Camping, trails, maps & photo credits — De Soto National Forest
De Soto National Forest in Mississippi offers Forest Service recreation at Big Biloxi Recreation Area, Airey Lake. For a walking or hiking visit, start with Airey Lake, Ashe Lake. Each recreation site has its own facilities and access rules; use the official maps and current site instructions to plan your visit.
Camping & reservations
The booking button opens official site-specific camping instructions for Big Biloxi Recreation Area. Check current reservations, first-come arrangements and any permit requirements there.
Big Biloxi Recreation Area ↗
The Big Biloxi Recreation Area lies on the banks of the Big Biloxi River. The area provides a cool, refreshing experience from cities nearby. Facilities include 25 camping units, all with utility hookups; a picnic area with a pavilion; bathhouse with hot showers; dump station; and a .5-mile nature trail. The river is an excellent place to fish for bream, bass and catfish. Big Biloxi Recreation Area is open year-round unless weather conditions require the area to be closed. This is a fee area and the fee station is located just beyond the entrance gate. There is a camp host on duty; however, users should make sure that they have correct currency before arriving at the recreation area. Please contact the De Soto Ranger District Office at 601-528-6180 for the current fees.
Reservations: The pavilion, which accommodates 50 people, must be reserved. Pavilion reservation is $40.
Site rules: Campgrounds are for recreational use only. All visitors to campers must pay overnight fees or leave by sundown. No loud noises that unreasonably disturb another are allowed. Loud noises include: radios, fireworks and generators. No firearms, air rifles or gas guns. No alcoholic beverages. Campground stay limit is 14 days from May 1-October 31 and 30 days from November 1-April 30. All pets must be on a leash (no longer than 6 feet). No livestock allowed. Operation of low PSI vehicles (3-4…
Airey Lake ↗
Picnicking, fishing and hiking are among some favorite activities that can be enjoyed at Airey Lake. Day hikers can access Tuxachanie Hiking Trail from this lake site. Group camping and a restroom are available by permit from the De Soto office.
Truck-camping & permitted overnight use
Turkey Fork is a popular recreation destination offering premier fishing, camping, picnicking and watersports activities, such as swimming and water skiing. It has two developed campgrounds, a boat ramp and floating dock, two swimming areas, three bathhouses and a 240-acre lake stocked with bass, crappie and bluegill. Turkey Fork's 20 RV campsites have picnic tables, grills, water and electrical hookups. A dump station is located within the campground loop. Day use visitors will find secluded picnicking sites located near the beach. A .75-mile hiking trail connects the day use area to the camping area.
No forest-wide permission to camp is implied. Check the district’s current dispersed-camping rules, designated areas, fire restrictions, stay limits and seasonal closures before choosing an undeveloped site.
Activities, hiking & trails
Airey Lake ↗
Picnicking, fishing and hiking are among some favorite activities that can be enjoyed at Airey Lake. Day hikers can access Tuxachanie Hiking Trail from this lake site. Group camping and a restroom are available by permit from the De Soto office.
Ashe Lake ↗
Ashe Lake Recreation Area was originally built to provide water for Ashe Nursery. The 8-acre lake is shallow with the deepest area about 15 feet. Visitors may enjoy fishing for bass, bream and catfish. For frisbee enthusiasts, there is an 18-hole ADHA-compliant frisbee disc golf course at this recreation area with nine holes. An 18-hole professional frisbee golf course can be found on the south side of the recreation site. Ashe Lake is a day use only area and no camping is permitted. The recreation area is open year-round, unless weather conditions require closing the site.
Maps & road access
- Official visitor maps, trail maps and Motor Vehicle Use Maps (MVUM) ↗
- Forest Service’s Interactive Visitor Map ↗
- motor vehicle use maps ↗
Consult the current Motor Vehicle Use Map for permitted motor routes, vehicle classes and seasonal designations. A route on an MVUM is not a guarantee that it is maintained or passable. Check current road closures and conditions with the district; carry an offline map.
Use the official directions for the exact named campground or trailhead; forest boundaries and administrative offices are not campsite entrances. Official directions / site access ↗
Before you travel
At review, the official Big Biloxi page flagged a temporary closure and linked current De Soto recreation-site closure orders. Check that status before planning a stay. Airey Lake group camping requires a permit from the De Soto office. Check current fire orders, services and access before traveling.
Source review: 2026-11-01. Conditions, fees, permits and availability can change. USDA Forest Service official information ↗
Photograph sources & licensing
Banner: De Soto National Forest near Brooklyn
A view of De Soto National Forest near Brooklyn .
Credit: Joe Furr (myself). Original source ↗ · Public domain ↗. Resized and cropped to match the profile display framing; original image source linked.
Second large photograph: Longleaf restoration landscape, De Soto National Forest
20190408-FS-DeSoto-003 The Longleaf Pine Ecosystem Restoration and Hazardous Fuels Reduction Project in the De Soto National Forest, Mississippi. (Forest Service photo by De Soto National Forest)
Credit: De Soto National Forest / Forest Service, USDA. Original source ↗ · Public domain ↗. Resized and cropped to match the profile display framing; original image source linked.
Photographs are real images of the named unit; no AI-generated photographs are used. Federal photo credit register.