The Gulf Islands National Seashore is one of the prime places to paddle along the Mississippi Coast and is headquartered in Ocean Springs. Cat Island is the westernmost island and is a perfect playground for paddlers. Its unique T-shape was created by colliding Gulf currents. The beautiful sandy beaches are backed by dense forests of slash pines and live oaks. Bayous and marshes on Cat Island are home to alligators as well as refuge to migratory birds. The scenery is spectacular and there are many places to explore.

The Gulf Islands National Seashore is one of the prime places to paddle along the Mississippi Coast and is headquartered in Ocean Springs. Ship Island is the collective name for two barrier islands, East Ship Island and West Ship Island. Hurricane Camille split the once single island into two separate islands in 1969. Fort Massachusetts is found on the western end and pine, cedar, and live-oak dominate the wooded areas. Evidence of Hurricane Katrina is easily found as well.

Toledo Bend Reservoir is a very large man-made body of water located on the Sabine River on the border of Texas and Louisiana. The reservoir is the 5th largest in the United States and provides paddlers miles and miles of undeveloped shoreline for exploration. South Toledo Bend State Park is located on the south end of the lake and offers good access to multiple coves and channels on the south end of the lake. The reservoir is very large and can get rough during windy weather and is also popular for motorboats so be prepared for the possibility of rough waters when paddling. The state park also offers picnic areas, camping, and hiking trails.

Paddling from Cypremort Point State Park to Burns Point requires paddlers to follow the shoreline of Vermillion Bay, West Cote Blanche Bay, and East Cote Blanche Bay south to Burns Point. The trip should only be attempted by advanced paddlers who can cover a lot of distance in one day and also can navigate potentially rough waters and strong currents that may arise. There may also be motorboat traffic to watch out for.

This one-way paddling trail starts from the Baldwin Boat Launch and follows a canal out to West Cote Blanche Bay and Cypremort Point State Park. The trip does require crossing the Intracoastal Waterway which has lots of large boat traffic. It also requires paddling in the open waters of the bay and the water can get choppy so advanced paddling skills are required to make the trip. The route is long so padding

The City of Biloxi is lies directly on the Mississippi Sound, with barrier islands scattered off the coast and into the Gulf of Mexico. This route explores the Back Bay of Biloxi on the opposite side of the city from the Sound. This is a bustling metropolitan area with many beautiful homes and buildings to see. There are also a countless number of islands, marshes, and rivers to explore. This area could easily be made into a multi-day paddling adventure.

Bay St. Louis is located adjacent to the City of Bay St. Louis in Hancock County. This bay offers a wonderful diversity of scenery. There are many small rivers that are easily paddled upstream to explore the beautiful marshes. The marshes host a gorgeous array of wetland plants and provide homes to lots of wildlife. You also paddle along the shore next to the city where there are many attractive homes.

This scenic lake is located in an area of thick piney forest and rolling hills and is a popular destination for outdoor recreation. The state park has a launch site on the east side of the lake where paddlers can set off and explore for miles and miles. The lake is also very popular for freshwater fishing. The state park offers boat rentals, hiking trails, camping, and picnic areas.

Toledo Bend Reservoir is a large man-made body of water located on the Sabine River on the border of Texas and Louisiana. The reservoir is the 5th largest in the United States and provides paddlers miles and miles of undeveloped shoreline for exploration. North Toledo Bend State Park is located on the northeast side of the lake and offers good access to multiple coves and channels on the north end of the lake. The reservoir is very large and can get rough during wind and is also popular for motorboats so be prepared for the possibility of rough waters when paddling. The state park also offers picnic areas, camping, and hiking trails.

The paddling traila from Baldwin Boat Launch to Burns Point is a long and challenging trip that should only be attempted by advanced paddlers who are able to cover some real distance in a day. The trip starts by following a canal and crossing the Intracoastal Waterway, and the second part of the trip is out on the open waters of West Cote Blanche Bay. Be cautious and watch out for large boats on the Intracoastal Waterway and also be cautious when paddling the open waters to Burns Point as the water can get rough.