This stretch of Wire Road is home to the 90,000-acre Red Creek Wildlife Management Area. Beginning on Wire Road at Roy O’Neal Road, the Old Wire Road Trail — a biking and walking pathway — runs parallel to Wire Road East and follows the historic Old Wire Road: the 1846 telegraph line connecting the Gulf Coast with New York.

Flint Creek Water Park — located off Highway 29 in Wiggins, Mississippi — is considered one of the top water parks in the state. While the park does feature the Splash of Fun Water Park, what one might typically associate with the term “water park,” Flint Creek itself offers everything from camping and hiking to boating and fishing. The park is composed of 1900 total acres and features a 650-acre lake. Just 35 miles north of the Mississippi Gulf Coast and accessible via Highway 49, Flint Creek Water Park is an excellent destination for casual outdoor activities in South Mississippi.

Cabins and campsites are available year-round. The park is open for fishing, hiking and more: 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

De Soto National Forest’s Tuxachanie Trail boasts 12 miles of gorgeous South Mississippi wildlife and scenery — including pine savannahs, swamps and a variety of native flora, including carnivorous pitcher plants. Visitors entering the trail are treated to a beautiful row of live oaks planted in 1935. The first five miles of trail after on the west side follow an abandoned railroad line built in the early 1900s by Irish immigrants. The trail is fairly flat, making it easy walking for adults and children alike, and includes several sections of elevated wooden footbridges.

The wet savannas of the De Soto support a wide variety of rare and endangered plant and animal species, including gopher frogs, a variety of tortoises and perhaps most impressive — the fascinating pitcher plant. Buttercup Flats is home to one of the largest concentrations of pitcher plants in the world, making it a must-see for nature enthusiasts of all ages.

Discover the hidden beauty of the Gulf Coastal Plain’s piney woods by hiking one of Mississippi’s longest and most challenging trails. The Black Creek Hiking Trail spans 39 miles along the Black Creek River. Hikers can access the trail from the Black Creek Trailhead, Fairly Bridge Landing and Big Creek Landing. The trail climbs over rolling hills and meanders down to the flat land of the Black Creek floodplain, with over 100 bridges and boardwalks constructed to provide crossing over small streams and ponds. Approximately 10 miles of the trail is located in the Black Creek Wilderness. No drinking water is available along the trail. Only foot travel is permitted on the trail.

If you love biking through the wilderness, the Bethel trails are for you! Tucked away in the breathtaking De Soto National Forest are three fast and relatively flat single-track trails through a gorgeous pine forest with some wet spots, small climbs, a few log hoops and descents. The area also includes four mountain bike trails of various lengths and difficulty.

History buffs and nature enthusiasts alike will enjoy a day spent exploring the Ramsey Springs area of Stone County. Said to have mystical curative properties, the Springs have attracted travelers from all over since the 1800s. Today, it’s the perfect spot to kayak, hike and explore the beautiful South Mississippi landscapes.

Casual walkers and cyclists will enjoy Old Wire Road Trail, a seven-mile long pathway that follows the historic Old Wire Road — the 1846 telegraph line that connected the Gulf Coast to New York. This trail is paved and consistently flat, making it the perfect destination for children and beginners.

Operated by the United States Forest service, Big Foot Horse Trail features 23 miles of trail that are perfect for both beginner and experienced horseback riders or hikers. The trail offers four loops ranging in length from five to eleven miles.