Hiking in Mississippi (Hattiesburg, Natchez, Forest: camping, live in, suite)

[teafortyler1995]

My fiancee, his brother, and I are beginning hikers. We are very confident in our skills and are confident we can make it through intermediate skilled trails. Looking for any trails 15+ miles long. Any tips would be appreciated, have already look at Tuxachanie and the trails off of the Natchez Trace.

[An Einnseanair]

Where are you looking? Tuxachanie is a long way from the Natchez Trace.

I don't know what you mean by "intermediate skilled". Normally I'd use that description for a steep/rocky trail, but really not much elevation change in southern Mississippi. Maybe a few hundred feet for a long trail.

If you mean long trails look for public land. National Forests, National Wildlife Refuges, State Parks, State Wildlife Management Areas, etc. Some viable trails in the Wildlife Refuges and WMA's may not be publicized; giving them a call may net lots of info. You probably don't want to visit during hunting season, and most are closed to non-hunters during managed hunts.

Mississippi State Parks: https://www.mdwfp.com/parks-destinat...ate-parks.aspx
There are longish trails in Homochitto National Forest and DeSoto National Forest (same NF as Tuxachanie, but the Black Creek trail is 42 miles long).
National Wildlife Refuge Trails in MS: https://www.fws.gov/refuges/trails/state.cfm?state=MS
There are a few rail-trails (Longleaf Trace NW of Hattiesburg, and the Tanglefoot up north), but those are generally flat and better suited for biking (IMO).

[teafortyler1995]

I'm looking anywhere in MS. I live in Hattiesburg and am willing to travel a few hours, even nearby out of state. Two to three day hikes would be preferable, any tips on hiking would be cool too. I just discovered dispersed camping, I'm honestly that ignorant when it comes to stuff like this. But I don't want to be. De Soto is my top contender right now, it just worries me that there are so many roads that go through it. Are there any state forests nearby that are strictly forest?

[Mississippi Alabama Line]

Your best hiking in MS is going to be up around the NE corner, Tishomingo area, that's really the only hilly area. You're going to have to get out of the pine belt and away from the delta/coast for sure.

[An Einnseanair]

Ah, overnighters. That's a different story. I can't research it right now, but off the top of my head the Black Creek Trail in DeSoto might be the only one that qualifies in Mississippi. Check out Bankhead Nat For and Talladega Nat Forest in Alabama. I know they have fairly extensive systems of trails and may allow dispersed camping. I know DeSoto State Park in Alabama has backcountry camp sites.