Bienville National Forest spans parts of Scott, Smith, Jasper, and Newton counties in central Mississippi. Named for Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, it covers 178,541 acres of pine and oak woods within the Southeastern mixed forests ecoregion, with the upper Leaf and Strong rivers crossing its terrain. The forest supports camping, hiking, boating, and fishing at Marathon Lake and Shongelo Lake, and its wildlife management areas sustain species including white-tailed deer and wild turkey. It also protects notable natural habitats through two National Natural Landmarks: Harrell Prairie Botanical Area, preserving rare Jackson Prairie, and Bienville Pines Scenic Area, safeguarding a major old-growth loblolly pine stand.

Forest, Mississippi · USA