Tanglefoot Trail: A Quick Tour

In October of 2013, the Tanglefoot Trail, Mississippi’s longest rail-trail, celebrated its official opening with ceremonies at the trail head in New Albany, Mississippi. The trail winds peacefully through 44.5 miles of the Appalachian Mountains foothills of Northeast Mississippi along the former corridor of Col. William C Falkner’s Gulf and Ship Island Railroad.

From its beginning in New Albany, Tanglefoot Trail meanders its way through Union, Pontotoc and Chickasaw counties to Houston, MS. The trail offers myriad scenes of Mississippi’s rolling foothills. Families can enjoy nature’s bounty of forests, wild life, pastures and wetlands on short walking trips entering the trail at a location near home. Cyclists and hikers can navigate the entire 44.5 miles, knowing that there is no lack of stopping places to rest or enjoy a snack.

Ecru, MS, whistle stop on the Tanglefoot Trail.

Convenient stopping places can be found in all of the towns along the trail. There are four “whistle stops” along the trail in Ingomar, Ecru, Algoma and New Houlka, where eateries, rest rooms and places to shop  are available.

Parking is also currently available at the locations of two future trailhead facilities: one at the north end of the trail in New Albany and the other at the trail’s southern end in Houston, with additional on street parking available in the connected towns.