Lake Ramsey W.M.A. North of New Orleans has around 800 acres with a few short trails. As does a small tract north of Abita Springs, The Abita Creek Flatwood Preserve. Abundant pitcher plants and sundews as well as Long leaf pines.
The Desoto NF is separated into two main sections. The Tuxachanie is a great trail in the southern section. The northern section of Desoto is outside of Laurel and has the Longleaf Trail that cruises through huge stands of its namesake tree. Also you can run the trail in Mississippi’s oldest ultra trail race, The Mississippi 50 (now Mississippi’s only 100 mile trail race as of this year).
Thanks for the rec, I'll have to check out the Longleaf Trail! Years ago, I did a great backpacking overnight on the Shockaloe Trail in the northern section, but there weren't many longleaf pines along that route.
It’s actually called the Longleaf Horse Trail. Three loops totaling 21 miles. Primitive camp sites. All longleaf pine ecosystem. By far the muddiest trail run of my life - t’was awesome.
We are lucky to have a few wonderful longleaf "gardens" here in east Texas but not nearly the wonder that areas further east have. I've long wished the south/SE got its due for the biodiversity and beauty our region has but I'm also fond of not having throngs of crowds at all the haunts, too. More National Forests and National Preserves would certainly be nice, without the stringent ties that come with a National Park.
A fair concern! I recently noticed that Old Rag, at Shenandoah National Park, is now under a ticketing system. And I've written before about how miserable the experience at Great Smoky can be! That said, I'd be curious to see numbers/studies on visitation at Hot Springs and Congaree... or at New River Gorge after being elevated to NP status. I'm not sure they're yet drowning in visitors, Congaree especially, so it may be possible to get the NP designation without immediately becoming thronged.
Lake Ramsey W.M.A. North of New Orleans has around 800 acres with a few short trails. As does a small tract north of Abita Springs, The Abita Creek Flatwood Preserve. Abundant pitcher plants and sundews as well as Long leaf pines.
Thanks, George! I'm putting these on my list to check out.
The Desoto NF is separated into two main sections. The Tuxachanie is a great trail in the southern section. The northern section of Desoto is outside of Laurel and has the Longleaf Trail that cruises through huge stands of its namesake tree. Also you can run the trail in Mississippi’s oldest ultra trail race, The Mississippi 50 (now Mississippi’s only 100 mile trail race as of this year).
Thanks for the rec, I'll have to check out the Longleaf Trail! Years ago, I did a great backpacking overnight on the Shockaloe Trail in the northern section, but there weren't many longleaf pines along that route.
It’s actually called the Longleaf Horse Trail. Three loops totaling 21 miles. Primitive camp sites. All longleaf pine ecosystem. By far the muddiest trail run of my life - t’was awesome.
We are lucky to have a few wonderful longleaf "gardens" here in east Texas but not nearly the wonder that areas further east have. I've long wished the south/SE got its due for the biodiversity and beauty our region has but I'm also fond of not having throngs of crowds at all the haunts, too. More National Forests and National Preserves would certainly be nice, without the stringent ties that come with a National Park.
A fair concern! I recently noticed that Old Rag, at Shenandoah National Park, is now under a ticketing system. And I've written before about how miserable the experience at Great Smoky can be! That said, I'd be curious to see numbers/studies on visitation at Hot Springs and Congaree... or at New River Gorge after being elevated to NP status. I'm not sure they're yet drowning in visitors, Congaree especially, so it may be possible to get the NP designation without immediately becoming thronged.