Leaf River
The Leaf River is one of two major tributaries to the Pascagoula River. It has its origins near Forrest Mississippi and runs 185 miles until it joins the Chickasawhey to form the Pascagoula River just north of Salem Road near Merrill, George County, MS.
We have paddled the Leaf as far north as Oakahay Creek north of Hwy. 84 just east of Collins, MS.
The Leaf is a beautiful river with plenty of sandbars and small tributaries that form many small waterfalls as they empty into the larger river. Although the river is dotted with a number of public and private boat ramps, it is never crowded with boats and feels pristine as it winds through mostly rural countryside. Even where the Leaf passes through heavily populated Hattiesburg, it is buffered by thick forests and, except for some highway noise and occasional highway overpasses, it has the feel of wilderness.
Officials have recognized the Leaf's suitability for paddlers and recently designated two sections of the river as Pinebelt Blueways. The Upper Leaf River Blueway runs from the public boat ramp at Church Rd. near Eastabuchie to the public boat ramp at the Hwy 11 bypass in Hattiesburg, near Chain Park. The Middle Leaf River Blueway runs from the bypass to Sims Rd. The Lower Leaf River Blueway runs from Sims Rd. to Buck Creek Rd. in New Augusta, Perry County.
If you are interested in contributing to the effort to increase access and promote visibility of paddle friendly rivers and creeks in the Hattiesburg area, please consider the Piney Woods Conservation Group which is doing outstanding work in this area.
Click Below for NOAA Leaf River Water Level at Hattiesburg, MS
TWELVE LANDINGS - ELEVEN TRIPS
HOT COFFEE, MS
TO HWY. 84
OKAHAY CREEK/LEAF RIVER
HOT COFFEE, MS TO HIGHWAY 84
Launch – Hwy. 37, Hot Coffee, MS (Dirt drive to primitive sandbar)
Take Out - Highway 84 (Gravel drive to concrete boat ramp)
Distance - 5.3 miles
Time - 3.5 hours
Features (in order) -
Confluence with Leaf River- @ mile 3..2
Easterling Branch - @ mile 4 On Left
Gramtham Branch - @mile 4.1 On Right
Take Out on Left
Drive from Hattiesburg Train Station to Hwy. 37 Launch - 39 miles (47 minutes)
Drive from Hwy. 37 Launch to Hwy. 84 Landing -4 miles (5 minutes)
Drive from Hwy. 84 Landing to Hattiesburg Train Station - 37.7 miles (43 minutes)
CLICK HERE FOR WATER LEVEL AT COLLINS, MS
This section of the Leaf River actually requires a launch on Oakahay Creek at the town of Hot Coffee, MS. Four of us paddled this section in a canoe and a tandem kayak on June 26, 2021. The water was pretty high from all the recent rains we had, which ended up being a good thing, because of all of the snags we encountered on Oakahay Creek. This creek is virtually unknown to paddlers. We discovered it as a possible entry into the upper Leaf by searching the maps for possible landings. While the next logical landing above the Hwy. 84 boat ramp is Taylorsville, we had difficulty finding a spot to put in that is accessible to the public. We haven't given up on Taylorsville, but, in the meantime, we found the absolutely beautiful Oakahay Creek that took us a little closer to the source of the Leaf River.
We launched on Oakahay Creek at Hot Coffee, MS at the Hwy. 37 bridge. There is a dirt drive on the south/east side of the highway that leads over a steep bank down to a sandbar. There are a couple of sandy launch spots along the creek. The scenery along the river was spectacular with thick, lush vegetation all along the way through a rural, wooded countryside. As mentioned, we encountered about 3 log jams that hindered our progress to different degrees. Two were passable without fording but required squeezing under low logs at narrow points. The third was a double log that required us to drag the boats over.
Despite the snags, the creek was well worth the journey. There are numerous beautiful sandbars to play on, and we even found a good rope swing some locals had left for us to enjoy.
Approximately 3 miles down the Oakahay, we reached the its confluence with the Leaf River. We stopped here to swim and enjoy the contrasting waters of the two rivers. The Leaf was markedly warmer and of a lighter, muddy tint than the Oakahay. And, of course it was much deeper with a stronger current. Be careful swimming into the Leaf from the Oakahay, because the combined currents are too much to swim against and may force you to drift across the river and find the best way back to your boats.
The Leaf River at this point is still very deep and wide. In fact, it was wide and clear of snags all the way to Hwy. 84. There were, however, a few sandbars and shallows along the way. Also keep in mind that this trip was made in pretty high water. The Leaf was measuring over 5 feet at the Hattiesburg, MS water gauge.
We measured the distance on our Paddle Logger app as 6.1 miles. It took us nearly 3.5 hours with a lot of stopping and playing.
Hwy. 84 to Hwy. 588
MS HIGHWAY 588 TO MS HIGHWAY 590
Launch – MS Hwy.84, near Collins, MS (Dirt drive to concrete boat ramp)
Take Out - MS Hwy 588, near Sand Hill, MS (Gravel drive to concrete boat ramp)
Distance - 13.7 miles
Time - 6+ hours
Features (in order) -
Masons Creek - @ mile .9 On Left
Devil’s Den (Historic Marker- Hideout for Confederate Deserters associated with the Free State of Jones -located abt. 1500 ft. east of river - not visible from river) - @ mile 1.08 On Left
Smith Creek - @ mile 2.5 On Left
Little Creek - @mile 10.4 On Left
Big Creek - @mile 11.35 On Left
Martin Creek - @mile 12.55 On Left
Take Out on Left
Drive from Hattiesburg Train Station to Hwy. 84 Launch - 33 miles (44 minutes)
Drive from Hwy. 84 Launch to Hwy. 588 Landing - 12.6 miles (15 minutes)
Drive from Hwy. 588 Landing to Hattiesburg Train Station - 25 miles (33 minutes)
The northernmost public boat ramp on the leaf is at the Hwy. 84 overpass East of Collins, MS in Covington County. The Leaf is wide, although still shallow in places this far north. The trip from Hwy. 84 to Hwy. 588 is a bit long (approximately 13 miles) with a wide variety of terrain, from long white sand bars to steep clay banks and lots of woods.
Most likely because I was by myself on this trip, I spotted a few deer wading across a shallow portion of the river. (See video below).
Click Below for NOAA Leaf River Water Level Near Collins, MS
Hwy. 588 to Hwy. 590
LEAF RIVER
HWY. 588, SAND HILL, MS TO HWY. 590, MOSELLE, MS
Launch – Hwy. 588 (Gravel Drive to parking area & concrete boat ramp)
Take Out - Hwy. 590 (Gravel Drive to concrete boat ramp)
Distance - 7.15 miles
Time - 2.5-3 hours
Features (in order)-
Oakey Woods Creek - @ mile 1.32 On Right
Lowery Creek - @ mile 2.92 On Right
Hoskins Creek - @ mile 4.3 On Left
Mill Branch - @ mile 5.07 On Left
Rice Mill Creek - @ mile 5.95 On Right
Snows Creek - @ mile 6.41 On Right
Take Out on Left
Drive from Hattiesburg Train Station to Hwy. 588 Launch - 25 miles (33 minutes)
Drive from Hwy. 588 Launch to Hwy. 590 Landing - 7.4 miles (9 minutes)
Drive from Hwy. 590 Landing to Hattiesburg Train Station - 19.5 miles (26 minutes)
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This section of the Leaf River offers a gentle paddle of about 7.15 miles. It took us approximately 2.5 hours float time, but could take considerably longer when the river is low and if you make more stops. The river winds through rural woods and some pasture land.
Hwy. 590/Moselle to Eastabuchie/Church St.
LEAF RIVER
HWY. 590, MOSELLE, MS TO EASTABUCHIE/CHURCH STREET, PETAL, MS
Launch – Hwy. 590 (Gravel Drive to concrete boat ramp)
Take Out - Eastabuchie/Church St. (Gravel Drive to parking area & concrete boat ramp)
Distance - 13 miles
Time - 6-7 hours
Features (in order)-
Four Forks Creek - @ mile 1.2 On Left
Lowery Creek - @ mile 2.92 On Right
Moselle-Seminary Rd. Bridge - @ mile 3.33
Burr Creek - @ mile 4.95 On Left
Mill Creek - @ mile 5.27 On Left
Parker Creek - @ mile 6.12 On Right
Interstate 59 Bridge - @ mile 6.47
Thomas Creek - @ mile 8.2 On Left
Barlow Branch - @ mile 10.44 On Left
Unnamed Stream - @ mile 11.04 On Left
Unnamed Stream - @ mile 12.64 On Right
Bayless Branch - @ mile 12.87 On Left
Take Out on Right
Drive from Hattiesburg Train Station to Hwy. 590 Launch - 19.5 miles (26 minutes)
Drive from Hwy. 590 Launch to Eastabuchie/Church St. Landing - 13.4 miles (15 minutes)
Drive from Eastabuchie/Church St. Landing to Hattiesburg Train Station - 9.4 miles (14 minutes)
This section of the Leaf River is one of the longest day trips we've taken. It is approximately 13 miles from start to finish. The put in is at a public cement boat ramp at the Hwy. 590 bridge north of Moselle, MS, and the take out is at a public cement boat ramp at the Church Street bridge in Eastabuchie, MS. The take out at Eastabuchie has signage for the beginning of the Leaf's first designated Blue Way which runs from Eastabuchie to Chain Park on the Highway 42 bypass in Hattiesburg, MS.
This stretch of the Leaf also has more interesting features than any other section we have paddled. There are several streams forming waterfalls as they flow into the Leaf, and there is one nice set of rapids.
Estabuchie/Church St. to Chain Park/Hattiesburg
(Upper Leaf Blue Way)
LEAF RIVER
EASTABUCHIE/CHURCH STREET, PETAL, MS TO HWY. 11/CHAIN PARK, HATTIESBURG, MS
Launch – Eastabuchie/Church St. (Gravel Drive to parking area & concrete boat ramp)
Take Out - Hwy. 11/Chain Park
Distance - 11.3 miles
Time - 5-6 hours
Features (in order)-
Unnamed Stream - @ mile .04 On Left
Unnamed Stream - @ mile 2.2 On Left
Unnamed Stream - @ mile 2.38 On Right
Evelyn Gandy Parkway Bridge - @ mile 8.92
Greens Creek - @ mile 9.74 On Left
Bouie River - @ mile 11 On Right
Highway 11 Bridge - @ mile 11.2
Take Out on Right
Drive from Hattiesburg Train Station to Eastabuchie/Church St. - 9.4 miles (13 minutes)
Drive from Eastabuchie/Church St. Launch to Hwy. 11/Chain Park - 8 miles (9 minutes)
Drive from Hwy. 11/Chain Park to Hattiesburg Train Station - 1.6 miles (5 minutes)
This section of the Leaf River is the first official designated Blue Way in the Hattiesburg, MS area. It flows for approximately 11.3 miles from a public boat ramp off of Church St. in Eastabuchie to the public boat ramp at the Hwy. 42 bypass near Chain Park in Hattiesburg. This section of river has numerous white sandbars.
It was designated a Blue Way in 2019 and outfitted with signage at the put in and take out with mile marker signage along the way.
Hwy. 11/Chain Park to Sims Road
(Middle Leaf Blue Way)
LEAF RIVER
HWY. 11/CHAIN PARK, HATTIESBURG, MS TO SIMS ROAD, HATTIESBURG, MS
Launch – Hwy. 11/Chain Park (Paved road to gravel lot & concrete boat ramp)
Take Out - Sims Rd. (gravel lot, park with concrete boat ramp and sloped concrete walkway)
Distance - 9.5 miles
Time - 3-4 hours
Features (in order)-
Railroad Bridge - @ mile .57
Gordons Creek (first outlet) - @ mile .64 On Right
Gordons Creek (second outlet) - @ mile .74 On Right
E. Hardy St. (Hattiesburg) S. Main St. (Petal) Bridge - @ mile 1.47
Burketts Creek - @ mile 5.15 On Right
Lotts Creek - @ mile 6.1 On Left
Highway 11 Bridge - @ mile 11.2
Take Out on Right
Drive from Hattiesburg Train Station to Hwy. 11/Chain Park Launch- 1.6 miles (5 minutes)
Drive from Hwy. 11/Chain Park Launch to Sims Rd. Landing - 9.3 miles (15 minutes)
Drive from Sims Rd. Landing to Hattiesburg Train Station - 6.3 miles (10 minutes)
The stretch of the Leaf River from the public boat ramp at the Hwy. 42 bypass/Chain Park in Hattiesburg to the public boat ramp at Sims Rd. is about 10.8 river miles. This section was also recently designated as another section of the Mississippi Blue Way. Plans are in the process for purchasing property surrounding the Sims Rd. public boat ramp for improvement and donation to the City of Hattiesburg to make improvements and promote recreational paddling.
I paddled this section alone in my canoe on May 17, 2019. It was a fairly long stretch with plenty of sand bars and open water. I had a difficult run because of strong head winds that made it extremely difficult to keep the canoe tracking right.
SIMS ROAD TO BUCK CREEK RD., NEW AUGUSTA, MS
(Future Lower Leaf Blue Way)
LEAF RIVER
SIMS ROAD, HATTIESBURG, MS TO BUCK CREEK RD., NEW AUGUSTA, MS
Launch – Sims Rd. (gravel lot, park with concrete boat ramp and sloped concrete walkway)
Take Out - Buck Creek Rd. (Gravel drive to concrete boat ramp)
Distance - 18.7 miles
Time - 9-10 hours
Features (in order)-
Jacobs Creek - @ mile 1.22 On Right
Oxbow Lake & Weldy Creek - @ mile 3.57 On Right
Scott Bend - @ mile 8 On Left
Reese Creek - @ mile 8.65 On Left
Historic Mahned Bridge - @ mile 13.7
Tallahala Creek - @ mile 14.2 On Left
Denham Creek - @ mile 14.72
Railroad Bridge - @ mile 16.17
Hwy. 29 Bridge - @ mile 18.4
Take Out on Left
Drive from Hattiesburg Train Station to Sims Rd. Launch - 6.3 miles (10 minutes)
Drive from Sims Rd. Launch to Buck Creek Rd. Landing - 12.4 miles (15 minutes)
Drive from Buck Creek Rd. Landing to Hattiesburg Train Station - 18 miles (25 minutes)
Karma & I paddled this section of the Leaf on June 7, 2017. We put in at the public boat ramp at the Sims Road bridge and took out at the public boat ramp in New Augusta, MS at Old Augusta Loop off of Buck Creek Road. It was a very long run with a distance of about 19 miles which took the better part of the day. The scenery consisted mostly of wide open river with numerous beautiful sand bars. This part of the river offered a wide variety of unique experiences.
For example, we paddled through a 10 or 15 minute hailstorm that you can view in one of the videos below. Immediately after the hailstorm, we observed a Bald Eagle flying directly over our heads heading upstream. Although I had heard there were bald eagles along the Leaf, this was the first time I ever observed one myself.
Another highlight of this adventure was the beautiful confluence of Tallahala Creek which formed a couple of sand bars on either side as it emptied into the Leaf. The contrast between the two rivers was stark, with the Tallahala being shallow and rocky at this point and the Leaf being sandy and deep.
Upon completing the float, we stayed the night in our family Cottage on Fairhope Bluff in Beaumont. Driving out the next morning, I saw two Golden Eagles fly directly across the roadway in front of my pickup truck.
Although this is a beautiful section of the Leaf River, it was a bit long for one trip. We have looked for a potential take out closer to the mid point between Sims Road and New Augusta, but we have been unable to locate any public access to the river between these two points. You might consider camping on a sandbar along the way to break this trip up.
When you make this paddle, you may want to explore the rich history of the town of New Augusta. It was given the name "New Augusta" when the original town of "Augusta" was moved 2 miles south from its location on the north banks of the Leaf River between 1902 and 1906 to bring it close to the new Mobile, Jackson and Kansas City Railroad that was built along the current route of Highway 98. The scant remnants of "Old Augusta" lie in the general location of the public boat ramp at Old Augusta Loop off of Buck Creek Road. "Old Augusta" was established in 1812 and was the original county seat of Perry County. It secured a permanent place in U.S. history by being the location where the noted outlaw, James Copeland, was hanged for his criminal rampage of robbing and murder throughout the southern U.S. immediately prior to the Civil War. I highly recommend reading the first-hand account depicted in his death bed confessions to the Perry County sheriff, J.R.S. Pitts, Life and Confession of the Noted Outlaw James Copeland.
BUCK CREEK RD., NEW AUGUSTA TO WINGATE COVE
LEAF RIVER
BUCK CREEK RD., NEW AUGUSTA, MS TO WINGATE COVE
Launch – Buck Creek Rd. (Gravel drive to concrete boat ramp)
Take Out - Wingate Cove (Dirt path to primitive sandbar)
Distance - 4.3 miles
Time - 2 hours
Features (in order)-
Unnamed Stream - @ mile 2.55 On Right
Bogue Homa Creek - @ mile 4.3 On Left
Scott Bend - @ mile 8 On Left
Take Out on Right
Drive from Hattiesburg Train Station to Buck Creek Rd. Launch - 18.1 miles (24 minutes)
Drive from Buck Creek Rd. Launch to Wingate Cove Landing - 6.8 miles (12 minutes)
Drive from Wingate Cove Landing to Hattiesburg Train Station - 23.2 miles (30 minutes)
This section of the Leaf River is an approximate 4.3 mile run through rural areas roughly paralleling US Hwy. 98. It only takes a couple of hours to paddle and ends in a beautiful spot where Bogue Homa Creek (another great navigable creek) flows into the Leaf and forms a large, beautiful sandbar at an elbow bend. The sandbar is lined with a number of river cabins, but the sandbar itself is reportedly public and is a popular swim spot in the summer. We have paddled this section on several occasion and have always enjoyed it.
Click Here for Water Level at New Augusta, MS
WINGATE COVE TO HWY. 15, BEAUMONT, MS
LEAF RIVER
WINGATE COVE, NEW AUGUSTA, MS TO HWY. 15, BEAUMONT, MS
Launch – Wingate Cove (Dirt path to primitive sandbar)
Take Out - Hwy. 15 (Gravel drive to concrete boat ramp and picnic area)
Distance - 9 miles
Time - 3 hours
Features (in order)-
Wingate Rd. Bridge - @ mile .7
Coleman Creek - @ mile 2 on Right
Unnamed Stream - @ mile 3.75 On Right
Take Out on Right
Drive from Hattiesburg Train Station to Wingate Cove Launch - 23.3 miles (29 minutes)
Drive from Wingate Cove Launch to Hwy. 15 Landing - 8.6 miles (13 minutes)
Drive from Hwy. 15 Landing to Hattiesburg Train Station - 27 miles (30 minutes)
HWY. 15, BEAUMONT TO HWY. 98, MCLAIN, MS
LEAF RIVER
HWY. 15, BEAUMONT, MS TO HWY. 98, MCLAIN, MS
Launch – Hwy. 15 (Gravel drive to concrete boat ramp and picnic area)
Take Out - Hwy. 98 (Gravel drive to concrete boat ramp)
Distance -14.8 miles
Time - 5-7 hours
Features (in order)-
Thompson Creek (reportedly navigable) - @ mile .95 On Left
Unnamed Stream - @ mile 1.85 on Left
Lott Dead River - @ mile 1.63 On Left
Unnamed Stream - @ mile 2.05 On Left
Gaines Creek - @ mile 7.9 On Left
Historic Hwy. 24 Bridge - @ mile 11.6
Old Hwy. 24 Bridge - @ mile 11.73
Atkinson Creek - @ mile 12.93
Take Out on Left
Drive from Hattiesburg Train Station to Hwy. 15 Landing - 27 miles (32 minutes)
Drive from Hwy. 15 Launch to Hwy. 98 Landing - 10 miles (12 minutes)
Drive from Hwy. 98 Landing to Hattiesburg Train Station - 35.5 miles (39 minutes)
HWY. 98, MCLAIN, MS TO MERRILL RD., MERRILL, MS
LEAF RIVER
HWY. 98, MCLAIN, MS TO MERRILL RD., MERRILL, MS
Launch – Hwy. 98 (Gravel drive to concrete boat ramp)
Take Out - Merrill Rd (Long gravel road just south of RR tracks to concrete boat ramp)
Distance -15.5 miles
Time - 7-8 hours
Features (in order)-
Unnamed Old River Oxbow Lake - @ mile 2 On Left
Chickasawhay Cutoff Stream - @ mile 14.2 on Left
Chickasawhay River Confluence Lott Dead River - @ mile 15 On Left
Merrill Main St. Bridge - @ mile 15.35
Railroad Bridge - @ mile 15.45
Take Out on Left
Drive from Hattiesburg Train Station to Hwy. 98 Landing - 35.5 miles (38 minutes)
Drive from Hwy. 98 Launch to Merrill Rd. Landing - 17 miles (18 minutes)
Drive from Merrill Rd. Landing to Hattiesburg Train Station - 51 miles (51 minutes)