Beautiful park. Stayed in cabin 6. Updated and well kept. Doesn't feel like Mississippi at all here.read more

Nestled along the back roads of Tishomingo County, this park feels like a second home. With hiking…read moretrails for every level of experience, there's truly something for everyone. The campground offers over 60 sites, plus six cozy cabins. Three of these are rustic stone cabins with two rooms each, while the other three are smaller, single-room cabins. Cabin Six has been beautifully updated with new floors, furniture, appliances, and a modern bathroom. For larger groups, the park also has three group camp cabins--each with 20 bunk beds and spacious bathrooms that include showers, toilets, and sinks. The park is full of history and adventure. Visitors can explore the Pioneer Cabin and its nearby waterfall, or cross the famous swinging bridge--a suspension bridge that stretches 25 feet over Bear Creek. On the other side, you'll find two trails perfect for bouldering, rock climbing, or simply wandering through the forest. Wildlife is abundant, with deer, squirrels, raccoons, and plenty of other critters calling the park home. There are three scenic pavilions for picnics or gatherings. Pavilion One has restrooms nearby, Pavilion Two overlooks Haines Lake, and Pavilion Three also offers a beautiful view of the water. The dining hall is available for weddings, reunions, meetings, and other special events. Fishing enthusiasts will love the three fishing spots: Haines Lake, a quiet pond behind the Pioneer Cabin, and Bear Creek beneath the swinging bridge. For families, the park includes two playgrounds, a sports field, and plenty of picnic tables with cast-iron grills scattered throughout. Outdoor fun continues with three disc golf courses designed for different skill levels. And when it's time to clean up, the campground features two bathhouses that are always kept tidy by the hardworking park staff. Tishomingo State Park is more than just a destination--it's a place where history, nature, and community come together.

Under new ownership and they have done an amazing job! Store is well stocked, outside sitting area…read moreis nicely done with the creak meandering past. The paths are well marked and clear. Past the Natural Bridge is rooty, so take care with those not sure footed. I highly recommend the visit and will return. Hosts were very informative as well, so ask questions

This was a last-minute stop based on a sign I saw along the side of the road, and it was absolutely…read moreworth it! I had some difficulty finding it, as there is a town called "Natural Bridge." Google directed me there, and not to the park, itself, which caused some confusion. Coming in from the I-10, take highway 13 North to road 278. Turning RIGHT takes you to the town. Turning LEFT takes you to the bridge. There are some signs, but they are worn, and obscured by vegetation. Arriving at the park, one is immediately greeted with picturesque views, and a trickling creek. The trees are majestic, and the parking ample. It's important to remember that this is rural Alabama, and not some big city. The admission is inexpensive, and the trails are simple. The people that run the gift shop are country folk, and are very kind. Mind your manners (and your children). Stay on the trails, walk carefully, and do what the sign says - "Take only pictures .....leave only footsteps. With that said, this place was amazing. The bridge is absolutely breathtaking, as is the rock formation called "Indian Head." Many inscriptions - some over 100 years old - are carved into the surrounding sandstone. There is dripping water under the bridge, so watch your step! The trail is primitive and there are roots sticking out here and there - be careful! Shoes with traction are a MUST here for safety reasons! Enough said - go enjoy this natural wonder for yourself!

Great place to picnic, swim, fish, kayak, hike, and mountain bike. Most mountain bike trails are…read moreacross the road from the river near ranger station.

Such a beautiful park. Plenty to do and entertain the kiddos of all ages. Shady and easy to get a…read moregood walk in. Lots of photo opportunities as well.

It's a well kept historic area. There are a lot of sitting areas under large shade trees that make…read morefor a pleasant walk through the various working springs, log cabin and covered bridge.

Nice walk in the park in Corinth, TN. Statues and information along the short walk in a woodsy…read morearea. This is a memorial of the slaves that traveled to find freedom prior to the Emancipation Proclamation.

I remember passing by this park shortly after it was built and thinking to myself 'what an odd name…read morefor a park. Was it built from proceeds of police confiscated items sales?' What you see from the road is a large iron gate with Contraband written across it. From the road you can see trees, a walk way and grass. Nothing really impressive from the road, but what you get when you pull in, park and get out is a little more impressive. I don't know all the details and history behind this piece of land and, in a nutshell, what I gleaned from my walk through is that a lot of African-Americans fled Southern plantations and farms seeking freedom and protection. They thought (Union-occupied) Corinth to be a safe location. Some of these escaped slaves were recruited as teamsters, cooks and laborers and male refugees were armed and placed in charge of security at the new camp in Corinth. I read somewhere that these escaped slaves were referred to as contraband of war, so I assume, hence the name of the park. Life-like bronze figures, like the ones at the Interpretive Center, surround the trail through the camp, depicting their life, such as, gardening, reading, fighting and washing clothes. There is no admission fee and it is open from daylight to dark and there is a small area for parking. It is located a little off the beaten path and may be hard for visitors to find, but it is worth the little effort it takes to find it. The kids should enjoy the figures and it could be a great opportunity to teach them a little history without it feeling to them as if they are learning something.

The flora, fauna, and typography of this canyon are not very different from any other hiking area I…read morehave hiked in Alabama. It's very similar to Bankhead National Forest. The size of the sheer bluffs (and many of the rocks) at Dismals is fairly unique, though. We visited this past weekend and I thought the whole experience was okay. It's not a National Park, or a National Forest, Dismals is a "National Natural Landmark" that is privately owned. The cost in my humble opinion to hike (without a guide) the Dismals *and* take the night tour with a guide is expensive! It was approximately $28.00 per adult. The trail is around 1.5 miles - at least the trail we explored in the daytime before taking the night tour. The creek running through the base was deep enough that there needed to be ways to cross it that were navigable, preferably with handrails. In photos, I've seen concrete blocks, which would have been okay (note, not handrails) but there were no concrete block crossing at areas we needed/wanted to get across the water. There were random pieces of wood, even fallen trees and my husband, who is both a "daredevil" and in great shape, managed to traverse the waters to see the other side, but he did land in the water (on his feet) and absolutely soaked his shoes and socks. The three of us opted to backtrack and not deal with the water. To me, this is very poor planning on the part of the Dismals owners. The trail map we got from the "General Store" had landmarks which were just "cute" names for the features, like "The Pulpit" and "Witches Den" - to me, they were fairly unremarkable "landmarks." Fast forward to the night tour which was scheduled for 9:00 PM. We were told to arrive at 8:30 and if everyone was early, we could start early. I did not note the time we started, however, it was about a 45 minute hike. Parts of this hike were in total, 100 percent darkness to ensure we had the utmost opportunity to view the "Dismalites." That's fine, except, I'm not a fan of walking in uneven/unfamiliar terrain in the pitch dark, with my husband dragging me forward in a group of 13 people counting the guide. This was unnerving and I moved at a snail's pace, and held up those who were stuck behind me. Also, I was hanging onto the rail with one hand and couldn't physically rubberneck around to try to catch a view of a glowworm. I think I saw a total of twelve glow worms. After exiting the night tour trails, we saw firefly larvae that glowed in the shallow water at the entrance to the trail. To me, this was the highlight of the glowing visuals. Another con is the numerous wooden staircases at the Dismals trail's entrance/exit. There is absolutely no way these are constructed to code! These stairs are so narrow in depth that my size 8 ladies shoes, (which is an average women's shoe size) hung off the edge about 2 inches, forcing me to "duck walk" down the stairs. Even if they are built to code, the stair treads are completely worn off, providing absolutely no traction whatsoever. The guide told us due to the "drought" the Dismalite glowworms were not out in abundance. If you keep your expectations low, and really enjoy a sandstone gorge/canyon, and are not risk averse, you will have a nice time here. Our tour guide did a good job providing information that was geared towards the audience which included age ranges from children to senior citizens. I can't comment on the "General Store" food options because we didn't eat anything there, or the campsites (note, the on-site cabins are closed and unavailable). The sole restroom which is a little walk from the General Store and is clean with a barely working hand dryer and no paper towels. The parking lot is ridiculously small with each space being beyond small. The owners of the Dismals need to invest in their property to make it worthwhile, easy to traverse, and safe for their visitors.

Parents Beware Before Approving School Field Trips Here…read more I want to share my recent experience as a concerned parent. Our children's school scheduled a field trip to Dismals Canyon and collected payment for the students. Parents were originally told that we could attend for a $20 fee -- but at the very last minute, the site informed the school that parents would no longer be allowed to go. When I contacted the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce (who were kind and helpful), they reached out to Dismals Canyon for clarification. The canyon's staff claimed the decision was due to parking limitations, parents distracting the kids from learning, and tight spaces. However, this change was communicated only after money had already been collected and plans were finalized. Parents deserve transparency, especially when it involves children's safety at a location with cliffs, caves, and water features. I strongly urge other parents and schools to ask clear written confirmation of parent policies before sending children on field trips here. Families should not be excluded or misled after payments and plans have been made.

Best to use this trail in colder months when it's not so grown up and has bugs and snakes, but it…read moreis an absolute gem of a trail with a great starting and ending point.

Scenic area beside Tennessee River just below Wilson Dam. New playground has fun activities for…read morelittle ones while adults enjoy scenery and bird watching (always waterfowl and sometimes eagles). There is a short hike on the trail toward the dam that goes between a beautiful bluff and the river.

Veterans Memorial park is a lovely stop in Tupelo, Mississippi, for outdoor activity. The park is…read moreconveniently adjacent to multiple kids baseball fields, the Tupelo Aquatic Center, the Nature Bend Music Trail, The Tupelo Dog Park, and even the birthplace of Elvis Presley (Museum). The park offers several miles of walking, which can easily be stretched several more, if you combine it with the Music Trail. There's a lengthy Disc/Frisbee Golf course that weaves through both the Music Trail and Veterans Park. There's a splash pad (currently being worked on) for kids, as well as a small playground. There's also a large lake, which state license holders can fish in. Don't have a license? Hop on the internet and grab one (1) on the fly. With particular reference to Veterans, there are markers all over, highlighting Mississippi Veterans and their service and sacrifice(s) through multiple wars and campaigns. There's also a replica of the Vietnam War Memorial.

Beautiful and heart wrenching as well. Thank you to all who have served and lost their lives. My…read morefamily and I appreciate it and you are not forgotten. Pow-Mia. I think everyone should check this place out if you're in the area. Freedom is never free.

This isn't really a 'park' per say. It's just a nice patch of grass and a pond. We stopped here on…read moreour road trip off the 40. It was a little to far off the freeway. I would have preferred a regular rest stop. That being said it's a pretty stop and I would recommend it if you have a puppy or kids in the 4-7 range.

Great campground. Well maintained and close to amenities. Sites are large and level. Nice beach…read morearea, playground and lakeside sites. We stayed in January so it was very quiet as in we were one camp of three in the entire park. Not a lot of easily identifiable hiking trails. I was told they exist but never did find them. Host campers and volunteer staff were great people. Only complaint was the cold temperatures..... but that one is even beyond the Federal government ability to control. Will stay again.