Tishomingo State Park

Picnic sites are located throughout the day-use area and some provide grills and beautiful lake views.

Three pavilions of various sizes are available for rent; each pavilion includes picnic tables, water, electricity, and a barbeque grill. These are great facilities for group outings, family reunions, and company picnics. Call the park office for more information regarding booking and prices.

Play Structures

There are several playgrounds with play equipment in the park. Playgrounds feature traditional equipment and modern play units.

Multi-use Field

The park also offers a grassed multi-use ballfield for open play. The ballfield is across from the swimming pool facility and parking is available.

Volley Ball

A volley ball court is located near the Swinging Bridge. The court surface is sand and the park typically has volleyballs available. Picnic tables and shade trees are nearby.

Bear Creek Canoe Float Trip

Tishomingo State Park does not transport personal watercraft to and from Bear Creek.

Winding through Tishomingo State Park is Bear Creek, a scenic stream settled within the park's bluffs. The park offers a 6.25-mile canoe float trip down the rocky-bottomed stream with the take-out point at the park. The float trip operates seasonally; call for schedule and to reserve and confirm your canoe (weather and water level permitting). Scenic sandstone bluffs, lush greenery, a canopy of mixed hardwoods and pines, shoals, and Class I rapids with long pools between provide for an enjoyable and exciting trip for all ages.

Reservations are required in advance. Contact the park office for more details and seasonal schedules. There is a $40 fee for the canoe float trip, and a maximum of two people per boat. For reservations, contact the park office at (662) 438-6914.

The park provides everything you need: canoes, paddles, lifejackets, and transportation. Lifejackets must be worn for the duration of the float trip. There is a limit of two persons per canoe. One small, collapsible, lunchbox-size cooler per canoe will be permitted on the trip. No alcoholic beverages will be allowed. Coolers are subject to search.

All persons wanting to take the float trip must report to the Park Office at 9:00 am. Canoeists leave their cars at the park's Swinging Bridge Area and are transported upstream to begin the float trip. Participants return to the swinging bridge approximately two and a half to three hours later (dependent upon water conditions). At the end of the trip, all canoeists are required to load their canoes on the trailer provided.

Haynes Lake

SWIMMING IS NOT ALLOWED IN HAYNES LAKE OR IN BEAR CREEK.

Haynes Lake is a 45-acre freshwater lake that offers fishing. The lake is stocked with catfish, bream, and bass. A boat launch and parking are available. A Mississippi fishing license is required for all persons between the ages of 16 and 65 and may be purchased at the park office for a small fee. Water skiing is not permitted on Haynes Lake.

The water level in the lake can vary a great deal based on the time of year and the frequency of rain events. Without regular rain events, the water level will decline which can make access to the lake edge and boat launching difficult. Local streams feed Lake Haynes and naturally drain into Bear Creek. It is normal for the lake level to fluctuate with the season. A boat launch and parking are available. The boat launch fee is $7 daily per boat. Due to the size of Lake Haynes, boat traffic is limited to trolling motor speed only.

Three disc golf courses are featured at Tishomingo State Park. Each course consists of 18-20 holes, with a variety of distances, terrain, and difficulty. The courses are located in different areas of the park and take advantage of the varied and scenic terrain, making for courses that are enjoyable and challenging to play. Courses are Chickasaw Trail, Warrior Ridge, and Tushka Run.

The courses can be played year round. There is no fee to play; however, payment of the normal park entrance fee is required. Scorecards are available at the park office.

Hiking Trails

Tishomingo State Park offers the outdoor enthusiast approximately 13 miles of nature trails. There are seven separate trails in the park. The trails differ in length, but all are easy to moderate walking. The delineation of each trail can be determined by following the red blazing painted on the trees. Each trail is unique in vegetation and terrain. The rock formations are in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains and are only found in Tishomingo County. Outcroppings Trail (#7) is the only loop trail that returns to its beginning. All other trails are a point-to-point trails that begin and end in different places.

For trail descriptions and trail maps, see the below brochure:

• Hiking Trail Brochure and Map

Rock Climbing

The rock outcroppings and bluffs in the park are not found in any other county in the state. Rock climbing is available by permit only. Participants must provide their own equipment, including a helmet, and secure a permit at the park office prior to engaging in any climbing activities. Climbing Guides are available for purchase at the Park Office.