Camp where Davy Crockett once lived in this Mississippi State Park

Trace State Park is located in northeastern Mississippi, just west of Tupelo. The park is an oasis that provides some sweet relief from the hustle and bustle of Tupelo.

The park surrounds the 565-acre Trace Lake, which offers various outdoor recreation. It’s an excellent spot for anglers. Trace Lake is regularly stocked with bass, catfish, redear, bluegill, and crappie. Make sure to check for license requirements. There are ramps for boats, and water skiing is permitted year-round.

Outdoor Recreation in Trace State Park

The park’s mixture of upland pine, hardwood, and wetland forests makes for a wonderful time spent in nature. There are miles and miles of trails in the park. The 1.5-mile Jason M. Stewart Memorial Trail is a charming morning or evening hike. It traces the outskirts of the lake and is a great way to see some wildlife. Hikers may see a wide variety of wildlife, including white-tailed deer and many different species of birds. Three trails in Trace State Park are open to mountain biking. The Moroney Trail is 6.5 miles, the Baker Trail is 3 miles, and the Nester Trail is 4.5 miles. The park also offers a 30-mile multi-use trail open to bikers, equestrians, and ORVs.

Two 18-hole disc golf courses are very popular with visitors. In fact, one of them is considered a professional course. Both are free and open to the public.

Camping in Trace State Park

Besides the outdoor recreation, the biggest reason to visit Trace State Park is its camping. You can reserve a beautiful campsite right on the shores of the lake. When we visited in the fall, only a few other people were staying; it was like having the entire park to ourselves. The park has 76 developed camping sites, 16 primitive tent sites, five cabins, and three cottages. You will appreciate the three bathhouses with hot showers and the laundromat if you are like us. That was a pleasant surprise after several long days on the road. There is also a dump station for RV’s and a playground for the kids in the Deer Run Campground Area. Reservations are recommended and may be made up to 24 months in advance online or by contacting the Park Office.

Davy Crockett in Trace State Park

If all that was not enough to make you want to visit or stay a few nights, the park also has some fascinating history. Davy Crockett moved to the area that is now the park after his defeat for re-election to Congress in 1835. He lived there briefly and worked as a horse trader with the Chickasaw Indians. While living in Mississippi, he learned of his friend Sam Houston’s plight in Texas and traveled there to help. He was later famously killed in the Battle of the Alamo.

Things to do near Tupelo, Mississippi

Trace State Park is a great place to set up a base camp. There are a bunch of cool things nearby as well. Visitors can hop on the Natchez Trace Parkway. It stretches 444 miles and runs just a few miles away from the park. The Parkway visitor center is located just a few miles north of Tupelo. In Tupelo, be sure to check out Elvis Presley’s Birthplace and the Tupelo National Battlefield; both are definitely worth a stop.

Enjoy your time in the park and everything Mississippi offers.