If someone told you one of Mississippi\u2019s best state parks looked more like Appalachia than the Mississippi you probably picture in your head, would you believe them? We probably wouldn\u2019t have either. Then we visited Tishomingo, Mississippi<\/a>, for the first time several years back while working our way south along the Natchez Trace Parkway<\/a>, and the landscape caught us completely off guard.<\/p>\n Instead of the flat Delta terrain so often associated with Mississippi, we found massive sandstone outcroppings, fern-covered forests, rocky creek beds and trails that climbed through terrain that felt more like our home state of Tennessee. Tishomingo State Park alone has 13 miles of hiking trails, none longer than three miles, plus a swinging bridge built across Bear Creek in 1939. And the state park was just our introduction.<\/p>\n Note: This post is sponsored by Tishomingo County Tourism<\/a>. All thoughts are our own.<\/em><\/p>\n In Mississippi\u2019s northeastern corner along the Alabama and Tennessee borders, Tishomingo County is shaped by water as much as it is by rock. Pickwick Lake spreads across its northern reaches, while Bay Springs Lake and the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway cut through the county farther south. Add waterfalls accessible only by boat, lakefront state parks, Mississippi\u2019s highest point and one of the most scenic stretches of the Natchez Trace Parkway, and this little corner of Mississippi packs a surprising amount of outdoor adventure into a relatively small footprint.<\/p>\n It\u2019s also an easy addition to a trip through North Alabama, with Florence and Muscle Shoals less than an hour away. Tupelo is about an hour southwest, while Memphis, Birmingham, Huntsville and Nashville are all within road-trip range.<\/p>\n We first experienced Tishomingo County as a stop along a longer Natchez Trace road trip, but after returning for a dedicated visit, we\u2019d argue against simply passing through. Give it a full weekend and you\u2019ll have time to hike among sandstone cliffs in the morning, spend an afternoon boating to waterfalls, shop downtown Iuka, and squeeze in plenty of barbecue and Southern breakfasts along the way.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s how we\u2019d spend 48 hours in Tishomingo County.<\/p>\n Tishomingo County covers more ground than you might realize, so where you stay should be determined largely by what you want to do.<\/p>\n If Tishomingo State Park and the Natchez Trace Parkway are the focus of your trip, look for a cabin or vacation rental around Tishomingo or Belmont. Staying on the southern end of the county puts you closer to the park\u2019s hiking trails and Bear Creek while making it easy to hop onto the Trace if you\u2019d rather explore by car or bike instead of foot.<\/p>\n My personal favorite option is Fern Hollow Treehouse Escape<\/a>, a rustic treehouse tucked into 65 wooded acres near Tishomingo State Park. It\u2019s two small structures connected by a catwalk, with the kitchen and dining area in one and the bedroom and bathroom in the other.<\/p>\n There\u2019s even an outdoor bathhouse surrounded by trees, a hammock swing, a firepit and a pond on the property for fishing. The owner also has a maximalist-themed cabin, the Gypsy Queen<\/a>, for rent across the street.<\/p>\n Be aware that this is legitimately a woodsy glamping experience rather than a conventional cabin: You\u2019ll encounter stairs, uneven terrain and all the things that come with sleeping in the forest like bugs. Still, I\u2019d happily trade a conventional hotel room for a couple nights here.<\/p>\n If Pickwick Lake, restaurants and downtown shopping are higher on your list, base yourself farther north in Iuka; you\u2019ll find plenty of lake houses and cabins scattered along the water. For a stay with more historic character, the King Lofts downtown<\/a>\u00a0put you within walking distance of much of the city\u2019s retail corridor.<\/p>\n Once you\u2019ve settled into your cabin, treehouse or loft, spend your first afternoon to Iuka, Tishomingo County\u2019s largest community and the best place to get acquainted with the area beyond its outdoor attractions. Downtown is compact enough to explore on foot, with a traditional town center populated by independent boutiques, antique stores and restaurants. It\u2019s also home to one of the more unusual museums we\u2019ve encountered on our Mississippi travels.<\/p>\n Yes, you read that correctly: an entire museum devoted to aprons, roughly 8,000 of them in fact. A museum so quirky that the New York Times<\/em> devoted an entire feature to it.<\/a><\/p>\n The Apron Museum\u2019s<\/a>\u00a0collection dates from the 1800s through today, from embroidered family heirlooms and aprons made from feed sacks to retro mid-century patterns. What sounds like an oddball roadside attraction actually offers an interesting window into changing American domestic life, fashion and textile traditions. Because hours can vary, I\u2019d confirm they\u2019re open before making a special trip.<\/p>\n From there, head a few blocks to the Old Tishomingo County Courthouse Museum<\/a>. Housed in a 19th-century courthouse, its collection stretches across several thousand years of local history with artifacts, photographs and exhibits covering the region\u2019s Indigenous history, Civil War era and subsequent development. It\u2019s also said to be haunted, but shhhh<\/em>\u2014you didn\u2019t hear that from me.<\/p>\n By now, you\u2019ll probably be hungry, and this definitely isn\u2019t the weekend to go vegetarian because Tishomingo has several restaurants that specialize in smoked meats. Lil Smokies<\/a> is a casual local favorite serving smoked meats alongside the Southern sides you\u2019d hope to find at a Mississippi barbecue joint. Pulled pork and ribs are obvious choices, though the smoked baked potato makes a meal of its own. And if there\u2019s homemade pecan pie or cheesecake in the case, plan accordingly.<\/p>\n One of my favorite ways to get a feel for a destination is wandering its locally owned businesses, and Iuka has plenty.<\/p>\n The Curated Cottage mixes vintage finds, upcycled furniture, home d\u00e9cor, apparel and locally made goods from multiple vendors under one roof\u2014and Harris, the resident cat, may or may not supervise your shopping.<\/p>\n O\u2019Claires Boutique carries clothing in an unusually broad size range, along with gifts, accessories and home goods, while antique hunters can continue their search at Hodge Antiques. Other downtown stops include Grace & Gratitude, 3 Sisters and Deli\u2019s Treasures.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re visiting on a Friday during market season, save some time for the Tishomingo County Farmers Market. The evening market runs from 4 to 7pm beginning in May and into October, with seasonal produce, baked goods, flowers, crafts and goods from area makers. It also seems to bring out everyone\u00a0<\/em>in the county for one big social gathering.<\/p>\n For your first dinner, walk over to the Spotted Cow<\/a>, a newer addition to downtown Iuka that serves burgers and wings alongside steaks, seafood and Southern-inspired dishes. There\u2019s also a full bar if you want to pair dinner with a cocktail.<\/p>\n Before calling it a night, head to Mineral Springs Park, one of Iuka\u2019s longstanding gathering places. The park takes its name from the natural mineral springs that helped put Iuka on the map in the 1800s. Today, its mature trees, walking trail and spring-fed water make it a great place to stretch your legs after dinner, while families will also find a playground, basketball and tennis courts, skate ramps, splash fountains and the iconic covered bridge.<\/p>\n One thing we love about Tishomingo County is just how much water there is. Pickwick Lake stretches across three states\u2014Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee\u2014and forms much of the county\u2019s northern playground. Summer weekends revolve around boats and marinas, whether you\u2019re fishing, swimming or cruising the wooded shoreline, though Mississippi\u2019s temperate climate stretches lake season well beyond summer.<\/p>\n And while you can certainly appreciate Pickwick from land, some of its most memorable sights require a boat. But first, breakfast.<\/p>\n Start your morning in downtown Iuka at Cream & Sugar Cafe<\/a>, a local coffee shop serving breakfast throughout the day in the same space the Spotted Cow occupies at night. You could go the eggs-and-bacon route, but when cinnamon roll French toast is an option, I\u2019m rarely going to tell you to order oatmeal instead.<\/p>\n From there, head to Safe Harbor Aqua Yacht Marina<\/a>, a massive full-service marina with hundreds of slips and access directly onto Pickwick Lake.<\/p>\n There\u2019s no quintessential Tishomingo day like one spent on Pickwick. Give yourself several hours to explore rather than treating the lake as something to see from shore. Its broad open water, wooded coves and rocky shoreline give you an entirely different perspective on the county.<\/p>\n One of your first stops before the crowds arrive should be Cooper Falls, a 50-foot waterfall hidden in a cove of J.P. Coleman State Park. There\u2019s no hiking trail leading to it; Cooper Falls is accessible only by boat, which is part of the fun. Approach from the water and you\u2019ll see the falls spilling over a broad rock face directly into the lake.<\/p>\n While we saw some teenagers haphazardly climbing the falls, we don\u2019t recommend following their lead: The rocks are slippery, and there\u2019s no trail access if you suddenly find yourself needing to shimmy back down.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Then make your way toward Goat Island, which is exactly what its name promises. Goats live on a secluded portion of the island and have become accustomed to visiting boaters, many of whom have no trouble serving as the goats\u2019 culinary benefactors. It\u2019s weird, completely delightful and inevitably one of the stories you\u2019ll tell when you get home.<\/p>\n Part of the appeal of lake life is not having to get back into the car for lunch. Pull into East Port Marina & Resort<\/a>, with its casual waterfront restaurant serving burgers, salads, wraps, barbecue, pizza and drinks aplenty. The best part? You can dock alongside the restaurant, grab lunch, then head straight back onto the lake.<\/p>\n Eventually, make your way to J.P. Coleman State Park<\/a>, which occupies a bluff overlooking Pickwick Lake north of Iuka.<\/p>\n The setting alone is worth the stop, with wooded hills sloping down toward Pickwick. The park also has a marina, boat launch, fishing areas and nature trails, making it one of the best spots to appreciate the lake without actually getting on a boat.<\/p>\n Back on dry land, head to Country Squire for dinner. This longtime Iuka institution specializes in steaks, seafood and Southern classics served in an old-school, lodge-like dining room.<\/p>\n Then squeeze in one final geographical superlative before sunset: Woodall Mountain. At 806 feet above sea level, Woodall Mountain is the highest natural point in Mississippi. No, you aren\u2019t going to need supplemental oxygen\u2014or even hiking boots\u2014to summit it, but it\u2019s still fun to say you\u2019ve stood atop the highest point in an entire state.<\/p>\n Save my favorite part of Tishomingo County for your final morning. Tishomingo State Park<\/a> sits at milepost 304 along the Natchez Trace Parkway, where the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains create one of Mississippi\u2019s most distinctive landscapes.<\/p>\n This is not the flat Mississippi Delta that seems to stretch endlessly for miles. Here, enormous sandstone formations rise through hardwood forest and Bear Creek winds among boulders and rocky ledges. Ferns creep down the sandstone, trails duck beneath overhangs, and the terrain gives you plenty of opportunities for scrambling without requiring an all-day trek.<\/p>\n Another reason I love this park? You don\u2019t have to be a serious hiker to experience its best scenery. You can park, cross the swinging bridge and get a taste of the scenery without committing to a strenuous hike.<\/p>\n There are around 13 miles of hiking trails, but none of the individual trails is longer than three miles.\u00a0The landmark you\u2019ll see photographed most often is the 1939 swinging bridge over Bear Creek, but don\u2019t turn around once you\u2019ve crossed it. Continue into the woods, where you\u2019ll discover the sandstone formations, rocky creek crossings and craggy ledges.<\/p>\n If you have more than a morning, you could easily dedicate an entire day to the park. Beyond hiking, you can fish, play disc golf or picnic, while Bear Creek is popular for kayaking and floating.<\/p>\n The state park is also a natural place to connect the county\u2019s landscape with the history of the Natchez Trace Parkway. The Trace passes directly alongside the park, following a corridor through North Mississippi that humans have traveled for thousands of years. Tishomingo County takes its name from Chickasaw leader Chief Tishomingo, and the broader landscape surrounding the Trace was part of the Chickasaw homeland long before Mississippi\u2014or the United States\u2014existed.<\/p>\n After your hike, continue to Belmont for a late breakfast at Sparks Drive Inn<\/a>, a classic local diner with Southern breakfast staples and a decidedly unfussy atmosphere. There are also a handful of other shops and cafes, including Belmont Coffee Company<\/a>\u00a0and the adjacent bakery, though many are closed on Sundays.<\/p>\n Before heading home, make one final stop at C.C. Shook City Park, where a Mississippi Country Music Trail marker honors Belmont native Mac McAnally. McAnally grew up here and began singing gospel music at Belmont First Baptist Church before becoming a songwriter, session musician and producer. His career eventually earned him multiple CMA Musician of the Year awards, Grammy recognition and a longtime place in Jimmy Buffett\u2019s Coral Reefer Band. The marker provides another piece of the musical history woven throughout this corner of Mississippi and neighboring North Alabama.<\/p>\n Choose your home base based on your priorities<\/strong>. Iuka makes the most sense for Pickwick Lake, restaurants and shopping; Tishomingo puts you closer to Tishomingo State Park and the Natchez Trace. Time your trip for the outdoors. Spring through fall is ideal if getting outside is your priority. Summer is prime lake season, while spring and fall are better suited to longer hikes.<\/p>\n Try to arrive on Friday<\/strong>. The Tishomingo County Farmers Market operates Friday afternoons from 4 to 7pm during its May-to-October season and is worth planning your weekend around. It\u2019s also worth noting that many shops and restaurants in Tishomingo County are closed on Sundays.<\/p>\n Build flexibility into your lake day<\/strong>. Cooper Falls is only accessible by boat, so weather and water conditions can affect your plans.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t overlook the Natchez Trace<\/strong>. If you have another day, continue south toward Bay Springs Lake, Pharr Mounds and Tupelo. The Trace is what first brought us to Tishomingo County, and it\u2019s still one of our favorite ways to experience this part of Mississippi.<\/p>\n Some of the best things to do in Tishomingo County include hiking at Tishomingo State Park, boating on Pickwick Lake, visiting Cooper Falls and Goat Island, exploring downtown Iuka and driving the Natchez Trace Parkway.<\/p>\n A weekend gives you enough time to explore downtown Iuka, spend a day on Pickwick Lake and hike at Tishomingo State Park. Add another day if you want to explore more of the Natchez Trace Parkway or continue south toward Tupelo.<\/p>\n Tishomingo County is in northeastern Mississippi along the Alabama and Tennessee borders. Florence and Muscle Shoals are less than an hour away, while Tupelo is roughly an hour southwest.<\/p>\n Absolutely. Tishomingo State Park stands out for its sandstone formations, Bear Creek, historic swinging bridge and roughly 13 miles of hiking trails.<\/p>\n Spring through fall is ideal for outdoor activities. Summer is prime time for Pickwick Lake, while the milder temperatures of spring and fall are particularly good for hiking at Tishomingo State Park.<\/p>\n No. Cooper Falls is accessible only by boat from Pickwick Lake, so you\u2019ll need your own boat or another way to get onto the lake to see the 50-foot waterfall.<\/p>\n There aren\u2019t many places where you can hike through Appalachian foothills in the morning, boat to a 50-foot waterfall in the afternoon and end the day at the highest point in the state. Add in the chill lake culture, quirky locally owned businesses and a location within a few hours of some of the South\u2019s biggest cities, and Tishomingo County makes a compelling case for getting off the highway\u2014and staying awhile.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" If someone told you one of Mississippi\u2019s best state parks looked more like Appalachia than the Mississippi you probably picture in your head, would you believe them? We probably wouldn\u2019t have either. Then we visited Tishomingo, Mississippi, for the first time several years back while working our way south along the Natchez Trace Parkway, and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7063102,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[101478,224896],"tags":[15275,3931,23873,122913,224897,4766],"dealstore":[],"offerexpiration":[],"class_list":["post-7063101","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mississippi","category-tishomingo","tag-county","tag-lake","tag-mississippi","tag-pickwick","tag-tishomingo","tag-weekend"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.camelsandchocolate.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Tishomingo-State-Park-1.jpg)
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Where to stay in Tishomingo County, Mississippi<\/h2>\n
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Friday: Things to do in Iuka, Mississippi<\/h2>\n
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Visit the Apron Museum<\/h3>\n
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Lunch at Lil Smokies<\/h3>\n
Shop downtown Iuka<\/h3>\n
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Dinner at The Spotted Cow<\/h3>\n
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Saturday: Pickwick Lake in Mississippi<\/h2>\n
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Breakfast at Cream & Sugar Cafe<\/h3>\n
Get out on Pickwick Lake<\/h3>\n
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Lunch on the water<\/h3>\n
Explore J.P. Coleman State Park<\/h3>\n
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End the day at Mississippi\u2019s highest point<\/h3>\n
Sunday: Tishomingo State Park<\/h2>\n
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Breakfast in Belmont<\/h3>\n
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Know Before You Go<\/h2>\n
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FAQs about visiting Tishomingo County, Mississippi<\/h2>\n
What are the best things to do in Tishomingo County, Mississippi?<\/h3>\n
How many days do you need in Tishomingo County?<\/h3>\n
Where is Tishomingo County, Mississippi?<\/h3>\n
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Is Tishomingo State Park worth visiting?<\/h3>\n
What is the best time to visit Tishomingo County?<\/h3>\n
Can you visit Cooper Falls without a boat?<\/h3>\n
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