Black Creek Wilderness

In 1984 Congress designated Black Creek Wilderness under the federal Wilderness Act, the law that protects the wildest federal lands from roads, motors, and development so they can remain, in the law's words, untrammeled by man. It is the only such area in Mississippi, a distinction that gives this quiet corner of piney woods an outsized importance to people who love wild country.

The same era brought Black Creek its second honor, designation as a National Wild and Scenic River, a status reserved for free-flowing rivers with outstanding natural or cultural value. Between the two protections, this stretch of creek and forest is about as close to untouched as land gets in the Deep South, a place managed to stay wild rather than to be improved.

Black Creek is a classic blackwater stream. Its water is stained the color of strong tea by tannins leached from decaying leaves and roots in the swampy bottoms it drains, clear but dark, so that a paddle disappears a few inches below the surface. Blackwater creeks like this are typical of the coastal plain of the Deep South and support a rich, specialized web of life.

The great charm of the creek is its sandbars. On the inside of nearly every bend the current drops its load of clean, pale sand, building broad beaches that shine against the dark water and the green forest. Paddlers pull out to swim, picnic, and camp on them, and in warm weather they become the creek's living rooms. The sand shifts and moves with every high water, so the beaches are never quite the same twice.

Canoeing and kayaking are the classic way to experience Black Creek, a gentle float suited to families and beginners in normal water, with easy current and countless sandbars to stop on. Local outfitters near Brooklyn rent boats and run shuttles, and a leisurely day on the water is one of the great outings in south Mississippi. After heavy rain the creek rises and speeds up, so it pays to check conditions first.

On foot, the Black Creek Trail runs many miles through the De Soto National Forest, the longest hiking trail in the state, following the creek and its uplands through longleaf pine, hardwood bottoms, and cypress swamp. Backpackers camp along the way, and shorter day hikes reach fine overlooks and sandbars. Between the water and the trail, the wilderness rewards both the paddler and the walker.

The forest here is part of the great longleaf pine belt that once covered much of the Southern coastal plain, an open, park-like woodland of tall pines over a floor of wiregrass and wildflowers, kept healthy by periodic fire. Along the creek the trees shift to hardwood bottoms and cypress swamp. It is home to deer, turkey, otters, alligators in the sloughs, and a rich chorus of birds, including woodpeckers that favor the old pines.

Spring and fall are the best times to visit, mild and green, with spring bringing wildflowers and fall a run of color in the hardwood bottoms. Summer is hot, humid, and buggy but prime for cooling off on the sandbars, while winter is cool and quiet, a fine season for a hike when the insects are gone and the forest is at its most open.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is a place we chose through independent editorial review, never a paid placement.

Black Creek Wilderness, in the De Soto National Forest of southeastern Mississippi, is the state's premier wilderness area, protecting a beautiful stretch of Black Creek, a designated wild and scenic river, amid pristine Piney Woods forest. The wilderness features the clear, sandy-bottomed Black Creek, popular for canoeing and kayaking, along with sandbars, forested banks, hiking trails including a long scenic trail, and abundant wildlife, all in a protected natural area offering a true wilderness experience. Its clear creek and unspoiled forest make it a cherished destination for paddlers and hikers. A pristine and scenic wilderness, it delights outdoor lovers. With its creek and forest, Black Creek Wilderness offers a compelling destination in Mississippi.

You can canoe or kayak the clear, sandy-bottomed Black Creek, relax on its sandbars, hike the trails including a long scenic trail through the Piney Woods, watch for wildlife, and enjoy a true wilderness experience. The clear creek, the canoeing and kayaking, the sandbars, and the forest trails are the draws, making it a wonderful destination for paddlers and hikers. The scenic float down Black Creek is a highlight. With its creek and trails, Black Creek Wilderness offers a rewarding experience in Mississippi.

Canoeing Black Creek is a beloved experience, but as with any river, wearing a life jacket, checking water levels and weather before you go, being aware of currents and obstacles, and being prepared and self-sufficient in the wilderness are important, and going with a reputable outfitter for rentals and shuttles helps, especially for less-experienced paddlers. The remote wilderness has limited services, so bringing water, sun protection, and insect repellent matters. Wearing a life jacket and coming prepared ensure a safe float on Black Creek in Mississippi.

The milder months of spring through fall are the most pleasant for canoeing and hiking, with spring and fall especially comfortable and the creek inviting in the warm season, while summer can be hot and humid, though the creek offers relief. Because water levels affect paddling and conditions vary, checking current information and outfitter availability before you go are wise. For the best paddling and comfortable weather, aim for spring or fall at Black Creek Wilderness in Mississippi.

Black Creek Wilderness is in the De Soto National Forest of southeastern Mississippi, within reach of Hattiesburg with its zoo and the Longleaf Trace, the Piney Woods, and the routes toward the Gulf Coast to the south. That makes Black Creek Wilderness a compelling stop to combine with the attractions of Hattiesburg on a visit to Mississippi.