Spend Three Days In Three Ancient Forests On This Weekend Road Trip In Mississippi
By Daniella DiRienzo|Published June 01, 2022
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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.
We’ve got a tree-mendous idea for your next in-state adventure: exploring the ancient forests of Mississippi! There are actually a couple of old-growth forests and historically significant trees in Mississippi – all of which offer a unique peek into the past. See for yourself by heading out on the route we’ve mapped out. It leads to three different tree-centric sites and even includes lodging that keeps with the road trip theme.
Spanning just over 400 miles from the Delta to the Gulf Coast, the route will take about seven hours to complete. Obviously, though, that doesn’t account for time spent at each stop.
Sky Lake WMA is the perfect place to kick off your tree-inspired adventure – and that’s because it’s home to some of the biggest cypress trees on the planet, with one of the biggest measuring 47 feet around! Not only big, but the trees are also old, too. It’s estimated that some of the trees in the WMA are over 1,000 years old, making them some of the oldest trees in Mississippi. When it comes to admiring the ancient giants, you have two options – a boardwalk trail and a paddling trail.
A charming Airbnb in Jackson’s Belhaven neighborhood, The Tree House is the perfect place to turn in for the night. Keeping with the tree theme, it’s surrounded by oak, magnolia, and crepe myrtle trees. Plus, it has a huge back deck that overlooks a greenery-filled courtyard.
3. Mississippi Petrified Forest (Flora)
Petrified Forest Road, Petrified Forest Rd, Flora, MS 39071, USA
When it comes to ancient forests in Mississippi, you won’t find any older than the Mississippi Petrified Forest, which is filled with petrified wood that’s taken millions of years to form. As one of only two petrified forests in the eastern U.S., the Mississippi Petrified Forest isn’t just one of the most unique attractions in Mississippi, but the nation too.
Another great stay that sticks with the theme of the road trip,
The Forest Retreat is comprised of several treehouse-style cabins. Charmingly rustic, the unconventional treehouses have been specifically designed to blend into the forested landscape, offering one of the most unique getaways in the state.
5. Friendship Oak (Long Beach)
Friendship Oak, 730 Beach Blvd E, Long Beach, MS 39560, USA
Okay, so this isn’t technically a forest, but the Friendship Oak is too iconic not to mention. Dating back to 1487, it’s one of the oldest trees east of the Mississippi River and has been around since before Columbus came to America! The old (and giant!) oak, which is located on the University of Southern Mississippi’s Gulf Coast campus, has inspired somewhat of a legend. It’s said any who walk under its limbs will remain friends forever. Make sure to keep that in mind when visiting.
So, did you know about these ancient forests in Mississippi? Ever visited any of them? Did we miss your favorite old-growth forest in Mississippi? Let us know.
These might be some of the oldest trees in Mississippi, but they’re not the state’s only towering wonders. True to its name, the Cypress Swamp Loop Trail winds right through a cypress swamp. It’s the best boardwalk trail in Mississippi, and at under one-half mile, it’s doable for hikers of all skill levels.
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