Black Creek Wilderness

Located in the De Soto National Forest Mississippi.

The Black Creek wilderness is a 5,052 acre area featuring typical southern Mississippi topography. Black Creek bisects the Wilderness, creating a large hardwood floodplain containing oxbow lakes and stands of sweetgum, loblolly pine, spruce pine, willow oak, baldcypress, sweetbay and red maple. The terrain is fairly gentle, with elevations ranging from 100 to 270 feet above sea level. The only development in the area is the Black Creek Trail, no other facilities are provided.

Black Creek Trail: Discover the hidden beauty of the piney woods in the Gulf Coastal Plain by hiking one of Mississippi's longest and most challenging trails. The Black Creek Trail continues for 40 miles along the Black Creek, from Fairley Bridge Landing to Big Creek Landing. The trail climbs over rolling hills and meanders down through the flat land of the Black Creek flood plain. Archaeological study has shown this area was used by ancient Americans for thousands of years. In addition to being a travel corridor, Black Creek provided an abundant food supply for the former inhabitants of this land. In recent history this river basin was almost totally denuded by lumbering during the late 1890's and early 1900's. The designation as National Forest land in the 1930's, and the practice of total resource management since then has reestablished the natural beauty of this area. Over 90 bridges have been constructed to provide crossing for small streams and ponds. Approximately 10 miles of the trail is located in the Wilderness. No drinking water is available along the trail. Only foot travel is permitted on the trail.

Directions: The Black Creek Wilderness is located on State Highway 29 about 18 miles south of New Augusta, MS, and 10 miles north of Wiggins, MS.

For further information contact:

De Soto National Forest
Black Creek Ranger District
1436 W. Border & Frontage Rd., Box 248
Wiggins, MS 39577
(601) 928-4422