

There are six National Forests in the state of Mississippi. These Forests offer a variety of terrain and recreation. You will find rolling hills in the upper Coastal Plain, flat piney woods in the Gulf Coastal Plain, and bottomland hardwoods in the Heartland.

The six National Forests in Mississippi provide a wide variety of nature-based opportunities. The Bienville, Delta, DeSoto, Holly Springs, Homochitto, and Tombigbee National Forests offer great recreation and archaeological resources.

There are a number of archaeological finds on these Forests. For example, the Delta National Forest boasts the Little Spanish Fort site, a prehistoric earthwork and mound dating between 150 BC and AD 400. And the Chickasawhay Ranger District has the mysterious xeric sites with cacti, gopher tortoises and evidence of peoples coming up from the Gulf Coast at circa AD 1300.

There are a number of recreational activities offered on each of the Mississippi Forests, for details visit each of these locations:Bienville, Delta, DeSoto, Holly Springs, Homochitto, and Tombigbee. We can only provide a sampling of all of the exciting recreational opportunities that await you in Mississippi.

On the Bienville National Forest, Marathon Lake and Shongelo Lake are primary recreation areas on these Forests, with activities ranging from picnicing to fishing. The Shockaloe Trail is a nationally recognized trail and is listed in the National Register of Trails.

The Puskus Lake Recreation Area is a lovely place to enjoy the natural beauty of the Holly Springs National Forest. Those looking for an alternative to crowded, concrete recreation areas will delight in Puskus Lake's natural beauty and quiet setting.

The Turkey Fork Recreation Area, in the Chickasawhay District, is nestled in the tall pines around an inviting 240-acre lake. The clean, clear water of Turkey Fork Lake provides excellent fishing, swimming, and boating opportunities. The lake is stocked with catfish, bass, and bluegill.

Homochitto National Forest is rich in wildlife and teeming with recreational activities. There are many hiking trails and a nationally-recognized mountain bike trail. Clear Springs Recreation Area offers swimming, camping, fishing and trails for hiking and biking.

The Davis Lake Recreation Area, in the Tombigbee National Forest, is located on the banks of a 200-acre lake. Enjoy a weekend of camping, fishing and swimming at this scenic spot.

The De Soto National Forest offers a few special features, including two wilderness areas (Black Creek and Leaf) and the state's only National Scenic River, Black Creek. The river is famous for its wide, white sandbars and relaxed floating pace.

There are 170 miles of trails on the De Soto for hikers, ATV riders, mountain bike riders, and horse riders. Two National Recreation Trails (Black Creek Trail and the Tuxachanie Trail) offer over 60 miles for hikers to explore the piney woods.

Mississippi Forests


Statistics

State(s):

Mississippi

Nearest Large Urban Area:

Memphis, TN; Jackson, MS

Notes & Conditions

Research campground locations and amenities at the U.S. National Forest Campground Directory. The Web site is full of pictures and detailed descriptions to help you plan your next trip.

If you want to experience a guided recreation trip in a National Forest, visit Adventure Vacation to learn about whitewater rafting, canoeing, kayaking, horseback riding, camping, hiking and fishing trips.

Permits, Passes and Fees:

Purchase an annual pass for access to all federal recreation areas that charge entrance fees, including National Parks, National Recreation Areas, and other destinations. Learn more, or purchase The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass online today!

Maps:

Visit the U.S. Forest Service Map Directory to see what maps are available for this Forest and others you may want to visit.