Mile 313.0 - LBD Buffalo River (Old mouth of the Homochitto River)

313 LBD Buffalo River (Old mouth of the Homochitto River)

Across the river from the Old River complex is the mouth of the Buffalo River, which meanders through the Mississippi bottomlands below Fort Adams, and is connected to Lake Mary during higher water levels. This is the old mouth of the Homochitto River, which was diverted down Washout Bayou. Paddlers can use the Buffalo for land access to Fort Adams if the river is above 20NG. Paddle up the Buffalo to a private landing located on the east side of the river at the base of the first bridge crossing (Jackson Point Road/dirt road between Lake Mary and Fort Adams). A short walk east will bring you to the hamlet of Fort Adams, where a small country store is located for basic provisions.

One mile east of Fort Adams one of the South’s most unusual landscapes is found in the deep ravines and cascading waterfalls of the Clark Creek Natural Area. In 1978 the State of Mississippi protected this natural wonder with 700 acres of some 50 waterfalls, ranging in size 10 to more than 30 feet in height. Steeply sloping loess bluff hills host a mixed hardwood and pine forest dominated by beech and magnolias. Uncommon trees found in the area are Southern sugar maple, serviceberry, umbrella tree, pyramid magnolia, chinquapin oak, big leaf snowball, silverbell, and witch-hazel. Here, visitors discover a variety of colorful migrating and resident birds; invertebrates; poisonous snakes; a rare land snail; the Federally endangered Carolina magnolia vine; and the State endangered fish, the Southern red belly face. The forest tract provides excellent habitat for another threatened species in Mississippi - the black bear. Clark Creek boasts a world champion record Mexican Plum and Bigleaf Snowball, and a Mississippi State Champion Hophornbeam.

Paddlers could hide their vessels and gear in the woods along the Buffalo River and enjoy a invigorating hike through Fort Adams to Clark Creek Natural Area, which would be a great relief to your paddle-weary arms and upper body. On the other hand, you could stay on the river a get a little taste of this glorious landscape. You will travel below the same loess bluffs that created this spectacular landform when you paddle past Knox Landing, as described below. You won’t see the waterfalls, but you can stop and walk along the base of the same bluffs at the mouth of Clark Creek.