Tombigbee National Forest Choctaw Lake Circuit

This 25-mile circuit winds through the Tombigbee Hills, following old timber roads and fire breaks between stands of longleaf pine that the Forest Service has been restoring since the 1990s. The route passes Choctaw Lake’s earthen dam, built by the CCC in 1936, then drops into Sipsey Fork bottoms where stone foundations mark homesteads abandoned when the government bought the land. Creek crossings at Buttahatchee and Coalfire can run swift after storms, with rocky bottoms that’ll test your line choice.

Moderate difficulty with a few technical sections where washouts have carved deep ruts. Stock high-clearance recommended, though 4WD helps in the creek beds and sandy climbs through pine plantations. No permits, open year-round, but avoid during deer season (November-January). Several primitive camping spots along Choctaw Lake’s north shore. You’ll get a taste of Mississippi hill country most folks drive right past on Highway 45, plus some genuine solitude in timber that’s coming back to what the Choctaw knew.