Hillside National Wildlife Refuge

Hillside NWR, established in 1975, occupies over 15,500 acres along the eastern edge of the Mississippi /Yazoo River Alluvial Plain in Holmes and Yazoo Counties. Refuge lands were purchased by the Corps of Engineers for their Hillside Floodway, Yazoo Basin Headwater Project which transformed much of the land into a silt collection sump. The purpose of the project is to allow silt-laden waters to settle before reaching the Yazoo and Mississippi Rivers, preventing costly dredging projects. The dominant habitats are bottomland hardwoods, cottonwood/willow areas, moist soil units, agriculture, and cypress/tupelo brakes. The northern portion of the refuge has been affected by siltation and has changed into a mono-culture of cottonwood/willow forest. The refuge supports numerous species of resident wildlife, neotropical migrants, wading birds and waterfowl. Hunting seasons are established for waterfowl and resident game species on certain areas of the refuge. A 0.6 mile disabled-accessible nature trail winds through a bottomland hardwood forest and cypress/tupelo slough off the South Levee Road. The trail provides opportunities for non-consumptive refuge users such as bird watchers, hikers, and school groups.

Travel north on Highway 49E from Yazoo City for approximately 14 miles and turn east at Thornton Road