This Quiet Mississippi Town Is An Underrated Gem For Nature Lovers

Woodville, Mississippi, is a small town in the southwestern corner of the state that deserves recognition not only for its close proximity to Clark Creek State Park, but also for its overall devotion to nature. The town is also located near the Homochitto National Forest, which covers 191,839 acres. Clark Creek itself holds approximately 50 waterfalls within a 700-acre natural area just a short drive away. Quiet and subdued on the outside, Woodville is blessed with natural beauty and enjoys a rich and complex history when viewed more closely. Add in a culinary scene built around pork cracklins and West Indies shrimp, and the town earns its place on any nature lover's Southern itinerary.

Culinary Hotspots in Woodville

Let's start with the first reason to appreciate this small town: I challenge you to grab a more fun and delicious meal in this part of Mississippi than at Woodville's very own Praise Da Lard. Woodville has often been described as the heart of the southern Bible Belt, so it is no surprise that Praise Da Lard found its calling in this small town. If pork cracklins aren't your thing, there is always Community Grocery on Woodville's historic Courthouse Square. With its unique and tasty offerings, including its Bama BBQ, fried green tomato tower, black and blue salad, and West Indies shrimp, you are sure to find something you love to then propel you out the door and drive to Clark Creek, where you can walk some of those extra calories off on the park's numerous walking trails.

Watch the Water in Clark Creek State Park

On to the second reason this town stands out, particularly as a haven for nature lovers: Clark Creek State Park. One step inside this park and you'll understand why Woodville, although flying under the radar since its inception, deserves the title of being an underrated gem for nature lovers. Established in 1979 and frequently termed "one of the Magnolia State's most beautiful outdoor treasures," the park is a 20-minute drive from Woodville's town center. Clark Creek State Park (also called Clark Creek Natural Area) comprises 700 acres of forest punctuated by some 50 waterfalls, with shorter 10-foot drops alongside cascades over 30 feet in height. Each cascade is awe-inspiring with the drama of its unique beauty and sound effects. Just please remember to stand back a bit, or at least bring a change of clothes if you get too close.

Find the Perfect Hike in Clark Creek State Park

Lest you think waterfalls are the only attraction, think again. The park is an excellent habitat for black bears, and it is important to note that hunting is not allowed in the park. There is also an abundance of rare and distinct birds and various other species, natural to this diverse area of the south.

And then there are the trails themselves. One of Clark Creek's most famous hikes is on a 4.9-mile loop also known as the "Clark Creek Primitive Trail." This well-maintained trail is between 6 and 10 feet wide with stairs available as alternate routes to ease your way down and up the steep inclines you will encounter. The trail also has resting areas with benches at specific intervals, and those waterfalls mentioned above are accessible via wooden stairs, as well, so you can get up close without too much exertion. The sights and sounds you will experience here, like the dramatic panorama of water cascading over limestone shelves, are unforgettable. Although challenging in parts, you will not regret hiking through this scenic park.

Don't Overlook Homochitto National Forest

Other standout nature excursions can be found in the Homochitto National Forest. While Homochitto is further away from Woodville than Clark Creek, it is still close enough for an easy weekend drive, and its beauty beckons any traveler to Woodville to seek it out. With its 191,839 acres of heavily wooded terrain and rolling hills, the forest is a magnet for hikers and nature lovers of all ages and expertise. Even hunters are welcome, but you will need to make sure you have the right credentials.

Rosemont Plantation is Worth a Visit

Now that we have reviewed the scenery of nearby Clark Creek, let's take a look at Rosemont Plantation, just a mile or so from the center of Woodville. The grounds surrounding Rosemont Plantation are worth the visit, with their landscape and towering shade trees. Built between 1810 and 1814, the house was commissioned by Samuel and Jane Davis, none other than the parents of Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederacy during the Civil War. They initially named it Poplar Grove, but later changed it to Rosemont Plantation. The Davis family's cemetery is located on the property, as well, serving as the resting place of many members of the Davis family, including Jane Davis, the original owner.

The Best Place to Stay Near Woodville

Although Woodville is not home to a hotel of its own, there is an exceptional option just a few miles away across the Louisiana state line: the renowned and very historic Myrtles Plantation in St. Francisville. Established in 1796, this hotel, with a sign that reads "Home of Intrigue and Mystery," enjoys a well-earned reputation as the place to stay to fully take advantage of the surrounding area, which includes its own beautifully landscaped grounds. Treat yourself to its many epicurean delights, as well. Dining in its restaurant, aptly called Restaurant 1796, you can sip a cocktail as you feast on Crawfish Queso and Cajun Charcuterie, leaving room, of course, for a dessert of New Orleans-style beignets. Best of all, you are only 25 miles from the scenery of Clark Creek State Park, just across the state line, and an easy drive after breakfast in the hotel's Elta Coffee.

A Mississippi Town For Nature Lovers

Hopefully, by now, you are intrigued enough to take a trip to Woodville, Mississippi, where you might want to chow down on a pork cracklin at Praise Da Lard or maybe enjoy a Woodville Hoop Dip at Community Grocery. Feel free to take a stroll to the County Courthouse. But if you are ready to trade walking for hiking and need a heady dose of nature, by all means find your way to Clark Creek State Park, where you can marvel at the scenery and congratulate yourself on the good fortune that brought you to this small Mississippi town, a gateway to this park and so many other wonderful places to visit.