Lake Tangipahoa Trail

Lake Tangipahoa Trail circles the shoreline of the 700-acre Lake Tangipahoa, the central feature of Percy Quin State Park in the piney woods of southern Mississippi. The lake was created in the 1930s by impounding the Tangipahoa River, and the surrounding landscape of loblolly pine and mixed hardwood forest has matured into a pleasant woodland setting over the intervening decades. The trail follows the lake margin through a variety of shoreline habitats including sandy beaches, rocky points, marshy coves, and forested upland bluffs above the water. Osprey are a common sight over the lake year-round, diving dramatically to catch fish in the shallows near the shore. Great blue herons and snowy egrets wade the shallow lake margins while belted kingfishers rattle from overhanging branches. The lake supports good populations of largemouth bass, bream, and catfish, and bank fishing is popular along accessible sections of the trail. Fall and winter bring migrating waterfowl to the lake, including ring-necked ducks, buffleheads, and occasionally loons. The park offers a full range of facilities including cabins, camping, swimming, boating, and fishing. The $4 vehicle fee applies. Percy Quin is one of Mississippi's most complete destination state parks and serves as a major recreational resource for the McComb area.