National Forests in Mississippi Homepage

National Forests in Mississippi

From the pine forests of the Gulf Coastal Plain to the upland hardwoods in the northern part of the state, the National Forests in Mississippi covers 1.2 million acres of diverse natural resources and valued public lands spread across the state.

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National Forests in Mississippi

It includes six National Forests: the Bienville, the Delta, the Holly Springs, the Homochitto, the Tombigbee, and the De Soto, which has the Chickasawhay Ranger District and the De Soto Ranger District. These forests have active timber management, use of prescribed fire, abundant wildlife, rich cultural history, and many recreational opportunities to experience the great outdoors. To learn more, see our National Forests in Mississippi Fact Sheet. 

  • Recreation

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    The National Forests offers an abundance of outdoor recreation opportunities. Camping, hiking and fishing are just a few of the many attractions that draw more than one million visitors to the forest each year.

    Recreation

  • Maps

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    Be prepared with maps available in your preferred format: Interactive, downloadable and print.

    Maps

  • Passes

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    Many opportunities, services and facilities across the National Forests in Mississippi are free to enjoy. However, some activities do require fees or permits to help maintain, manage, and improve recreational amenities.

    Passes

Features

Southern firefighters train on heavy equipment

Wildfire photo

In June, 40 firefighters from four federal agencies and eight state forestry agencies participated in the Southern Area Geographic Heavy Equipment Operator Academy.

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A Head Start Program for gopher tortoises

A mature gopher tortoise on the De Soto National Forest.

This summer, employees with the De Soto National Forest coordinated with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Natchitoches National Fish Hatchery for the first time on a head start program designed to increase the overall population of the federally endangered species. The head start program will allow the tortoises to hatch and grow in the safety of a captive environment for their first two years of life.

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