Chickasaw National Wildlife Refuge

Location: Ripley

Chickasaw National Wildlife Refuge, located in Lauderdale County, Tennessee, spans approximately 25,006 acres along the Mississippi River floodplain. Established in 1985, it encompasses the state’s largest contiguous tract of bottomland hardwood forest, providing critical habitat for a diverse array of wildlife. The refuge is particularly significant for migratory birds, serving as a vital stopover and wintering area for species such as mallards, wood ducks, and hooded mergansers. Visitors to the refuge can engage in various wildlife-dependent recreational activities, including birdwatching, fishing, hiking, and nature photography. While the refuge offers several trails primarily used by hunters, these paths are also accessible to hikers and birders seeking to explore the area’s rich biodiversity.