Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
the lake. This 96-acre lake is reached by taking SH 30 east from its intersection with SH 7,
just outside Oxford. Go nine miles along SH 30, and the turn to Puskus Lake is on the left
(north) onto Forest Road 838, which is dirt; 2.7 miles later, you will reach the lake area. The
woods and open areas around the lake are good for the species typical of this area such as
eastern bluebird, brown-headed nuthatch, pine warbler, yellow-throated warbler, and others.
Where the road forks to go to the separate picnic and camping areas, there is a trailhead for a
short nature trail; the other end of this trail is at the parking area loop at the boat ramp, near
the camping area. This trail goes through the mostly pine woods on the southern side of the
lake, and it has been used for compass orienteering games and courses; this trail is not heav-
ily used or extensively maintained. Hairy woodpecker is fairly common in these woods.
The Yalobusha Unit of the forest is discussed in the section on the Corps of Engineers lakes
along I-55, as that unit is between Enid Lake and Grenada Lake on the interstate.
For more information and a map of the forest, write to Forest Supervisor, National Forests
in Mississippi, 100 W. Capitol Street, Suite 1141, Jackson, MS 39269.
WALL DOXEY STATE PARK
Although it is a very small park, Wall Doxey State Park has a great deal of charm, and
it is my personal favorite of all of Mississippi's state parks. Located right on SH 7 south of
Holly Springs and north of Oxford, this park provides excellent access to a beautiful cypress
swamp, and its small lake attracts migrating shorebirds in the spring. From the intersection of
US 78 and SH 7 south of Holly Springs, it is 6.3 miles south to the entrance of Wall Doxey.
After entering the park, go past the first camping area, and then turn right before the lodge/
office and go down to the boat ramp on the lake. Here there are good views over the lake and
into the bald cypress swamp at the upper (northern) end of the lake. The park's nature trail
begins here and goes all the way around the lake and back to this spot. In spring, watch the
shores of the lake for migrant shorebirds such as spotted sandpiper, upland sandpiper, solitary
sandpiper, and others; I have seen spotted sandpipers standing right on the dock next to the
ramp during May. The nature trail will take you to a lookout tower overlooking an overgrown
beaver pond north of the main lake. In the woods along the trail, prothonotary warbler and
wood thrush are common and can be seen at quite close range. While on the trail, also watch
for hooded warbler, yellow-throated warbler, American redstart, wood duck, Louisiana wa-
terthrush, and other woodland and swamp species.
