MISSISSIPPI

If there is a hiking trail in Mississippi your dog is almost always allowed to be at your side. There are six national forests in the Magnolia State with over one million recreational acres but not an overabundance of day hiking opportunities. However each time you set out you never expect to see another trail user, if that’s your preference. The Bienville National Forest shows off a large grove of old growth loblolly and shortleaf pines known as the Bienville Pines and the nearby 23-mile Shockaloe Horse Trail is one of the few outdoor treasures in Mississippi known beyond state borders. The 41-mile Longleaf Trace was one of America's first rails to trails projects and the Tanglefoot Trail meanders a state-longest 43.6 miles through the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Some of the best canine hiking comes along the Natchez Trace Parkway with stops for short leg-stretchers through meadows, cypress swamps and ancient Indian mounds. Rocky Springs allows your dog to sniff through a ghost town and jump off on the wooded Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail. Tishomingo State Park is the largest recreation area on the 444-mile long Trace with 12 miles of trails, including two through rock outcroppings unique in the state. Dogs can hike along the Gulf of Mexico sand as long as you stay clear of Biloxi; Front Beach in Ocean Springs is a doggie winner.

The Best Day Hike You Can Take With Your Dog In Mississippi

Improved/Primitive Trail
Clark Creek Natural Area • Woodville

Rugged terrain. Waterfalls. Challenging. Not what Seaman was expecting in the land of Mississippi Delta cotton fields.

These are the Tunica Hills, ridges of windblown sand-clay loess that have been sculpted into a maze of ravines and gorges. The locals call the area Tunica Falls, a catch-all for the 50 or so spring-fed waterfalls that percolate through the natural area, some as high as 30 feet.

The Improved Trail (really just some pea stones spread on the wide, packed clay footpath in spots) makes a rollercoaster trip of 1.75 miles through the lush hardwood forest. Wooden staircases have been installed as work-arounds on the steepest, potentially muddiest slopes. The hardiest climbs are down to overlooks of the falls spill- ing into secluded grottoes. The steps lead all the way into the streambed for alternate canine hiking and boulder hopping in the water.

The Improved Trail links into the Primitive Trail, a barely discerniblegash in the forest floor for a 2.6-mile loop. There will be more waterfalls to scout but overall only a fraction of Tu-nica Falls water shows will be on display without bushwhacking.

Waterfalls are just the start of Clark Creek’s favors. John James Audubon found many of the subjects for his seminal Birds of America in these woods. The trail also rambles past record trees- the Mississippi champion Hophorn-beam and the largest Mexican Plumg rowing anywhere in the world.

HIKING TIME: 3-4 hours

(from the book 300 Day Hikes To Take With Your Dog Before He Tires You Out: Trails where you won’t be able to wipe the wag off your dog’s tail)