This Just Might Be The Most Beautiful Hike In All Of Mississippi
By Daniella DiRienzo|Published September 21, 2016
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Daniella DiRienzo
Author
Though Daniella was born in New York and has lived in a couple of other states, Mississippi has been her home for more than 30 years. After graduating from the University of Southern Mississippi, Daniella began to hone her writing skills through various internships. In the years since, she’s had the privilege of having her articles appear in several publications, such as the Mississippi-based Parents & Kids Magazine. She’s also had the honor of interviewing actress Sela Ward for The Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Experience.
If your idea of a beautiful hike includes a variety of stunning scenery and unbelievable photo-ops of wildlife, then you’ll definitely want to visit the Davis Bayou Area of the Gulf Islands National Seashore. Considered rare and exceptional, the area’s diverse terrain includes a forested area, a salt marsh and an amazing trail to make sure you don’t miss a thing.
The only Mississippi area of the Gulf Islands National Seashore accessible by car, the Davis Bayou Area is located in Ocean Springs and offers a ton of recreational opportunities, including fishing, wildlife viewing, picnicking, biking, and hiking.
The trail is broken up into different sections. The first consists of a ½-mile loop trail, which can be extended by following the pedestrian bridge over the bayou or heading across the street to a bayou overlook.
Continue to follow the trail along the salt marsh, and you’ll find a variety of vibrant greenery and trees, including saw palmettos, magnolias, and oak trees.
Wild inhabitants are also a common sight in wooded areas. If you visit the area later in the year, keep your eyes peeled for gray squirrels gathering acorns; head to Davis Bayou during the summer and you’ll probably spot a box turtle or two.
The Davis Bayou area is located at the intersection of U.S. 90 and Park Road, which is just three miles east of downtown Ocean Springs. From I-10, take Exit 50 or 57 toward Ocean Springs. For more information, click here.
