Some of the best views of Mississippi sunsets, fall foliage, and waterways are appreciated on a trail at a Mississippi State Park. Whether you like to experience a trail by foot or atop a bicycle, ATV, or horse, we have something for you to enjoy.

A Mississippi State Park trail can carry you through deep woods, along beautiful lakes, sandy walkways, and interesting boardwalks. Enjoy the natural sights and sounds of the great outdoors while viewing our state’s abundant wildlife in their natural habitats. From steep hills to coastal plains and from long hikes to short strolls, our trail system offers something for everyone, at any skill level.

Our trails include dedicated Nature Trails, Mountain Bike Trails, Equestrian Trails, and All-Terrain Vehicle Trails (ATV). All trails are marked with trailheads to help you navigate your adventure.

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Leave No Trace

Help us preserve our state’s natural resources and leave no trace! Learn more about the Leave No Trace movement.

Trail Safety

New to the outdoors? We've compiled some helpful information about trail safety so you can be prepared and enjoy everything our trails have to offer.

Sharing Our Trails: A Guide to Trail Safety & Enjoyment

Responsible trail enthusiasts have much in common: They have an appreciation for our public lands and want to enjoy what our public lands have to offer. Smart trail use includes adherence to some basis safety practices. Trails are shared recreation amenities and are accessed by a variety of users at the same time. Please be courteous to all users, and remember that pedestrians have the right-of-way. All trail users should stay to the right on the trail.

Trails are open to and shared by equestrians, Off-Highway-Vehicle (OHV) riders, bicycle riders, runners, and hikers. Trail sharing can and does work when people respect each other and work cooperatively to keep each other safe.  

While it's important for people to respect each other on the trail, it's also important to remember that equestrians are dealing with more than just other trail enthusiasts' personalities; they're also working with horses, whose temperaments are as individual as our own. Horses' natural instincts can influence their behavior and affect the way they react to circumstances encountered on the trail.

Similarly, OHV riders, bicycle riders, runners, and hikers must understand that "equestrian only" trails need to be respected for the safety of both horse and rider. These trails offer the opportunity for horsemen to acclimate their horses to basic trail conditions without encountering "unknown threats" that can trigger a horse's natural instinct of flight. When young or inexperienced horses encounter new conditions on the trail--like OHVs, bicycles, runners, hikers, and even certain scents--the flight response can end with disastrous results for the horse or rider.

When equestrians on well-trained horses and other responsible trail enthusiasts meet each other on the trail, the encounters can be enjoyable social exchanges if the groups understand how to work together to keep everyone safe.

Guidelines for All Trail Enthusiasts
Common Courtesy
  • Respect all trail restrictions and use only trails open to your mode of transportation.
  • Be considerate of others on the road or trail.
  • When traveling on shared-use trails, continually watch for other types of recreationists.
  • Keep speeds low around other recreationists.
  • Keep noise and dust down.
  • Keep your ears open. Listening to headphones or earbuds can make it difficult to hear and communicate with other recreationists. In some areas, it is illegal to operate vehicles or bikes with both ears covered.
Yielding
  • Motorized vehicles yield to mountain bikes, runners, hikers, and horses.
  • Mountain bikes yield to runners, hikers, and horses.
  • Runners and hikers yield to horses.
Guidelines for Equestrians on Shared Trails
  • Be sure you can control your horse and that it has been exposed to other trail recreational uses before riding on shared-use trails.
  • Cooperate with local OHV and bicycle riders to expose your horse to vehicles in a gradual manner in a safe environment.
  • Be alert and aware of the presence of other trail enthusiasts. If possible, pull to the side of the trail when you hear oncoming OHVs or bicycles.
  • At trailheads or staging areas, park vehicles and secure stock in a manner that provides a safe distance between the horses and passing traffic.
  • Be prepared to let other trail enthusiasts know what needs to be done to keep you, the horse, and other trail enthusiasts safe when you meet on the trail.
  • Less experienced horses and riders should ride behind more "trail-wise" horses and riders.
Guidelines for Bicyclists When Encountering Horses on the Trail
  • Pull to the side of the trail far enough for horses to pass safely as soon as you see horses.
  • Pull to the downhill side of the trail if possible since horses tend to perceive unknown threats on the uphill side as predators.
  • Speak to the oncoming rider and horse in a friendly, relaxed tone. Remove your helmet if it conceals part of your face. The horse will be more likely to recognize you as a human.
  • Horsemen may pull to the side of the trail a safe distance if they hear a bicycle approaching, but this does not necessarily mean it is safe for you to ride by. Stop and wait for instructions from the horseman.
  • Be alert: Be aware and on guard for oncoming traffic.
Guidelines for Other Non-Motorized Recreationists When Encountering Horses on the Trail
  • Hikers and trail runners should always stop and step to the side of the trail when they meet horses on the trail.
  • Step to the downhill side of the trail.
  • Speak to the rider and horse in a friendly, relaxed tone.
Safety Tips for Bicyclists

Whether biking alone or with your fellow biking friends, it's always important to remember the basics that will keep your cycling both fun and safe. The following points might come across as really obvious, but ignoring or forgetting one of these simple guidelines can turn a great day's cycling into a bit of a nightmare. Here are our suggestions for you:

  • Put that helmet on your head.
  • Wear all the safety gear.
  • Know your fitness level.
  • Know where you are and where you're going.
  • Know basic first aid.
  • Ride a safe bike.
Final Tips Before You Hit the Trail
  • Never hit the trail without a buddy, and never leave the buddy behind.
  • Wear a certified helmet that fits snugly and always buckle the chin strap.
  • Always carry a fully charged cell phone, flashlight, and water. Take advantage of the technology available to you!
  • Carry an ID and put identification information inside your helmet. Be sure to include your name, address, phone number, and emergency contacts.

Remember to use your manners and be friendly to other people you encounter on the trail. Above all, be safe. See you outdoors!