Hiking
Experience the Reelfoot NWR more by enjoying one of our hiking trails!
Reelfoot NWR is made up of two different units, Long Point and Grassy Island, plus the Visitor Center area. You can find areas to enjoy at each location.
If you plan on hiking in the summer, please take water. Misquotes, horseflies and deer flies may be overly abundant during July, August and parts of September.
Backyard Habitat Hiking Trail
This quick and easy (gravel) trail is not quite 0.2 miles tand leads to two refuge ponds where you may view bald eagles, Canada geese, snakes and turtles. Interpretive signage runs along the trail where you can learn about native warm season grasses and animals that use it. Hikers can turn around and walk 0.2 miles back to the Visitor Center or you can continue to walk around the last pond to the trail that connects to a levee and enters into a forested area. This portion of the trail would be considered moderate difficulty with trail base being grass and bare ground. A steep incline at the end brings you to the back of the Visitor Center.
Grassy Island Hiking Trail (CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE)
This trail is found mid-way down our Grassy Island Wildlife Drive, which is just one mile north of the Visitor Center. Half of this trail is gravel, while the other half is 3 separate sections of boardwalk. Interpretive signs run along the trail, as well as several benches so you can stop and enjoy the relaxing sights and sounds of the bottomland hardwood forest. When you complete the trail, you will need to walk the winding paved road back to your vehicle. Total mileage: 0.96 miles
Grassy Island Viewing Tower
At the end of the Grassy Island Wildlife Drive, which is one mile north of the Visitor Center, you will end at a long, curved pier. This pier leads to a newly renovated viewing tower which overlooks Reelfoot Lake. In fall and winter, you may see waterfowl, bald eagles and white pelicans. During the summer you will see a variety of plant life, such as lily pads, duck weed and swamp rose mallow, along with herons, egrets and the occasional eagle. During spring, osprey, herons, egrets, and bald eagles are seen regularly, along with a variety of migratory songbirds. Even if you are unable to get out of your vehicle, this 3 mile Wildlife Drive is stunning. You may see white-tailed deer, turkey, raccoons, snakes or turtles crossing the road at any point.
Running Slough Road
This 3 1/2 mile gravel road runs along the Bayou Du Chein where you can view wood ducks, turtles and other wildlife. You can drive down this road or pull over at one of the designated parking areas and walk. This is an especially beautiful place in the fall as the leaves are changing and falling. There is a logging road at the end of the gravel road that hikers can explore.
Logging Roads
Logging roads are trails that are unmarked and mowed periodically for hunters to access areas for deer, squirrel and raccoon hunting. The average hiker is more than welcome to use these logging roads to explore the refuge. There are three logging roads located at Long Point and 2 at Grassy Island. Contact Tara Dowdy for more information regarding these trails and their conditions. Hikers are highly encouraged to not explore logging roads during any of our designated quota hunts.
