Mississippi Trails?

[waskelton4]

Hello crew!

First time poster..

Some friends of mine and myself are wanting to do some backpacking relatively close to home (Jackson, MS) in preparation for a possible trip up to the AT. I know Sipsey Wilderness comes highly recommended but it is about a 3.5 hour drive from here.

Does anyone know of any other good locations to do some backpacking and camping that are quite that far of a drive?

We would like for it not to be totally flat but realize that there aren't many hills near here.

Thanks!

Will

[Skyline]

In 2000, I hiked on two National Recreation Trails in the Desoto National Forest in MS.

One was the Tuxachanie Trail (about 20 miles), the other the Black Creek Trail (about 40 miles). They were relatively easy (flat or gently rolling "hills,") had lots of pines, and places to camp galore. The water on the Black Creek Trail was tea colored but OK to filter. Some of the Black Creek Trail passes through official Wilderness. As I recall, the Tuxachanie Trail only had one place to get water, however.

Both these trails are an easy drive (an hour or maybe a little more) from the Gulfport area, and not too much further from Jackson, via US49. Hopefully Katrina left them alone.

My advice would be to NOT do these trails in the hot, humid summer months, and to be aware of any hunting season restrictions.

For more info: http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/mississippi/...ls/index.shtml or contact:

DeSoto National Forest
654 West Frontage Road
Box 248
Wiggins, MS 39577
601-928-5291

[Seeker]

guy named shane steinkamp runs/ran a page called theplacewithnoname.com. he did a lot of hiking in southern MS as he lived outside New Orleans... heard he lost everything. the site had his trail journals and gave some good info on the black creek trail area.

[Cedar Tree]

I am from Mississippi (West Point), and other than the Black Creek Trail I don't think there is much. Sipsey is great and I highly recommend it. If I am not mistaken, the highest point in MS is only 900 ft above sea level. Although not great for hiking, just think where the NFL would be without Jerry Rice, Brett Favre, Walter Payton, Steve McNair......

Cedar Tree

[The Solemates]

As aforementioned, there is the Black Creek Trail, which I have heard is nice.

And if you dont mind driving a little further (4-5hrs), the Ozarks of AR, MO, and OK have hundreds of miles of trails. I have done the western portion of the Ozark Highlands Trail (OHT, AR), a portion of the Ozark Trail (MO), and the Eagle Rock Loop (AR). The Eagle Rock Loop is an excellent 28-mile weekend trip with great scenery and river play.

In LA, I have heard the Wild Azalea Trail is nice. I thinks its around 30 miles and is only 3 hrs from you.

Then, there is the AL Pinhoti Trail as well, which is only 4hrs away.

Hope this helps.

[The Solemates]

can someone post info on sipsey? links, etc. im interested in this...ive never heard of it before. thanks.

[TJ aka Teej]

Welcome, Will!

Longdistance hiker Shane and his family are OK, but they did lose their home and jobs. His "Placewithnoname" is a wicked interesting website.

I know you're asking about Mississippi, but check this out: http://www.hikelouisiana.org/
And Nina Baxley, the AT's very own Waterfall (http://asortofnotebook.blogspot.com/), has recently written "50 Hikes in Louisiana."
I wonder what shape the hiking trails are in...

[TJ aka Teej]

can someone post info on sipsey?

Here ya go:
http://members.aol.com/sipseywilderness/

[The Solemates]

Thanks for the info. Might have to check it out. So many trips....so little time.

[Seeker]

Welcome, Will!

Longdistance hiker Shane and his family are OK, but they did lose their home and jobs. His "Placewithnoname" is a wicked interesting website.

I know you're asking about Mississippi, but check this out: http://www.hikelouisiana.org/
And Nina Baxley, the AT's very own Waterfall (http://asortofnotebook.blogspot.com/), has recently written "50 Hikes in Louisiana."
I wonder what shape the hiking trails are in...

glad to hear it... i love his site... interesting philosophy section too... especially the part about fire.

most of the trails mentioned in the book, if i recall correctly, are outside the hurricane damaged areas... it sort of went over the 'toe' of our boot-shaped state... the rest of us are pretty much unharmed.

[waskelton4]

Thanks for the replies all!

My buddy is actually from Hattiesburg and turns out has done some hiking on the Black Creek trail. I think it is probably an hour or so closer that sipsey so it might get the nod for our first outing.

Thanks again for the replies..

Will

[Skyline]

Thanks for the replies all!

My buddy is actually from Hattiesburg and turns out has done some hiking on the Black Creek trail. I think it is probably an hour or so closer that sipsey so it might get the nod for our first outing.

Thanks again for the replies..

Will

So long as you don't require real mountains, and hike outside of the hottest, most humid buggy season--you will get your backcountry/wilderness fix and then some on the BCT.