Mcclure Shale Glade Nature Preserve
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
The McClure Shale Glade Nature Preserve is located in Tippah County, Mississippi.
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Summary
It is a protected area that features preserved habitats, including limestone glades, woodlands, and wetlands. The preserve is managed by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks.
Some good reasons to visit the McClure Shale Glade Nature Preserve include the opportunity to observe rare and unique plant species, such as the endemic McClure's spleenwort and limestone flame azalea. The area is also home to several rare animal species, such as the eastern box turtle and the Mississippi ringneck snake.
Visitors to the preserve can explore the area on foot and observe the natural beauty of the glades and woodlands. There are several hiking trails that wind through the preserve, including the Ruby Falls Trail, which leads to a beautiful waterfall.
Interesting facts about the area include the fact that the limestone glades were formed over millions of years through geological processes. The glades are home to a unique ecosystem that includes a variety of plant and animal species that are adapted to the harsh limestone environment.
The best time of year to visit the McClure Shale Glade Nature Preserve is in the spring and summer when the wildflowers are in bloom and the area is teeming with life. However, the preserve is open year-round, and each season offers its own unique beauty and opportunities for exploration.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
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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