Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park

Lacing the meandering Mississippi River, this verdant park is indeed a naturalist's dream, cut through by winding trails, swamps and forests cloaked in hardwood and cypress. Here, the soaring Chickasaw Bluffs are adorned with carpets of oak and beech, and are traversed by a melange of mammals like deer, bobcats, foxes and beavers. A stunning amalgam of nature and biodiversity, the park shelters an array of lakes like the Poplar Tree Lake and Lake Piersol, which are deeply contrasted by dense woods and winding pathways. In addition, the park also houses a disc-golf course, an archery range and a nature center with exhibits demonstrating local wildlife. The park is also home to a beautiful, seasonally-open butterfly garden, as well as the Meeman Museum and Nature Center, a tribute to conservationist Edward J. Meeman.