Coahoma: Water Landscapes and History

Coahoma brings together distinctive traces of history, lakes, river landscapes, and opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. Visitors who want to combine culture and nature on their vacation will find a range of options here, from the Salomon Mounds and historic events at Yazoo Pass to oxbow lakes and a regional recreational trail. Which of these appeals to you most can help shape your choice of vacation rental and plans for each day.

Early History and Blues Tradition

The Salomon Mounds offer a striking picture of how a larger complex of mounds and a central plaza was laid out. Originally, it consisted of three or possibly four large platform mounds and up to eight smaller mounds arranged around a central plaza. Mound A is about 26 feet high; its summit holds a 19th-century cemetery. The Salomon Mounds were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. Taken together, these details invite reflection on the different purposes and long history of places like this.

Important for your visit: The Salomon Mounds are on private property, so view the site from the designated overlook. This lets you take in the layout of the complex from outside without entering private land. Coahoma is also home to the Delma Furniss Hospitality Station, at the intersection of Highway 49 and Highway 61.

The history of the waterways is also part of the region’s story. Before a levee was built in 1856, Yazoo Pass connected the Mississippi, Coldwater, Tallahatchie, and Yazoo rivers in the Coahoma County area. On January 30, 1863, Union troops breached the levee at Moon Lake in Coahoma County; this was the first phase of Grant’s Yazoo Pass Expedition. Coahoma County is also home to fifteen Mississippi Blues Trail markers. Those interested in history, musical traditions, or landscapes can give these themes different emphasis when planning a vacation.

Oxbow Lakes and Nature Experiences

Desoto Lake is a publicly accessible oxbow lake in Coahoma County, managed by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks. The surrounding hardwood bottomland forests provide habitat for various wildlife species and support a diverse fishery. This also makes the landscape appealing to visitors who would rather spend their time observing nature and taking in a variety of habitats.

Moon Lake is a 2,300-acre oxbow lake in Coahoma County. In the Coahoma region, the lake offers public boating access and has three public boat ramps. Moon Lake is also considered a good spot for birdwatching. At Moon Lake Overlook, off Highway 1, a path leads to a long pier overlooking the lake. The lake, boating access, and overlook offer different ways to spend time by the water; choose among birdwatching, boating, and a visit to the pier according to your interests.

Getting Active and Planning the Right Vacation Days

The Hugh Jack Stubbs Recreational Trail in the Coahoma region is about 2.5 miles long, flat, and paved. It has four Fit-Trail exercise stations and a canoe and kayak launch. The trail is ADA accessible.

The places described are spread across Coahoma, Coahoma County, and the surrounding region; plan your choices accordingly, and don’t assume that all experiences are close together. If you’d like to explore more nearby places, you can also find Clarksdale here.

For the broader travel overview: Coahoma County.