Chestnut Hills Nature Preserve
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
Chestnut Hills Nature Preserve is a 1,700-acre natural area located in the state of Mississippi.
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Summary
It offers visitors a chance to explore a diverse range of habitats, including hills, valleys, forests, and streams. There are several good reasons to visit the preserve, including hiking, birdwatching, and picnicking. It is a great place to escape the hustle and bustle of urban life and connect with nature.
Some specific points of interest to see at Chestnut Hills Nature Preserve include the 200-year-old chestnut tree that the preserve is named after, as well as the cascading waterfall, the limestone bluffs, and the rock formations that are over 500 million years old. Visitors can also see a variety of wildlife, including deer, bald eagles, and wild turkeys.
Interesting facts about the area include that Chestnut Hills Nature Preserve is home to one of the oldest naturally occurring chestnut trees in Mississippi. It is also home to several rare and endangered plant species, including the Ozark bluestar and the American hart's-tongue fern.
The best time of year to visit Chestnut Hills Nature Preserve is in the spring or fall when the weather is mild, and the foliage is at its most vibrant. However, the preserve is open year-round, and each season offers its own unique experiences.
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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.
Related References
Ballard Wildlife Management Area
Ohio River Recreation Area
Cache River Land And Water Reserve
Section 8 Woods Nature Preserve
Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge