Page 61 - South Mississippi Living - July, 2025

Exploring the Trails
story by Cherie Ward
photo by Chase Treadaway
of South Mississippi
There’s something magical about lacing up your hiking boots and hitting a trail to immerse yourself in the natural beauty
of South Mississippi. Or gearing up your bicycle for a little low-cost, two-wheel eco-tourism. Nature trails of all shapes and sizes hold a power that ferries us from the everyday mundane into a world with stunning vistas, so toss your binoculars and extra water in your backpack. Pick up a friend or two along the way and set out for an adventure in your own backyard with these must-see nature trails.
Just east of downtown Ocean Springs nature enthusiasts will find Davis Bayou Area Gulf Island National Seashore at 3500 Park Road. The area is a small part of the Gulf Island National Seashore and has two miles of nature trails,
picnicking areas with tables, and campgrounds. And don’t forget to see how many different kinds of wildlife you can spot around Davis Bayou.
A twisty nature trail can be discovered next to the visitor center at the Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge at 7200 Crane Lane in Gautier. It winds through gorgeous trees and tidal marsh with an abundance of indigenous plant life including native orchids.
Canopies of centuries-old oak trees are found at Twelve Oaks Nature Trail at 2695 Bienville Boulevard in Ocean Springs. These historical trees are more than 400 years old and sure to make a tremendous impression when standing beneath the widespread branches. And check out the various wildlife in and around Old Fort Bayou.
If breathtaking coastal scenery is what you’re searching for, check out Shearwater Park on Shearwater Drive with tremendous views of Ocean Springs Harbor with accompanying benches, trees, and a walking path.
If an overnight stay is in your plans, the 395 acres of
trees, wildflowers, and trails at Shepard State Park at 1034 Graveline Road in Gautier offers 38 campsites, restrooms and bathhouses, tent camping, picnicking, and an 18-hole disc golf course. There’s even a bark park for your canine companions.
If you’re ready to truly stretch your legs and enjoy an SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living | www.smliving.net
immersive forest experience, the Tuxachanie Trail offers some of the most serene hiking on the Coast. Located north of Saucier and stretching for nearly 12 miles through De Soto National Forest, this trail winds through longleaf pine savannas, pitcher plant bogs, and wetlands teeming with wildlife. Along the way, you’ll spot remnants of a World War II-era POW camp and cross several rustic wooden bridges, making this hike a blend of natural beauty and intriguing history. The trail is well-marked and ideal for both day hikes and overnight backpacking adventures.
The four-mile Possum Walk Trail is an exploration
through history that begins at the Logtown Cemetery
in Hancock County and ends at the INFINITY Science Center. Interpretive signage at the trailhead and along the path explains the history of Logtown, an African American settlement. The cemetery includes graves that date back to 1853 and unmarked graves that may be even older. The trail is perfect for birding, hiking, and mountain biking, but you’ll need to leave pups at home, dogs aren’t allowed on the trail.
If a paved path is more your speed, check out the Coffee Creek Recreational Trail within the 17-acre Clower- Thornton Nature Park in Gulfport. The trail offers a wide, paved path along Coffee Creek with wispy wildflowers attracting bees and butterflies that buzz along to the moseying and gurgling creek. More than 200 bird species have been recorded at the park, which has earned Clower- Thornton a place on the Mississippi Coastal Birding Trail and a reputation as a birding hotspot.
And if a kid-friendly path is on your summer agenda,
the Enchanted Nature Trail at Henderson Point on Fort Henry Street in Pass Christian is full of wonderment. Take a charming interactive stroll through the woods complete with bug hotels, a butterfly garden, a beautiful vine tunnel to explore, and a station to create nature collages and tree ring art. The trailhead is marked with a sign, which includes a route map to ensure no one gets lost and everyone, quite literally, gets to Narnia and back.
July 2025 | 61