Wolf River

Emerging from the red clay hills and purple sand of Holly Springs National Forest,MS, the Wolf River source is arguably located at a Baker’s Pond.

Baker’s Pond

Baker’s Pond, actually a spring, feeds water to lower ground where it winds, widens and narrows back again until it meets forming the Wolf River.  The water rushes northwest into TN.  Here it re-routes westbound until it meets the Mississippi River just north of Mud Island.  The Wolf River hosts an array of different freshwater ecosystems.  Some sections are easily navigable by canoe or kayak, and others impossible to paddle at different times of the year.  The first marked canoe trail begins at Michigan City, MS.  This is a picture of Baker’s Pond in the fall.

Ghost River

Upon crossing the stateline into TN, the Wolf River enters the Ghost River State Natural Area and Wildlife Management Areas. These areas are managed by the TN Department of Environment and Conservation and the TN Wildlife Resources Agency. The Ghost River Canoe Trail lies within the State Natural area. This part of the river and surrounding area is abundant with wildlife.

The next section down collects much of the sand from the bottleneck out of the cypress-tupelo swamp and “Spirit Lake”. Winding its way to Moscow, TN is Lost Swamp Trail. This section is around 6.5 miles. This is a picture of the “Moscow” Section on a foggy morning:

The Wolf River flows into the towns of Rossville and Piperton and meanders into civilization. Between Moscow and Rossville is the North Fork. Along these sections one will find plenty of sandbars that make a great place to rest. Along the riverbank in Rossville is the William B. Clark Preserve. There is a 1600 ft. boardwalk that tours a bottomland cypress-tupelo swamp. This is a great way to experience the river for those that don’t want to paddle a canoe or kayak.

Through the cities of Collierville and Germantown, the Wolf River enters a mostly urban environment. These sections are scenic and much different than their undeveloped counterparts upriver. From Germantown, the Wolf River winds its way through Shelby Farms Park, Kennedy Park and under many bridges of urban Memphis. The Wolf River literally runs through the heart of Memphis. It feeds the Mississippi River north of Mud Island at Harbor Town