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Mississippi | DeSoto National Forest / Forrest and Perry Counties

Black CreekChurchwell Road / Camp Dantzler to Fairley Bridge Landing

A multi-section Black Creek itinerary from Churchwell through Big Creek, Old Highway 49, Ashe Nursery, the middle landing, Janice and Cypress to Fairley Bridge.

Route location

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Plan this route

DistanceMulti-day staged itinerary: about 40.4 river miles
DifficultyModerate
Typical timePlan 2 days
ShuttleCar shuttle
A canoeist paddles Black Creek in De Soto National Forest, Mississippi.
River contextBlack Creek in De Soto National Forest; same-river context river-level context — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by U.S. Forest Service / USDA

Need to know

Why this call
This route is documented for planning, but does not receive a Paddle Today score.
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Route overview

Trip details

Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.

Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
On-water distanceMulti-day staged itinerary: about 40.4 river milesChurchwell Road / Camp Dantzler to Fairley Bridge Landing
DifficultymoderateThe selected Forest Service reaches are generally Class I–II moving water with sandy bottoms, strainers and changing sandbars. Lower sections widen toward flatwater; current and flood hazards remain.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage the downstream vehicle at the named landing, then drive to the upstream launch.
PermitsCheck posted rulesConfirm current Forest Service day-use, parking and camping rules before unloading.
CampingOptions nearbyDispersed camping is available on National Forest portions subject to current rules; use established sites and leave no trace.
SeasonJan-DecBlack Creek rises quickly after storms. Check the Brooklyn gauge, rainfall, flood notices and Forest Service access before launch.

Plan ahead

Tomorrow and the weekend

Forecasts can change. Check current conditions again before leaving.

TomorrowChecking

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WeekendChecking

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Plan

Plan your trip

Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.

Route logistics

Access and shuttle

A multi-section Black Creek itinerary from Churchwell through Big Creek, Old Highway 49, Ashe Nursery, the middle landing, Janice and Cypress to Fairley Bridge.

Access map

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Start

Put-in

Churchwell Road public boat ramp (Camp Dantzler area)
Open mapDirections to put-in

Use only documented public or Forest Service landings.

Finish

Take-out

Fairley Bridge Landing Recreation Area, DeSoto National Forest (refined water-entry edge)
Open mapDirections to take-out

Expect gravel roads, primitive banks and limited cell service.

Road shuttle

Driving shuttle routeShuttle in Apple MapsOpenStreetMap
Access notes and hazards

Access caveats

  • Use only documented public or Forest Service landings.
  • Expect gravel roads, primitive banks and limited cell service.
  • Do not block access roads or use private driveways.

Watch for

  • Long remote reach and limited daylight
  • Strainers, fallen trees and flood-driven debris
  • Fairley Bridge landing and road access

Plan this paddle

Choose your trip times

No account needed. Check the selected access points above, then choose both dates and times. For an overnight paddle, set take-out to the following date.

Trip schedule

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Conditions

Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast

Check the forecast and local water levels before launching.

Gauge detail

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Gauge

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Weather

Hourly forecast

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Route gallery

Photos

Check each caption: some photos show the surrounding area rather than this exact trip.

A canoeist paddles Black Creek in De Soto National Forest, Mississippi.
Black Creek in De Soto National Forest; same-river context river-level context — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by U.S. Forest Service / USDA
U.S. government image / public domain

Sources

Data and sources

Read the access and hazard notes and check the linked guides. We do not issue a daily score for this trip.

NotesWhat to know before you go

These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.

  • Access and distanceChurchwell Road / Camp Dantzler to Fairley Bridge Landing; 40.4 miles

    Seven Rivers Canoe Club documents the named landings, distances and shuttle logistics; the Forest Service manages key recreation sites.

    Source

  • Scoring band200–1,200 cfs optimal; 2,000 cfs caution ceiling

    RiverScout ties this community range to USGS 02479130. Recheck current telemetry and local conditions before travel.

    Source

  • GaugeUSGS 02479130 near Brooklyn

    Direct Black Creek telemetry; verify trend and rainfall before launch.

    Source

Verify it yourselfCheck the source links

Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.

Reports

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Keep exploring

More routes to check next

Compare another stretch on this river, or explore different rivers within 75 straight-line miles.

More in Mississippi

All 50 routes
Mississippi route guideBrowse every tracked Mississippi route.DeSoto National Forest / Forrest and Perry CountiesJump to routes in this region.

More on Black Creek

All 28
Ashe Nursery landing to Cypress Creek LandingDeSoto National Forest / Forrest and Perry CountiesModerate · About 22.4 river milesAshe Nursery landing to Fairley Bridge LandingDeSoto National Forest / Forrest and Perry CountiesModerate · About 28.1 river milesAshe Nursery landing to Janice LandingDeSoto National Forest / Forrest and Perry CountiesModerate · About 16.4 river milesAshe Nursery landing to Moody’s LandingDeSoto National Forest / Forrest and Perry CountiesModerate · About 5.9 river miles

Nearby routes within 75 miles

Leaf RiverHwy 11 / Chain Park ramp to Sims Road ramp · about 16 straight-line mi awayModerate · About 9.5 river milesLeaf RiverEastabuchie / Church Street ramp to Hwy 11 / Chain Park ramp · about 22 straight-line mi awayModerate · About 11.3 river milesLeaf RiverEastabuchie / Church Street ramp to Sims Road ramp · about 22 straight-line mi awayModerate · About 20.8 river milesLeaf RiverMS Hwy 590 ramp to Eastabuchie / Church Street ramp · about 30 straight-line mi awayModerate · About 13 river miles

Quick answers

Black Creek paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the Churchwell Road / Camp Dantzler to Fairley Bridge Landing route on the Black Creek?

This planning route has no live Paddle Today score. Review the linked water-level sources, current access notices and route-specific hazards before travel.

Where does the Churchwell Road / Camp Dantzler to Fairley Bridge Landing route on the Black Creek start and end?

This route starts at Churchwell Road public boat ramp (Camp Dantzler area) and ends at Fairley Bridge Landing Recreation Area, DeSoto National Forest (refined water-entry edge), Multi-day staged itinerary: about 40.4 river miles on the water.

Is the Churchwell Road / Camp Dantzler to Fairley Bridge Landing route on the Black Creek suitable for beginners?

This is listed as a moderate route. Review the difficulty notes, hazards and current access conditions against your group's skills. No live score assesses this trip.

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