Tishomingo State Park Hosts Take A Hike Day Nov. 17

Tishomingo State Park will celebrate National Take A Hike Day on Tuesday, Nov. 17, inviting families, friends and solo walkers to explore the trails and rock bluffs that set the park apart from anywhere else in Mississippi. The Tishomingo State Park Take A Hike Day event runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., according to the listing on the Tishomingo County tourism website, and hikers of every pace and experience level are welcome.

Organizers are asking participants to bring good walking shoes, plenty of water and “a sense of adventure,” and to share their photos on social media with the hashtag #NationalTakeAHikeDay.

Tishomingo State Park Take A Hike Day: What to Know

• When: Tuesday, Nov. 17, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Where: Tishomingo State Park, 105 County Road 90, Tishomingo, MS 38873
• Cost: The regular park entrance fee of $2 per person applies; children 5 and under get in free, according to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP).
• Park hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week
• Questions: Park office, 662-438-6914

The event listing says details on the meeting location and trail options are available with the event information, so hikers who want to join a group should call the park office ahead of time to confirm where to gather.

About 13 Miles of Trails Through the Appalachian Foothills

MDWFP says the park offers about 13 miles of nature trails spread across seven separate routes. All of them are rated easy to moderate, and each one is marked with red blazes painted on the trees. The Outcroppings Trail (Trail No. 7) is the only loop; the other six are point-to-point trails that start and finish in different places, so hikers on those routes may want to plan a ride or an out-and-back walk.

The trails wind past massive moss-covered boulders and fern-filled crevices in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. MDWFP notes that these rock formations are found only in Tishomingo County and nowhere else in the state. Trail brochures and maps are available from the park.

The Swinging Bridge and Other Highlights

For many visitors, the highlight is the park’s iconic Swinging Bridge, a suspended footbridge over Bear Creek that Civilian Conservation Corps workers built in the late 1930s.

Other things to know before you go:

• History: The park takes its name from Chickasaw leader Chief Tishomingo, and MDWFP says archaeological digs show Paleo Indians were in the area as early as 7000 B.C.
• Getting there: The Natchez Trace Parkway runs right through the park. From the Trace, exit at milepost 304, follow the access road about half a mile, then turn right onto State Park Road (County Road 90) to the gatehouse.
• More to do: The park also has three free 18- to 20-hole disc golf courses (Chickasaw Trail, Warrior Ridge and Tushka Run), fishing on 45-acre Haynes Lake and Bear Creek, picnic pavilions, and rock climbing by permit.
• Stay the night: Options include 61 RV campsites, a primitive camping area, six cabins and a group camp. Reservations can be made online or by calling the park or 1-800-GO-PARKS.

Tips for Northeast Mississippi Hikers

November mornings in Northeast Mississippi can start out cold, so layers are a good idea. Our recent frost outlook for the Corinth area shows how quickly temperatures can drop this time of year. Wear sturdy shoes for the rocky sections, carry water, stay on the blazed trails, and remember that swimming is not allowed in Haynes Lake or Bear Creek.

If you want to make a weekend of it in Tishomingo County, see our coverage of the Iuka Veterans Day parade and Jaybird Holiday Market.

Source: Explore Tishomingo County; park details from the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks