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Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge Fontainebleau Nature Trail
4.7 ★★★★★ 99 Google reviews · Running trail in Ocean Springs, Mississippi · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Mixed
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge Fontainebleau Nature Trail's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Scenic hiking area offering kid-friendly trails with minimal elevation changes.
What runners say about Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge Fontainebleau Nature Trail
“It's really well kept and marked.”
“One of the best walking trails that Ocean Springs has, with beautiful nature.”
“Quiet January morning at the realm of cranes, pellicans, herons and Eggens.”
Very well kept trails! Front board has a map of the trail. There was a note attached with an updated map. There were paper maps offered as well. One trail is 3/4 miles and the new one is 1.25 miles. 2 overlooks and absolutely breathtaking flora. Was originally worried about parking but there’s enough room for 4-8 cars.
Very nice quick hike. Not worth a 40 minute drive to but I would love to have a trail like to close to home, and I'm glad I went. It was beautiful out today. I didn't see hardly any wildlife but it's cold out so I wasn't expecting much anyways. The trail is well kept. Plenty of benches to rest if you need to.
Beautiful wooded trail with great signage of the different view areas. Well marked trails green / red with 2 different lengths. Very limited parking at the trailhead. Road is just dirt off the main road so look carefully when you come.
The entrance from the road is easy to miss and it is also on a very busy road. The park itself, is outstanding. Some of the aides on the walk paths need some TLC, but overall it checks a lot of boxes if looking for a walking trail. It is set in nature; so no buildings, vehicles, etc.
Trail conditions & character
“Entrance will sneak up on you, but you can turn around in the middle school parking lot that is just passed the parking area.”
“One of the best walking trails that Ocean Springs has, with beautiful nature.”
“I did the longer one and due to the slowness of our dog, it took over an hour.”
“Well marked trails green / red with 2 different lengths.”
“Quiet January morning at the realm of cranes, pellicans, herons and Eggens.”
“It’s a small sized gravel turn in, easy to miss but there is a sign on the opposite side of the road.”
Plan your run at Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge Fontainebleau Nature Trail
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Websitefws.gov
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 9 am–6 pm |
| Tuesday | 9 am–6 pm |
| Wednesday | 9 am–6 pm |
| Thursday | 9 am–6 pm |
| Friday | 9 am–6 pm |
| Saturday | 9 am–6 pm |
| Sunday | 9 am–6 pm |
Where to find Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge Fontainebleau Nature Trail
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