Longleaf Trace

The corridor the trail follows began as a railroad line built to move the region's most valuable crop, its timber. In the decades around the turn of the twentieth century, south Mississippi's vast longleaf pine forests fed a booming lumber industry, and rail lines like this one hauled logs to the mills and finished lumber out to market. The Mississippi Central Railroad ran passengers and freight along this route, linking Hattiesburg with the small towns that grew up along the tracks.

As the great forests were cut and the lumber era faded, the railroad's business dwindled, and in time the trains stopped and the rails were taken up. Rather than let the corridor be lost, local leaders and the Pearl and Leaf Rivers Rails-to-Trails Recreational District turned the old railbed into a public greenway that opened in the 2000s. The result is a path that traces the exact route the trains once took, past former depots and through towns that owe their beginnings to the railroad.

This corner of Mississippi lies in the ancestral homeland of the Choctaw people, who lived across the piney woods and river bottoms of the south-central part of the state for countless generations. The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians remains federally recognized today, centered near Philadelphia to the north, and Choctaw history runs deep through this whole region of forests and streams.

The towns strung along the trace, Hattiesburg, Sumrall, Bassfield, and Prentiss among them, grew up as railroad and timber communities. Their old commercial districts, depots, and country stores still stand near the path in places, and stopping in them is part of the pleasure of a long ride. The trail passes farmland and forest, crossing quiet county roads and shaded creeks along the way.

The longleaf pine that gives the trail its name is a remarkable tree, adapted to fire and slow to grow, that once covered a huge sweep of the coastal plain from Virginia to Texas. Young longleafs spend years as a tuft of long green needles close to the ground, resembling a clump of grass, before shooting upward into a tall, straight trunk. The open, sunlit forests they form were among the great ecosystems of the American South.

Along the trace you pass through a working southern woodland of pine and hardwood, with dogwood, oak, and sweetgum mixing in. In spring the understory blooms and the air fills with birdsong; in the warmer months the shade of the canopy is a genuine relief from the sun. The corridor itself acts as a long, narrow greenway that shelters wildlife and native plants through the surrounding farmland and timber country.

The trail is a fine place for watching wildlife precisely because it moves slowly and quietly through the woods. Songbirds are everywhere in the trees, red-shouldered hawks and turkey vultures ride the air overhead, and white-tailed deer, rabbits, squirrels, and the occasional armadillo turn up along the edges. Turtles sun on logs in the creeks the trail crosses, and in spring and summer the woods hum with insects and frogs.

Spring and fall are the loveliest seasons here, with mild air, wildflowers or turning leaves, and comfortable temperatures for a long ride. Summer is hot and humid, best enjoyed early in the morning or in the cool of evening under the pine shade. Winter is quiet and mild by northern standards, with bare hardwoods opening up longer views through the woods and easy, uncrowded miles for those who bundle up.

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.

The Longleaf Trace is a beautiful paved rail-trail running through the Piney Woods of southeastern Mississippi, a scenic path for biking, walking, and other recreation on a former railroad line. Stretching for many miles between Hattiesburg and Prentiss, the trail winds through the longleaf pine forests, small towns, and countryside of the region, with gentle grades, trailheads, and rest stops that make it accessible and enjoyable, along with a parallel path for horseback riding on part of the route. Its scenery and easy grades make it a beloved destination for cyclists and outdoor lovers. A scenic and rewarding rail-trail, it delights visitors. With its route, the Longleaf Trace offers a compelling destination in Mississippi.

You can bike, walk, run, or skate along the paved rail-trail through the scenic Piney Woods, pass longleaf pine forests, small towns, and countryside, use the trailheads and rest stops, and, on part of the route, ride horseback on a parallel path. The scenic pine forests, the easy paved route, the trailheads and rest stops, and the countryside are the draws, making it a wonderful destination for recreation. The pleasant scenery and easy riding are highlights. With its route, the Longleaf Trace offers a rewarding experience in Mississippi.

The Longleaf Trace crosses long stretches of southeastern Mississippi with towns and trailheads spaced along it, so carrying water, snacks, and sun protection, and planning your route and access points, are wise, especially for longer rides in the southern heat. The gentle grades make it accessible, but longer outings call for preparation, and the humid climate means insect repellent helps. Bringing supplies and planning your route ensure a rewarding outing on the Longleaf Trace in Mississippi.

The milder months of fall through spring are the most comfortable for biking or walking the trail in Mississippi's climate, avoiding the intense summer heat and humidity, with fall and spring especially pleasant, though the shaded pine forests offer some relief in warmer weather. Because conditions vary, checking current information before you go is wise. For the most comfortable conditions, aim for fall through spring on the Longleaf Trace in Mississippi.

The Longleaf Trace runs through the Piney Woods of southeastern Mississippi between Hattiesburg and Prentiss, within reach of Hattiesburg with its zoo and the Saenger Theater, Black Creek Wilderness, and the other attractions of southeastern Mississippi. That makes the Longleaf Trace a rewarding way to experience the Piney Woods alongside the attractions of Hattiesburg on a visit to Mississippi.