Hattiesburg is many things to many people, but for the adventuresome, it is pure outdoor southern beauty. The Paul B. Johnson State Park, Longleaf Trace, Okatoma River, Black Creek, and many other recreational parks and surrounding river systems provide an outdoor lover’s paradise.

Paul B. Johnson
319 Geiger Lake Rd
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
601-582-7721

Located in the heart of Mississippi’s “Pine Belt,” Paul B. Johnson State Park is the gateway to a natural wonderland marked by majestic long-leaf and loblolly pines, delicate dogwoods, and ancient oaks. The deep forests surrounding the spring-fed Geiger Lake provide a picturesque setting for a variety of outdoor activities. A self-guided nature trail wanders through the wilderness, and Geiger Lake provides 300 acres of prime bass, crappie, catfish, and bream fishing. Mississippi's first public 18-basket disc golf course, the Desert Fox Disc Golf Course, is located at Paul B. Johnson State Park, and if that doesn’t provide enough to do, there is also paddle boating, water skiing, camping, RV sites, playgrounds, picnic areas, and a game room at the main lodge.

The Longleaf Trace: One of Mississippi’s Great Southern Trails USM Campus Gateway and Bike Shop West 4th St. 601-450-BIKE or 601-450-RAIL What is more Southern than a stroll through the blooming trees and flowers of Mississippi’s Pine Belt, with a stop at a picnic table to enjoy the cool shade and an ice-cold lemonade? The Longleaf Trace, Mississippi’s only rails-to-trails conservancy project, provides just the right atmosphere to delight in South Mississippi’s outdoors.

Hattiesburg’s Longleaf Trace is owned and operated by the Pearl and Leaf Rivers Rail-to-Trails Recreational District. The trail follows the right-of-way of the old Mississippi Central Railroad, which ran at one time from Natchez to Mobile and was involved in Civil War maneuvers.

The Longleaf Trace was begun in 1995, and is a work-in-progress. Currently, a 10-foot wide asphalt trail winds itself over 40 miles in length, from the Gateway facility on the campus of the University of Southern Mississippi to its western destination in downtown Prentiss, MS.

The rail-trail is ideal for joggers, runners, bicyclists, wheelchair users, skaters, hikers, and others who want to enjoy the beauty of the Southern landscape. The Longleaf Trace also provides a 23-mile equestrian trail that runs parallel to the asphalt between the communities of Carson and Epley.

Come take advantage of a great Southern Trail! The Longleaf Trace is free and open to the public seven days a week, rain or shine.

Black Creek - National Wild and Scenic River www.blackcreekcanoe.com
(601) 582-8817

Soggy Bottom Canoe and Kayak Rentals
www.soggybottomcanoe.com
(601) 598-2754

This scenic southern river features deep, black water and contrasting white sand bars as it follows a meandering course through Mississippi's coastal plain. The river and area provide a variety of opportunities for backpacking and fishing and six launch points for canoeing. To lend balance to our history of use and abuse of our waterways, Congress created the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System in October of 1968. Black Creek Wilderness was designated under this category in 1984 and now has a total of 5,052 acres.

Most of this Wilderness, the state's largest, lies in the broad valley of Black Creek, stained a deep caramel color by the tannic acid of decaying vegetation. The creek is Mississippi's only designated Wild and Scenic River (for 21 miles) with the emphasis exclusively on scenic. It bisects the Wilderness, creating a hardwood floodplain of oxbow lakes and thick stands of sweet gum, sweet bay, red maple, oak, pine, and bald cypress. The
5- to 20-foot banks offer plenty of white sandbars suitable for camping or a picnic.

The Black Creek National Recreation Trail (open only to foot traffic) runs about 41 miles along the drainage of Black Creek, with about 10 miles within the Wilderness. Here you'll be on a part of the Lower Coastal Plain: piney woods growing over low rolling hills with a few moderate ridges. To read more description on the Black Creek, try out the book “Canoeing Mississippi” by Ernest Herndon. Fishermen from all over the Southeast catch Black Creek’ s bass and panfish, but for the most part, there is no trace of human life to be seen.

The Okatoma River
Okatoma Outdoor Post
www.okatoma.com
(601) 722-4297
(601) 366-2557

Seminary Canoe Rental
www.okatoma.com
(601) 722-4301

The Okatoma River is a popular destination that offers many options for various length canoe trips. From a few hours on the river to overnight camping/canoeing adventures, the Okatoma is a safe environment where the whole family can enjoy the outdoors. Wildlife can be seen daily along the river, and white sand bars allow canoeists to stop for picnic breaks and camping. Seminary Canoe Rental and the Okatoma Outdoor Post provide drop services to the boat launch. To avoid crowds during the summer, paddle the Okatoma River on weekdays.
 

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