On the Mississippi, Hernando DeSoto River Park covers 41 acres along the riverbank. It is open from sunrise until 10 p.m.; overnight stays are permitted with a permit. Check the details before your trip and arrange a permit if you plan to stay overnight. This gives you a concrete starting point for your stay in Desoto, between river scenery and other outdoor experiences.
Trails and parks with different features
The Johnson Creek Greenway runs parallel to Johnson Creek. Its paved trail is 1.79 miles long and intended for pedestrians and bicycles. For comparison, Lake Cormorant Community Park has a walking trail about one-third of a mile long, as well as ball fields. These distances give you a concrete reference point when choosing between a longer paved route and a shorter walking trail. As the Greenway’s condition may change, check it as you plan.
For mountain biking, Olive Branch City Park has a mountain bike trail through open and wooded park areas. Robertson Donald Community Park in Walls, by contrast, offers a walking trail, a playground and a picnic area, as well as baseball and softball fields. The parks have different features: trails sit alongside sports fields and other park facilities, without requiring you to infer a particular walking time or level of difficulty.
To reach Hernando Point Campground, take the Hernando exit from I-55, then Highway 51 and Wheeler Road; campground signs point to the destination. The DeSoto County Agri-Education Center offers another way to explore the area: this versatile facility is dedicated to agricultural education, community engagement and outdoor recreation.
Hernando: Music and the history of the square
In June, the free Sunset on the Square concert series takes place every Thursday at 7 p.m. on Hernando’s historic Town Square. Another seasonal program is Hernando Dickens of a Christmas: in 2026, it includes a Hernando Farmers Market Christmas market, carriage and trolley rides, ice skating, a high tea event and holiday crafts. Check the event dates before making plans.
The square also has a history that goes beyond the concert series. In 1836, Hernando’s Courthouse Square was planned as a 450-foot public square with 172 lots on a 40-acre plot donated by Edward Orne for the county seat. In Walls, the Mississippi Blues Trail documents Memphis Minnie’s ties to Tunica and DeSoto County in the early 20th century, as well as her burial in the cemetery of New Hope M.B. Church. The square’s design and blues history thus offer two different historical perspectives on the area.
Seasonal experiences and local cuisine
During the season, the Hernando Farmers Market offers live music, free fitness classes, a children’s program and monthly senior days. At Cedar Hill Farm, you can experience another connection between agriculture and visitor activities: the 120-acre award-winning working farm hosts seasonal, family-friendly events. Cedar Hill Farm also operates The Barn, a restaurant serving farm-to-table cuisine. The market program, farm events and restaurant thus offer distinct ways to spend your visit.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: Olive Branch, Southaven, Horn Lake, Hernando, Tate County, Webster County, Alcorn County, Jefferson Davis.
For the main travel overview: Mississippi.
