Top Backpacking Trails in Mississippi
3 routes. Each page shows when we last checked it. Updated October 2026.
Mississippi has very little backpacking, and this site covers only three trips, all on the De Soto National Forest in the state’s southeast. The Black Creek Trail runs about 40 miles along Black Creek, which the Forest Service describes as the state’s only National Wild and Scenic River. Its last 10 miles cross the Black Creek Wilderness and make a shorter trip on their own, from the MS 29 trailhead to Fairley Bridge Landing. The Tuxachanie Trail, a short drive north of Gulfport, covers 11.9 miles from US 49 to P.O.W. Lake, with Airey Lake about halfway.
Expect low, sandy longleaf pine ridges, swampy creek bottoms, many footbridges, and wet feet rather than climbs or views. Camping is primitive and off the trail, with no permit found for hikers, and there’s no drinking water on either trail except at Airey Lake.
The guides behind these pages favor October through April; summers bring heat, mosquitoes, ticks, and chiggers. Hunting is allowed on the forest, so wear blaze orange from fall into winter. Flooding is the big variable: the Forest Service closed the Black Creek Trail and its landings in May 2026, and no reopening notice had been posted as of mid-October. Some Tuxachanie footbridges also await replacement. Call the De Soto Ranger District before any trip.
Quick picks
- Longest trip: Black Creek Trail (End to End)
- Wilderness overnight: Black Creek Wilderness: Highway 29 to Fairley Bridge
- Spring wildflowers: Tuxachanie Trail
De Soto National Forest
- Black Creek Trail (End to End) De Soto National Forest, De Soto Ranger District (Brooklyn to Wiggins area) 40 miles Moderate Primitive camping at least 150 feet off the trail; no overnight camping at the landings
- Black Creek Wilderness: Highway 29 to Fairley Bridge De Soto National Forest, Black Creek Wilderness (north of Wiggins) 10 miles Moderate Primitive camping at least 150 feet off the trail; no overnight camping at the landings
- Tuxachanie Trail De Soto National Forest, De Soto Ranger District (near Saucier) 11.9 miles Moderate Primitive camping at least 100 feet from the trail; group camping at Airey Lake by Forest Service permit
Backpacking in Mississippi: common questions
Do you need a permit to backpack in Mississippi?
No permit or fee was found for primitive camping on the De Soto National Forest trails on this site. The Forest Service says no fee is required on the Black Creek Trail, and group camping at Airey Lake on the Tuxachanie Trail is by permit from the De Soto office. Two sources say Tuxachanie camping rules change during deer season, so call the De Soto Ranger District (601-528-6160) before a fall or winter trip.
Where can you camp on Mississippi backpacking trails?
The Forest Service says primitive camping is allowed 150 feet off the Black Creek Trail, and that overnight camping is not currently allowed at the Black Creek landings. Guides to the Tuxachanie Trail say to camp at least 100 feet from the trail. Rules for sandbar camping and hunting season differ between sources, so confirm with the ranger district.
When is the best time to backpack in Mississippi?
The guides behind this site's pages point to the cool months. Backpacker recommends October through April for Black Creek, and one trip report calls summer the worst time. The Forest Service warns of mosquitoes, ticks, chiggers, and snakes on the Tuxachanie from early spring to late fall, and suggests mid to late March for wildflowers.
Is there drinking water on Mississippi backpacking trails?
The Forest Service says there is no drinking water along the Black Creek Trail or the Tuxachanie Trail. Airey Lake, about halfway along the Tuxachanie, has potable water. Creeks are frequent on both trails, so carry a filter and treat everything.
Is it safe to backpack in Mississippi during hunting season?
Hunting is allowed on the De Soto National Forest, and the Forest Service urges visitors to use caution and wear hunter orange. Mississippi Sportsman's listing of 2026-2027 seasons for the Southeast deer unit runs from fall into early February, with gun seasons from late November into January. Check the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks for dates before you go.
Where this comes from
- National Forests in Mississippi: Alerts
- National Forests in Mississippi: De Soto RD temporary recreation site closures (May 26, 2026)
- National Forests in Mississippi: Black Creek Hiking Trail
- National Forests in Mississippi: Big Creek Landing
- National Forests in Mississippi: Airey Lake
- National Forests in Mississippi: Hiking
- National Forests in Mississippi: Forest closure orders
- U.S. Forest Service: Tuxachanie Trail Bridge Replacement
- Mississippi Sportsman: Mississippi's 2026-2027 deer seasons
- WLOX: How Hurricane Isaias is impacting South Mississippi