Nature is a very funny thing. There are times when the destructive power of nature is fast and furious and then there are times when nature just chips away at something and turns it into something new.

Man might try to conquer nature or redirect the course it is taking, but sometimes it is just easier to give in. That is the case on Highway 587 near Foxworth at Red Bluff, otherwise known as the Mississippi Grand Canyon.

The canyon has been formed over millions of years by erosion from the nearby Pearl River. Highway 587 had to be rerouted due to erosion and that erosion has created a geological wonder that you would never dream of finding in Mississippi.

As you pull up to the “Road Closed” signs, where the highway used to be the highway, you will find an area that is clearly used for parking. The canyon stretches a half-mile wide and reaches nearly a mile long and grows larger as time passes and rains come and go. As you step out of your vehicle and draw near the edge of the 150-foot-deep gorge, the vista before you is a breathtaking look over the tops of miles of trees and the Pearl River. Clouds dot a blue sky and below you is the canyon, unbelievably deep and begging to be explored.

The view from the top of the bluff may be impressive, but for the adventurous, the view from the bottom is awe inspiring. The climb down is well worn, however, it is still treacherous and can be slippery. Once you are at the bottom of the 400-foot trail you can choose to either explore the canyon first or head toward the Pearl River and explore the sandbars and the train wreckage that still lays next to the railroad tracks where it derailed years ago.

The cool canopy of trees is a stark contrast to the unsheltered heat of the canyon and the rails provide a shady spot to rest before either climbing back up the same trail or navigating the creek bed and entering the canyon. The creek bed immerses you in a world full of small waterfalls and rocks with trees that are the perfect place to put a hammock and just hang out for a bit. The water bubbles on its way to the river and the soothing sounds add to the ambiance of the easy hike. Before you realize it, you are at the entrance to the canyon floor.

Entering the canyon from the bottom, you are faced with the realization of just how small we really are in the world. The canyon towers over you on all sides and the streaks of color run on endlessly. The task of climbing out seems bigger than it did climbing down. The clouds, which seemed so close at the top of the canyon, now seem so far above you. As you look around you will see climbers who have ascended to the top of the bluff and carved their names into the soft face of the canyon. Another thing you will notice is the colors; they are so bright and vivid that they barely seem real.

Red Bluff is a place that must be experienced to be truly appreciated. It is a place that, while on private property, has been drawing visitors for generations. It is the perfect destination for a Sunday Drive and even if you don’t climb down into the canyon it is well worth the trip just to stand at the top and stare off into the distance or into the canyon with all of its vivid colors. The canyon is hiding in plain sight, waiting for you to stop and sit a spell. Waiting for you to experience the wonder that nature has made, right here in Mississippi.

Correspondent Gena Koelker writes Sunday Drives, which appears weekly in The Meridian Star. Recommend a drive to editor@themeridianstar.com.

If You Go:

From Meridian travel I-59 south to Hattiesburg and exit onto U.S. 98 West. Follow U.S. 98 west over the Pearl River to  Foxworth, where 587 splits and turns north. Travel north along the curvy highway, which is a favorite highway for motorcyclists, until you reach the community of Morgantown, where 587 splits again and continues north. Once you see a “Road Closed” sign, continue around the corner a quarter of a mile to another barricade and a “no trespassing.” More than 40 cars were parked there on the day of this visit, but enter at your own risk. Make sure you take plenty of water if you plan to hike down into the canyon and wear sturdy shoes.