Chickasaw National Wildlife Refuge

About Chickasaw National Wildlife Refuge

Chickasaw National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1985 and is 26,997 acres (June 2025). It has the largest tract of bottomland hardwood forest in Tennessee, and lies in the Lower Mississippi River floodplain. Eight miles of the refuge’s western boundary adjoins the Mississippi River. The refuge gets its name from the Chickasaw Indians, who historically occupied portions of west Tennessee, including Lauderdale County in which the refuge is located.

How to Get There

From Ripley and Highway 51, proceed approximately 6 miles north on Edith-Central Road (becomes Edith-Nankipoo after passing through 4-way stop at Edith). Turn left on Hobe Webb road and proceed approximately 1.5 miles to first road on the right. Turn right on Sand Bluff Road and proceed to the bottom of bluff. Refuge headquarters will be on the left.

Plan Your Visit to Chickasaw National Wildlife Refuge

Heading to Chickasaw National Wildlife Refuge? A few things to know before you go:

• Reservations: popular sites fill up fast — check Recreation.gov 6 months in advance
• Fees: day-use and camping fees vary; check current rates on the official park page
• Trash & pack-out: follow Leave No Trace principles
• Wildlife: store food in bear boxes where provided; never feed wildlife
• Weather: the 5-day forecast above is updated every 6 hours; verify just before you go

References & Official Resources

• Official Recreation.gov page
• View on OpenStreetMap
• Driving directions (Google Maps)