Yellow Leaf Trails

In the Holly Springs National Forest, at the headwaters of the Yellow Leaf Creek, a watershed that flows into the Yocona River (and arguably the same creek Faulkner named "Whiteleaf Creek" in The Hamlet and As I Lay Dying), there exists a series of old settlement roads, which became logging roads.

Friends of Puskus proposes this to become a recognized trail area for Lafayette County called Yellow Leaf Trails.

This is the first trail, called Yellow Leaf Loop.

Notes of local interest

Note the LA-2 Proposed Botanical Area. According to this Forest Service document:

This is an area of old-growth hardwood forest in steep topography (Compartment 117, Stand 17) that was identified as being one of the best remaining areas of old-growth forest in Mississippi’s lignite belt during a 1980s evaluation done by Dr. Frank Miller at Mississippi State University’s remote sensing laboratory under contract to Mississippi Natural Heritage Program. The character of the area has changed significantly since its nomination due to flooding caused by beavers and subsequent tree mortality.

This is very cool! And we should protect this area! Even if all the trees are dead! Snags (dead trees) are wildlife habitat! You should go check it out! It's like 15 minutes from Square Books!

Wouldn't a bike path out here from the square be cool?

Yes!

Directions

The coordinates for the trailhead are 34.37833, -89.40560. If you plug that into Google Maps, then it won't take you to the right road. The trailhead is at the end of FS Road 849A. This Google Maps point will take you to that road. I'm not sure when the National Forest closes that gate, but maybe if enough people use it then we can ask nicely to open the gate open year round. As long as we act as good stewards!

I fudged on the switchback down the hill but after some bushwhacking (can't stress this enough don't go here if you don't like plants or bugs or water touching you) you can find the logging road and follow it.

I have the map of the hike if you can figure out Caltopo: https://caltopo.com/m/GR4Q5M1