The man-made lakes, local ponds, and waterways in the area are great locations for canoeing and kayaking. You can even find paddleboarders enjoying the waters.
Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge
Take a short drive down Blackjack Rd from Starkville to get to the Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge where you’ll find Bluff Lake – the perfect spot for canoeing and kayaking.
Bluff Lake is 1,200 acres and dotted with cypress trees, American lotus, waterlilies, and lots of aquatic life. The rookery at the far end of the lake will be filled with egrets, herons, and wood storks at certain times of the year. You might even be lucky enough to spot an alligator on the lake while paddling. Just give them plenty of space.
The Friends of the Noxubee Refuge, an organization that supports the Refuge, hold free canoe days each year. It’s a great opportunity to test out your canoeing skills.
NEARBY LAKES
Choctaw Lake Recreation Area
Just 9 miles south of Ackerman, you’ll find Choctaw Lake inside the Tombigbee National Forest. Choctaw Lake is 100-acres in size and has a boat ramp.
Tenn-Tom Waterway
There is a paved boat ramp at the southern end of the Columbus Riverwalk parking lot (lower one) on the Tombigbee River that some boaters use to put in their canoes and paddleboards.
