Malmaison Wildlife Management Area Tombigbee River Bluff Trail

This WMA route follows ancient Choctaw hunting paths along the Tombigbee River bluffs, where 200-foot-tall hardwoods create a canopy so thick your GPS loses signal for miles. Starting from the main boat launch, the trail climbs through steep clay banks to reach the historic Malmaison plantation site, then drops into bottom timber where the old military road once connected Columbus to Aberdeen. The gnarliest section hits at the Big Bend overlook—a technical descent through loose shale that’s claimed more than a few oil pans.

This is difficult territory that demands 4WD with skid plates, recovery gear, and someone who knows how to use it. The clay turns to grease when wet, and those river bottoms flood fast during spring rains. Hunting seasons close sections September through January, so check with MDWFP first. No camping allowed, but the route opens up some of the most pristine river bottom habitat in Mississippi—the kind of place where you might spot a black bear or at least some trophy buck sign.