Big Hill Pond: Nature, History & Adventure

Tucked just north of the Tennessee–Mississippi border near Tupelo lies Big Hill Pond State Park, a 4,138‑acre wild wonder resting along the Tuscumbia River and Cypress Creek

Big Hill Pond

🌿 A Pond with a Past

• The central 35‑acre “Big Hill Pond” began life in 1853 as a soil borrow pit for the Memphis & Charleston Railroad’s levee; over time, it filled naturally, and today it’s the largest such pond in Tennessee en.wikipedia.org+6tnmagazine.org+6en.wikipedia.org+6.

• The park is steeped in history: Civil War earthworks—constructed by Union troops to guard the railroad—still stand and are listed on the National Register of Historic Places en.wikipedia.org+3tennesseeencyclopedia.net+3en.wikipedia.org+3. Plus, nearby the 1862 Battle of Davis Bridge left its mark on this land thedyrt.com+9tennesseeencyclopedia.net+9highpoweredplanet.com+9.

🎣 Trails, Wildlife & Outdoor Fun

• Stretch your legs across approximately 30 miles of multi-use trails, including horse‑ and bike‑friendly routes tnmagazine.org+13highpoweredplanet.com+13highpoweredplanet.com+13.

• A highlight: a 70‑ft observation tower with sweeping views of Travis McNatt Lake, wetlands, and forest mississippientomologicalmuseum.org.msstate.edu+7thedyrt.com+7highpoweredplanet.com+7.

• Explore the boardwalk through Dismal Swamp, spotting deer, barred owls, waterfowl—and even bald eagles overhead thedyrt.com+1outdoorproject.com+1.

• Fishing and paddling are popular on both Big Hill Pond and spring‑fed Travis McNatt Lake (165 acres), with bass, bream, catfish, and crappie in abundance; the latter is a “Bill Dance Signature Lake” tripadvisor.cl+13tnmagazine.org+13en.wikipedia.org+13.