Lively Lake

The newly reopened Old Natchez Trace Lake is better than ever

BY GALEN HOLLEY

After feasting on a picnic spread of barbecued chicken, hotdogs, and fruit salad, Gabe McGloflin was ready to fish.

“This is a good spot,” said McGloflin, 14, as he fixed a lure onto his line. McGloflin slid on his lifejacket and fishing vest and waded into the cool water of the Old Natchez Trace Lake, his legs brushing the reeds among which his one-man kayak was moored.

The Saturday before Easter was bright and a little chilly at Trace State Park, about 63 degrees, with a whisper of a southwest breeze rippling the water across the 600-acre lake in the eastern part of Pontotoc County. Around the family’s campsite, McGloflin’s little cousins were scurrying around in a mad dash for hidden eggs. Seven-year-old Connor Cranfield tossed beanbags in a skillful arc into the cornhole chute. Bro. Joe Gullick and his wife, Leeann, kept an eye on the campfire and watched it all with joyful eyes.

“We love it here because it’s so close to home, and so clean and beautiful,” said Leeann, adding that they’d camped often at the lake, even in the four years during which it was closed for repairs by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. The Trace Lake reopened on Aug. 5, 2020, and nine months later, business was booming.

“This has been one of our best years since I’ve been here,” said Park Manager Josh Massey, who started at the park 16 years ago. “It depends a lot on the weather, but on pretty days, like today, we’re wide open.”

As a pickup approached, Massey slid open the office window. He asked Michael Gray, along with his father, Russell, and son, Easton, to come inside and get some simple instructions before hitting the trail on their ATVs.

The Gray men had come from Monroe County and were introducing young six-year-old Easton to trail riding in their Polaris side-by-side.

“A few people are out there on horseback so, if you see them, pull over, kill your engines, and let them pass,” Massey told the trio then jokingly asked Easton for his driver’s license. “Helmets are required. Ya’ll be careful and have fun,” Massey said, advising them to go online and take an ATV safety course before their next visit. The courses are offered free on a number of websites, including the ATV Safety Institute.

Trace State Lake was closed for almost four years while crews repaired a broken levee on the southeastern sector, the area used for skiing. The facilities for hiking, mountain biking, and equestrian trails remained open, along with RV camping sites and day-use areas. Crews finished repairs on the levee in December 2019, but it took time and a lot of rain to refill the lake. The reopening was also delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

On the eastern side of the lake, Josh Russell was throwing the Frisbee with his six-year-old son, Kyler.

“My parents brought me here as a boy, and the place holds special memories for me,” said Russell, who was staying with his family in cabin number six (of nine), a cozy two-bed-one-bath dwelling on the shoreline. The cabins accommodate six occupants.

Frisbee was fine for the moment, but the fishing hole was calling Kyler’s name. “I’m going to catch a 12-foot catfish,” said Kyler as his father laughed.

“He’s a go-big-or-go-home guy,” said Russell.

Nearby, Scott Inveen was enjoying a round of Frisbee golf.

“I’ve played all over the country, and this state and area have more courses than anywhere I’ve been,” said Inveen, a Charleston, S.C. native who splits his time between the east coast and working in Tupelo as a helicopter pilot for North Mississippi Medical Center. The course at Trace Lake is good enough to host professional tournaments,” Inveen said.

“The course is really long, but it also has portions where you have to shape your shots to get through the trees,” said Inveen. “It requires a combination of a long-range game and accuracy.”

Trace State Park offers more than 70 camping sites, including 46 standard, 24 premium, and 27 primitive sites. They’re situated around an inlet that juts into the northern shore of the lake. The park also has two boat ramps, a horse barn, and linen facilities.

On the western side of the lake, outside a handsome stable, several horseback riders were grooming their mounts and preparing for a trail ride. Further down the parking lot, dirt-bike enthusiasts fine-tuned their engines with wrenches. The guys pulled on brightly colored helmets and riding gloves then bounded off on their popping, buoyant machines in clouds of dust and smoke.

John McCommon of Olive Branch and his son, Jase, were preparing their bikes for a ride. Jase climbed onto his Kawasaki KLX 125, put on his helmet, and went on ahead. John waited a bit while he suited up. The trail for bikes and ATVs was terrific, he said.

“We come here a lot,” said John. “They have places that are easy, along with opportunities for more experienced riders.” John climbed on his Yamaha WR 250, and off he went.

Ken Kerr and his wife, Lynda, brought their dog, Duke, for an unencumbered romp through the woods. Duke leaped from the pickup and pawed impatiently at the ground for Ken to take the leash.

“The grounds here are beautiful, and it’s great to have it all so close to home. We love coming out here to relax and enjoy nature,” said Kerr as he led Duke down the trail. “Best of all, Duke gets to be himself out here.”

Trace State Park is located 2139 Faulkner Rd., Belden, approximately 13 miles from downtown Pontotoc. Phone (662) 489-2958 or, to make reservations, visit https://mississippistateparks.reserveamerica.com/camping/trace-state-park.