Wall Doxey State Park offers rustic cabin camping options near Waterford, Mississippi, set among wooded sites that provide natural privacy. The campground is situated in the Holly Springs National Forest at approximately 400 feet elevation. Road access can be challenging during rainy conditions, particularly for larger vehicles, with several unpaved sections leading to the more remote campsites.
What to do
Fishing from dedicated piers: The lake at Wall Doxey State Park Campground provides good fishing access with multiple pier options. "We spent an afternoon here exploring and checking into the campground for future stays. The lake is great for fishing and has two piers to use, plus a small boat launch. There is no swimming in this lake. Rumor has it that there is Walleye fish in this lake!"
Trail exploration: Hiking trails at Puskus Lake offer quiet routes with minimal elevation gain. "There are 2 trails you can walk on around the campsite but they only equal about 5 miles and are not maintained very well in some areas although they are flat and easy to explore."
Water activities: Beyond fishing, paddle sports are popular at Chewalla Lake Recreation Area. "The shaded footpaths make walking the trails on a hot day still enjoyable. Quiet, low humidity, and plenty of camp sites to choose from make this location a great place to unplug and relax."
What campers like
Secluded campsites: The layout at Wall Doxey creates natural separation between sites. "Wall Doxey is a well maintained campground. The sites are far enough apart to not feel on top of your neighbor."
Budget-friendly yurt camping: Yurt accommodations at Trace State Park Campground provide an affordable alternative to traditional cabins. "Camped 4days/3nights. Really nice wooded sites. Water and Electric on site. Wifi-Tmobile worked fine whole trip. Not a lot of campers while I was here. Quiet and Peaceful."
Waterfront access: Sites along Enid Lake at Wallace Creek offer direct water views. "We stayed on site 28 which is a pull-thru on a paved pad and is waterfront with beautiful panoramic views of Enid Lake." Many campers appreciate the combination of privacy and lake access available at several Waterford-area campgrounds.
What you should know
Limited cell service: Coverage varies widely across the area. At Puskus Lake, a camper noted: "This campground is in the middle of Holly Springs National Forest on Puskus Lake. The campground itself is quite small but the camping spaces have a good amount of room to them so you do not feel like you are on top of each other."
Variable site conditions: Many campgrounds have uneven maintenance standards. "Mississippi needs to put some funding behind the park, could be a real gem. Overall we had a great stay and I would recommend the campground."
Seasonal variations: Waterford-area campgrounds experience significant seasonal differences in visitor numbers and site conditions. "This is a pretty basic campsite, but I enjoyed it. I'm a tent camper and had to move sites since the one I originally picked didn't have an area for my tent. Make sure you get there by 3ish to check that your site can accommodate a tent and stakes."
Tips for camping with families
Halloween celebrations: Plan ahead for special events that transform certain parks. "My wife and I have only camped here once. It won't be the last time, but we were invited to the halloween get to gether at the park. And we had no idea it was such a big deal. But we drove down and visited and hung around for the festivities and boy was it worth it. Every camp site had wonderful decorations and the kids had such a blast."
Playground options: Hernando Point offers family recreation areas. "Had a huge spot with lots of shade. Only complaint was there was no playground in the actual camping area." Many nearby parks have more extensive play structures.
Weather preparation: Summer temperatures regularly exceed 90°F with high humidity. "The shaded footpaths make walking the trails on a hot day still enjoyable. Quiet, low humidity, and plenty of camp sites to choose from make this location a great place to unplug and relax."
Tips from RVers
Water hookup lengths: Bring extended hoses at several campgrounds. "Remotely located but still close to major roads. We came in with a 38' RV not much problem with spaces but be aware of trees on both sides of spaces. We were given space #60 but would not have been able to open slides because of trees so we took another space."
Site selection for larger rigs: Check for tree clearance and width at Wall Doxey. "We were only able to spend a little time at the lake as we were in the area for a family gathering, in New Albany, so spent the bulk of our weekend away from the park. Friendly front gate staff."
Dump station conditions: Some facilities need maintenance. "This is a beautiful area in the woods next to a lake. Has electric and water, no sewer. Bathrooms are not kept up, dirty and no lights in the showers."