Grenada Lake Dam Maintenance Road Tallahatchie River Levee Circuit

The Army Corps of Engineers built Grenada Dam in the 1950s to tame the Tallahatchie River, and their maintenance roads still snake along both sides of the spillway and upstream levees. This 13-mile circuit starts at the dam visitor center and follows gravel roads along the earthwork, crossing the spillway on a concrete service bridge most folks never see. The best section runs north along the east levee where you can drop down to gravel bars on the Tallahatchie and catch some of the state’s best crappie fishing in the backwater sloughs.

Straightforward driving on maintained gravel, suitable for any vehicle though the levee sections can get muddy after heavy rain when the Corps restricts access. Gates control entry at several points, so check with the ranger station first if you’re planning to explore beyond the main circuit. Open year-round except during flood events, but spring and fall offer the best weather and fishing. No camping on Corps property, but you get close-up access to serious flood control engineering and some productive fishing holes that most anglers never find.