Great Divide Wayside Park

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Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Great Divide Wayside Park is a popular tourist destination in the state of Mississippi.


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Summary

The park is located in Tishomingo County and offers visitors a chance to explore the natural beauty of the area. There are several reasons to visit Great Divide Wayside Park, including its beautiful scenery, hiking trails, picnic areas, and fishing opportunities.

One of the main points of interest in the park is the 65-foot-high rock outcropping, which offers stunning views of the park and surrounding area. Other highlights include the park's small lake, which is stocked with fish, and the hiking trails that wind through the park's wooded areas and over streams and creeks.

Interesting facts about Great Divide Wayside Park include its location on the historic Natchez Trace Parkway, which was once used by Native Americans and early settlers as a trade route. The park is also home to a variety of wildlife, including deer, foxes, and several species of birds.

The best time of year to visit Great Divide Wayside Park is during the spring and fall when temperatures are mild and the foliage is at its most vibrant. However, the park is open year-round and offers visitors a chance to experience the beauty of the area in all seasons.

       

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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