Black Creek National Recreation Trail
More than forty miles of forest, sandbars, tannin-dark water, wilderness, and primitive camps make this a serious backcountry trail.
Artwork inspired by Walter Inglis Anderson
Black Creek is Mississippi’s only congressionally designated Wild and Scenic River and the trail parallels portions of its forest and wilderness corridor. Despite modest elevation, distance, heat, soft sand, creek crossings, storm debris, and navigation make a through-hike consequential. Day hikers should select a named access point and turn-around plan rather than treating the long trail as one continuous attraction.
Primitive camping and wilderness travel require Leave No Trace judgment, water treatment, and awareness of hunting seasons, river levels, and private boundaries near access roads. Bridges or sections can be damaged after storms. Shuttle logistics are not guaranteed by the Forest Service, so a point-to-point trip must be arranged and reconfirmed independently.
- Best first move
- Named trailhead and map
- Do not miss
- Black Creek sandbars
- Plan for
- Half day to multi-day
Quick guide
- Logistics
- Confirm exit, shuttle, road access
- Water
- Carry and treat every drop
Make the visit count
- Plan the exit first
- Confirm vehicle, shuttle, and exact road access before choosing mileage.
- Treat every drop
- Follow carry and treat sufficient water; dark creek color does not indicate safety.
- Read flood evidence
- Avoid camps below debris lines or on sandbars when rain is possible upstream.
- Signal your plan
- Choose leave route and return time with someone because reception is unreliable
Good to know
This is a remote linear trail with multiple access points, no guaranteed shuttle, unreliable cell service, and storm-sensitive bridges. Heat and soft sand slow pace; creek water requires treatment, and low sandbar camps can flood after upstream rain.
Notice these
- Named trailhead and map
- Black Creek sandbars
- Wilderness section