Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
warbler, prothonotary warbler, hooded warbler, red-eyed vireo, summer tanager, and many
other forest songbirds.
A parking area (called Janice Landing) on the northern side of the SH 29 bridge over Black
Creek provides good access to the creek. Black Creek Trail enters the wilderness from the
highway about 0.5 mile south of the bridge, where there is a parking area on the west side of
the road. Black Creek Trail generally follows the creek and is a total of 41 miles, of which
only 10 miles are in the wilderness area. The southern terminus of the trail is at Fairley Bridge
Landing, and the northern end of the trail is at Big Creek Landing. There are campgrounds at
both areas.
A float trip down Black Creek through the wild and scenic river area also begins at Big
Creek Landing and ends at Fairley Bridge Landing; the 21 miles from Moody's Landing to
Fairley is the designated wild and scenic part. This float trip can be cut into smaller segments,
but the total length of creek that can be run between those two main points is 40 miles.
Pitcher Plant Bog
One of the ecosystems unique to the South's coastal plain is the pitcher plant bog. Alabama
and Mississippi were once blessed with thousands of acres of bogs, but most have been con-
verted into pine plantations and farm land. In DeSoto National Forest is a very accessible
and wildly beautiful bog that must not be missed if you are here in the early spring or sum-
mer. Pitcher plants are carnivorous plants that consume bugs to supplement the poor nutrient
conditions provided by the soil they live in. These bogs contain many other species of plants
particular to this habitat type besides the pitcher plants, and specialized insects as well. From
SH 26, east of Wiggins, it is less than a mile to a spectacular bog of several hundred acres.
At the intersection of SH 26 and SH 15, SH 15 goes south; take Forest Road 373 north from
this intersection. Pitcher plant bogs will be visible on both sides of the road, and after just 0.5
mile, a huge bog will be on the west side of the road. The plants bloom in early and mid-April
with large, lovely yellow flowers. Although there is nothing unusual about the birding here,
the size and beauty of this bog give you a view of one of the nation's most amazing ecosys-
tems which is now all too rare.
Tuxachanie Hiking Trail
This 21.5 mile trail provides more opportunities for getting into the woods and watching
birds. Pitcher plant bogs can be seen along parts of the trail, as well as pine savannahs, which
used to cover so much of southern Mississippi; the trail also passes swamps and a number of
small ponds. To see the pitcher plants in bloom, mid-April is the best time to hike this trail.
Birds along the trail will be typical for this area; the longleaf and slash pine forests dominate
