Desoto: Riverbanks, Trails and Blues History

Along the banks of the Mississippi, on walking and cycling trails, and through music and local history, Desoto reveals itself from different perspectives. Its offerings range from parks with a variety of trails and sports facilities to events in Hernando and a Blues Trail marker in Walls. You can shape your trip around the experiences that interest you most.

Riverbanks, Trails and Parks

Hernando DeSoto River Park is a 41-acre park on the banks of the Mississippi River. It is open from sunrise until 10 p.m.; overnight stays are permitted with authorization. Since these details are important for planning your trip, it is advisable to check the opening hours and authorization requirement before your visit.

For a walk, Lake Cormorant Community Park offers a trail about one-third of a mile long; it also has ball fields. Robertson Donald Community Park in Walls also has a walking trail, along with a playground, picnic area, and baseball and softball fields. Comparing the two parks lets you focus on the specific trails and facilities mentioned.

The Johnson Creek Greenway runs parallel to Johnson Creek. Its 1.79-mile paved trail is intended for pedestrians and bicycles. Compared with the trail about one-third of a mile long at Lake Cormorant Community Park, the stated distance is longer; these two lengths offer a practical guide when choosing your planned route.

Olive Branch City Park has a mountain biking trail that passes through open and wooded areas of the park. The trails described therefore differ not only in length but also in how they are used: the Greenway is described as being for pedestrians and bicycles, while the trail in Olive Branch is specifically identified as a mountain biking trail.

Market Life and Events in Hernando

The Hernando Farmers Market offers live music and free fitness classes during the season, as well as a children’s program and monthly senior days. The seasonal schedule is important if you want to include the market in your trip plans. Another recurring offering is the free Sunset on the Square concert series, held every Thursday in June at 7 p.m. on Hernando’s historic Town Square. Check the specific event dates before your trip.

Culture, History and Farm-to-Table Cuisine

In Walls, a Mississippi Blues Trail marker documents Memphis Minnie’s ties to Tunica and DeSoto County in the early 20th century. It also covers her burial at the cemetery of New Hope M.B. Church. The marker thus connects a specific place with a story encompassing music and regional ties.

Hernando’s history can also be seen in the planning of Courthouse Square: in 1836, a 450-foot public square with 172 lots was planned there. The plan was for a 40-acre property donated by Edward Orne for the county seat. This describes the plan for the square and lots at the time.

Cedar Hill Farm is an award-winning, 120-acre working farm with family-friendly seasonal events. The farm also operates The Barn, a restaurant serving farm-to-table cuisine. Those interested in agricultural education and community engagement will find another facet at the DeSoto County Agri-Education Center: this versatile facility is dedicated to those purposes as well as outdoor recreation.

The ACBL Museum is dedicated to the history of Contract Bridge. Its interactive exhibits include photos, videos, art and educational materials. Desoto therefore brings together a wide range of interests: time outdoors, music history, agriculture and a cultural-history perspective on a card game.

Plan Your Trip to Desoto

If you’re looking for a hotel for your trip to Desoto, first consider which experiences you want to shape your stay: a trail, a seasonal offering in Hernando, blues history or a visit focused on food. Then compare actual hotel locations with your own itinerary, rather than deciding based only on one activity or a general place name.

Explore more destinations: Olive Branch, Southaven, Horn Lake, Hernando, Copiah County, Pontotoc County, Coahoma County, Clay.

For the overview of the wider region: Mississippi.