Homochitto National Forest

The Homochitto National Forest takes its name from the Homochitto River, which when translated means Big Red River.

This 192,000-acre forest in southwest Mississippi is a mecca for campers, hikers, mountain bikers and hunters.

The forest's Clear Springs Recreation Area offers camping, picnicking and swimming in a 12-acre lake surrounded by stands of pine-hardwood trees. A mile-long hiking trail encircles the lake.

For a longer hike, the Clear Springs hiking and mountain biking trail, a 25-mile loop trail, traverses pine upland sites, pine-hardwood slopes and coves and hardwood bottoms.

Recently, 1,075-acre Okhissa Lake within the forest became available for recreational use. Fishing, boating, picnicking, nature viewing, boat ramps, and 39 miles of shoreline are available at the lake.