The Chewalla Lake Recreation Area – which takes its name from the Choctaw word “chilhowa-la,” meaning Supreme Being – is a delightful place to enjoy the beauty of the Holly Springs National Forest. This area contains a 260-acre lake, day-use, and campground, and was once the location for Indian ceremonial burial mounds. One of the mounds has been reconstructed so visitors can gain some insight into the culture The nearby town of Holly Springs, Mississippi, offers visitors to the National Forest an experience of the Old South, where cotton was king. Many antebellum homes are preserved and are open to the public year round, as well as during the Spring Holly Springs Pilgrimage where tour guides and residents all dress in period costumes. While the opportunity to see inside these homes should not be missed, a walk through the town and historic town square is a must. Trails North Cypress Non-Motorized Trail: A lovely 3-mile loop trail in the Upper Sardis Wildlife Management Area. This is the only trail in the National Forest that allows horseback riding. The trail crosses over a newly renovated dam on North Cypress Lake. There are new trailhead facilities. The trail is open to all non-motorized uses. Directions: From Hwy 7 north, turn east on Hwy 30, go 9.5 miles and turn right on road number 2073. Fees: No fee charged. Baker’s Pond Hiking Trail: Facilities: A beautiful walk in the woods to Baker’s Pond, the headwaters of the Wolf River. The walk is approximately 1.5 miles roundtrip. Directions: From the corner of Hwy 72 and Hwy 5 go 10 miles further to the east, turn right at Tower Road (there is an old fire tower there), then bear right again to the trail head. Fees: No fee charged.