Enjoy the Great Outdoors in Yazoo County
Whether you’re into hunting and fishing birdwatching, water sports, camping, agrotourism, or outdoor art installations, you’re sure to find plenty of opportunities to enjoy yourself in Yazoo County.
Explore the County’s Public Lands
Yazoo County offers ample public spaces in which to partake in numerous outdoor activities. At the county’s National Wildlife Refuges, you can grab your camera or binoculars to catch a glimpse of the many birds that migrate through this region. The Panther Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, which is the largest in the state of Mississippi, covering 40,000 acres of bottomland hardwood forest, cypress-tupelo sloughs, and bayous, is home—at least for part of the year—to many species of birds, including prothonotary warblers, red-headed woodpeckers, Carolina chickadees, loggerhead shrikes, and mallards. You can also see several mammals—deer, rabbits, black bears, and racoons—as well as the South’s iconic American alligator. In the fall, hunters roam the woods for squirrel, rabbit, and deer, whereas in the spring, the turkeys are the main target. Fishing is also quite popular here, with plentiful catfish, largemouth mass, and crappie swimming in the refuge’s many ponds and bayous.
Northeast of Panther Swamp NWR, visitors to Hillside National Wildlife Refuge will find thick forests of oak and cottonwood trees, with willows, bald cypress, and tupelos at lower elevations. Birdwatchers will thrill at the numerous wading birds found here, including great blue herons, snowy egrets, and double-crested cormorants.
Hunters seeking to bag a deer will enjoy the Lake George Wildlife Management Area. This 8,383-acre parcel contains exceptional deer habitat because the bulk of the land is regrowth forest, with plenty of browse for eating. The numerous waterways in this WMA also support a healthy duck hunting crowd, as well as small game, such as bobwhite quail and rabbit.
Be Enthralled in Outdoor Artwork
Taking the time to enjoy artwork doesn’t mean you’re stuck indoors. Take a stroll through the streets in Yazoo City’s historic business district to be surrounded by the colors and inspiration of numerous murals that brighten the buildings’ walls. “Welcome to Yazoo,” which greats passengers arriving at the Amtrak platform depicts the many reasons people love to visit this city. Across from the Triangle Cultural Center, “Yazoo’s Lost History” shows the former post office, a victim of the 1904 fire that destroyed much of the city’s downtown. Over on Main Street, check out the kaleidoscope of colors of the guitar-shaped sculptures created by local artists, a nod to the region’s ties to the Delta Blues.
The Mississippi Barn Quilt Trail includes displays of the traditional hand-made quilts, featuring distinctive, colorful geometric patterns. The trail runs throughout the state, with 16 quilts featured in Yazoo County. Stop by one or several of the locations to admire the handiwork involved in these beautiful, yet everyday items. Some of the in-town locations include Anderson’s Jewelry, Ubon’s Barbeque, and Blue Front Cafe, and Main Street Market.
Spend a Night under the Stars
If you love spending time in the great outdoors, why not spend the night there? Yazoo County is home to several RV campgrounds, including Petermann RV Park in Yahoo City and Piney Creek RV Park with 50-amp hookups and a stocked pond just waiting for you to cast your line. The Delta National Forest also offers limited RV camping and plentiful tent camping, with no hookups.
No camper? No problem—check out M. J. Cabins on Wolf Lake, 14 miles from downtown Yazoo City. Two one-room, air-conditioned cabins are perched on the lakeshore and sleep up to five people. They’re fully furnished, including linens and towels, multiple decks, fire pit, grill, and dock.
Splash Around
Visitors to Yazoo County looking to spend some time on the water should head to Wolf Lake. Whether you’re into water skiing, wakeboarding, or just a quiet paddle, this 18,000-acre, 15-mile-long lake offers room for everyone to enjoy the water. Known as “the Delta’s best-kept secret,” families have enjoyed this lake for its great fishing, clean water, and proximity to Yazoo City. Spend the day enjoying the cool waters, or spend a night or two at M.J. Cabins, mentioned above.
Touring and Tasting the County’s Treasures
A visit to the 250-acre working Wells Ranch in Bentonia is sure to delight visitors of all ages. You can tour the ranch and learn about the various animals living there. Why not even take a tour on horseback or four-wheeler?
To get a taste of the real South, try some of the county’s specialties. Hines Groceries in Yazoo City is more than a supermarket—it’s a sit-down family restaurant and country store. Serving up traditional cuisine since 1985, it’s a popular spot among locals and visitors alike. Be sure to try the house-made sausage! Pick up a package of crunchy cheese straws from the Mississippi Cheese Straw Factory. Family-owned since 1991, these savory treats are made from the owner’s mother’s heirloom recipe.
To learn about the agricultural heritage of Yazoo County and its importance in the region’s history, sign up for a tour from a local guide that will lead you through the backroads to cotton gins, honey farms, and catfish farms. Many tours include samples of food and provide the chance to enjoy the rural landscape.
