In Mississippi, there are a number of great areas to ride your ATV such as Holly Springs, Tombigbee, Delta, Bienville, De Soto, and Homochitto National Forests.
These National Forests offer up some of the best ATVing to be had in the great state of Mississippi. The Holly Springs National Forest is nearly 150,000-acres of forest. It also has numerous lakes in case the urge to fish suddenly strikes. Tombigbee is a smaller National Forest coming in at only 66,000-acres. The nation's only bottomland hardwood National Forest is the Delta. This 59,000-acre area is rich in wildlife. With its system of green tree reservoirs it is especially attractive to migratory waterfowl. The 178,000-acre Bienville National Forest, in the center of the state, offers a variety of terrains to ride your ATV upon. The forest is named after Jean Baptiste Bienville, who also founded Mobile, Alabama, Natchez, and New Orleans, Louisiana.
Desoto is the largest National Forest in Mississippi. The forest covers over 500,000 acres and is thickly foliaged with pine trees. These are the famous "black-water" streams which are so colored because they are tinted by tannic acid from decaying vegetation on the forest floor.
There are numerous designated trails for ATVers and most of the trails are rated easy to intermediate. The Shockaloe Base Camp I is located right next to the Shockaloe Horse Trail. This is a fun trail to ride for beginners and experienced ATVers alike as it is densely foliaged in piney-woods. If you're looking for some history in your ATV ride, check out the Bienville Pines Scenic Area and Trail. This area has over 180 acres and is the largest known block of "old-growth" pine timber in Mississippi. The towering pines, many over 200 years old, continue to thrive and grow in this area.
When you ride the Shockaloe Horse Trail vkeep on the lookout for the red-cockaded woodpecker, an endangered species which nests only in living pines. Beautiful scenic views of the lake will have you reaching for your camera as you ride this trail system.
Mississippi has an abundance of scenic areas to ride your ATV upon, make this great state your next destination for a long weekend of camping and ATV riding fun.
