Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
recreation areas around the dam are very convenient to I-55. Exit 233 will provide immediate
access to the dam area where there are picnic spots, campgrounds, and a number of areas for
watching birds near the dam and out over the lake.
George Payne Cossar State Park is located on the southern side of the lake, about a mile
above the dam. This park has mixed pine/hardwood forests typical of the area and provides
good views over part of the lake. It is reached from SH 32; take exit 227 off I-55. After about
2.5 miles, a turn to the north takes you to the park; from SH 32, it is 1.75 miles to the park
entrance. The park does have a 2.5-mile nature trail through the woods; the trail begins near
the boat ramp.
Holly Springs National Forest: Yalobusha Unit
Located just off I-55 between Enid and Grenada lakes, the Yalobusha Unit of Holly
Springs National Forest is a small area of fragmented, federal land. The only good spot for
birders is at Lake Tillatoba, which is a 65-acre fishing lake that provides habitat for many
of the typical woodland bird species of this area. These include pine warbler, brown-headed
nuthatch, red-eyed vireo, white-eyed vireo, and hermit thrush, in winter. The lake is reached
by taking exit 220 (Tillatoba) off I-55 onto SH 330 (if you have the Forest Service map of
this area, it has 330
incorrectly
marked); go east on SH 330 toward Coffeeville 3 miles, and
the lake will be visible on the north side of the road. There are some primitive camping spots
available, and the fishing is reported to be good, but its location right on a main road keeps
Lake Tillatoba from being a quiet place.
Grenada Lake
The last of the four flood-control lakes, Grenada is probably the second-best birding bet
after Sardis Lake. Immediately below the dam is a managed waterfowl refuge which provides
a winter home for thousands of ducks. Also, like Sardis, early winter has brought rare gulls to
this lake; little gull, lesser black-backed gull, and Franklin's gull have been spotted here. For-
ster's terns also use this lake on their fall migration back to the Gulf coast; some of these tern
migrants can show up as early as July. In winter, American tree sparrows have been sighted
in this area.
The best way to reach the dam area on Grenada Lake is to take exit 206 from I-55 (the exit
for SH 8); go through the town of Grenada, and then turn left at a fork onto SH 333 (scenic
route) after 4.5 miles from the interstate; that road makes another left turn after 0.6 mile and
takes you to the southern end of the dam. There are numerous overlooks among the recre-
