Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Eden and crossing the Yazoo County/Holmes County line, go about 2 miles and turn right
(east) immediately before the highway crosses the railroad tracks; a sign points the way in-
to the refuge. This levee road is called South Levee Road. It goes east for 2 miles and then
runs northeast for the rest of the length of the refuge. The trailhead for the Alligator Slough
Nature Trail is 1.5 miles down the levee road. This trail is a good place to look for wintering
waterfowl and wood ducks and for prothonotary and hooded warblers in the spring. On the
right side of the levee road is the refuge, and most of it is hardwood swamps that provide
no major views of waterfowl areas. Once the levee road crosses Thornton Road, it becomes
North Levee Road and continues on to the very northern end of the refuge; the views are
much like those in the southern portion. A drive east on Thornton Road will take you through
some swamps and over some of the roughest paved road around. At an intersection with a dirt
road (called Hill Road) before Thornton Road goes up a hill, the refuge ends. The dirt road
to the north is marked only by a sign that reads “Travel at own risk.” A short trip to the north
on this dirt road will take you to a large field on the west side of the road where red-tailed
hawk, northern harrier, American kestrel, and wild turkey can be fairly regularly seen. DO
NOT travel any further north on this unmarked road, as it is severely damaged and washed
out further ahead. Getting stranded on this road will ruin your birding outing, to say the least.
The North Levee Road ends at a paved road; turn left and after a mile that road will reach SH
12. From there it is 1.5 miles to the west (left) on SH 12 to its intersection with US 49E in
Tchula.
Hillside National Wildlife Refuge may be good habitat for the waterfowl and for birds such
as great blue heron, but it is rather difficult for the birder to get good access to these birds.
The area is also extensively hunted.
Morgan Brake National Wildlife Refuge
Small at 1,410 acres, Morgan Brake National Wildlife Refuge is split into two units. One
unit lies right along US 49E, north of the town of Tchula. There are no roads or designated
trails into the refuge, but a bit of bushwhacking will get you into the swampy hardwood wet-
lands where the wintering birds are. With the much easier access to waterfowl at Yazoo and
Panther Swamp, you may not want to fight your way into Morgan Brake.
There is an information kiosk and hunting permit station at the northern end of the refuge.
Up to 50,000 migratory waterfowl winter here, according to the sign; these birds include mal-
lard, green-winged teal, gadwall, wigeon, and wood duck. Bald eagles have been sighted at
the refuge. The woods in this northern area of the refuge can be hiked through. This kiosk is
5.3 miles north of the highway intersection in Tchula.
