Featured image: Explore Ridgeland
Fall is in the air, and with cooler weather down South comes a strong desire to head outside. Windows-down drives through golden-hued trees, campfires crackling after an early sunset, and pumpkin spice everything define days this time of year, and one Mississippi town is brimming with things to do to tackle your entire spooky season bucket list.
From scenic parkways to waterfront adventure and even eyes in the skies, check out these six outdoor activities in Ridgeland.
Planning your visit? Here’s everything you need to know.
Bike the Byways
When in Ridgeland, make plans to swap your four wheels for two. Grab a free bike from the Explore Ridgeland bikeshare program, an app-based offering with pickup locations at The Bike Crossing and the Ridgeland Visitors Center, then hit the trails for an adventure made all the more beautiful in autumn.
The Bike Crossing location is near the Chisha Foka Multi-Use Trail, a National Park Service-backed destination for joggers, walkers, cyclists, and nature enthusiasts of all sorts to get some fresh air. The trail routes near the Natchez Trace Parkway, the Ross Barnett Reservoir (The Rez), the Railroad District, the Renaissance at Colony Park, and more.
When you’re ready to up the ante on biking, catch a race at the Magnolia Ridge BMX Track – they take place every Saturday.
Walk Through Wildflowers
In Ridgeland, you’re encouraged to stop and smell the flowers all year long at the Ridgeland Wildflower Field. Wildflowers can bloom from early spring through late fall, making this a color-rich hotspot almost all year long. But during fall, the fields come alive in an entirely different way.
The Ridgeland Scarecrow Trail brings the community together in festive fashion – families, friends, and businesses craft adorable scarecrows to watch over the fields from mid-October through November, and a stroll through the field is a Ridgeland right of passage each fall.
Cast a Line
Fishing isn’t exclusively a summer activity. In fact, fish are more active in cooler temperatures, so your chances of catching a prop for your new profile pic are even higher in the fall. The Rez is a striped bass fishing destination, and during the fall, the fish are more likely to move to shallow water throughout the channel. Keep your eyes peeled for fallen trees near Low Head Dam and docks near Main Harbor Marina for your best chance.
If you’d rather not play the guessing game during your visit, book a tour with the Big Sip Crappie Guide Service and let the pros take the wheel.
Sail Away
Maybe you’d rather cruise The Rez instead of cast a line, and we can’t say we blame you. Boating options abound in Ridgeland, from pontoon rentals to kayaks and plenty of ramps to launch your own watercraft if you’ve brought it. Visit the Main Harbor Marina Store to secure your pontoon or double-decker rental, and grab a bite at the Pelican Cove Grill while you’re there.
Capital City Kayaks and Pearl River Kayaks both have large fleets available for rent near Ridgeland. Capital City offers shuttle services to Mississippi’s Crystal Lake for kayaking adventures, and Pearl River has multiple launch points along The Rez and the river.
Vintage Air Tours
Take to the harvest skies this fall just outside of Ridgeland with Vintage Air Tours. Pilot David “Candy Man” Mars whisks folks up in the air and back in time in a 1928 Curtiss-Wright Travel Air Biplane, an adorable aircraft complete with goggles, a helmet, and an open cockpit so you can feel that crisp fall air in all its glory.
Every last week of October, the plane brings kids to 400 feet and invites them to drop decorated pumpkins on targets along the runway. The event is free and open to the public.
Natchez Trace Parkway
The Trace itself is an iconic fall foliage destination from its origins in Natchez, Mississippi, all the way to its conclusion in Nashville. The Parkway routes through Ridgeland, with fall-forward points of interest including the Brashears Stand site, Boyd Indian Mounds, Sunken Trace hiking area, and French Camp Historic Village.
While a winding drive with the windows down is a lovely way to take in the Trace, consider also renting a bike and meandering your way through nearby trails.
This article is presented in partnership with Explore Ridgeland, a Modern South Founding Partner.
