Choctaw Lake
Near Ackerman, Mississippi · on Noxubee River · Tombigbee National Forest
Verified · 5 independent sources · top-verified
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- $5 per vehicle
- SEASON
- Varies by conditions
About Choctaw Lake
Choctaw Lake is a U.S. Forest Service recreation area on the Tombigbee National Forest, about 5 miles south of Ackerman, Mississippi. The swimming hole here centers on a small impoundment with a developed day-use area featuring a designated swimming beach, alongside a campground, boat ramps, and a hiking trail network, making it an easy lake to swim in.
The lake sits within the Tombigbee National Forest's Trace Ranger District in east-central Mississippi, reached via Highway 15 and Forest Road 967 south of Ackerman. The developed recreation area includes a campground with roughly two dozen sites, picnic pavilions, and the trailhead for the 3-mile Noxubee Hills Trail, which loops around the lake through forest terrain.
Swimming at Choctaw Lake
Swimming takes place at a designated beach and swim zone within the day-use area, which is separated from the boating/fishing parts of the no-wake lake. Two bath houses with showers and flush toilets serve swimmers. It is set up as a family- and camper-friendly swimming spot rather than a wild or hike-in hole.
How to get to this swimming hole
From Jackson, take Highway 25 north toward Starkville, then Highway 15 north toward Ackerman for about 11 miles, then follow Forest Road 967 to the recreation area; the lake is about 5 miles south of Ackerman.
The hike in
Noxubee Hills Trail
Trailhead: North trailhead is onsite at the Choctaw Lake Recreation Area (accessed via the same day-use/campground road off Forest Road 967), so no separate drive is needed to reach it.
The swimming beach itself is drive-up/walk-up within the developed day-use area, no hike is required to swim. A separate ~3-mile Noxubee Hills Trail loops around the lake from the onsite trailhead for visitors who want to hike after swimming, but it is not on the path to the beach.
One secondary source described this same trail as a much longer (~26-mile) moderate-to-experienced hiking/biking route, which conflicts with the official Recreation.gov activity-pass listing's '3-mile' figure; treating the official source as more reliable, but flagging the discrepancy rather than guessing which is right.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
Designated USFS swimming beach in a developed, no-wake lake day-use area with bathhouses right there, which is more forgiving than a wild swimming hole, but no source confirms a lifeguard on duty or states water depth/entry slope at the beach, so supervise kids closely.
Parking
Paid, $5/vehicle day-use fee ($2.50 with a Choctaw Lake Day Pass)
Day-use parking is inside the fee area at the recreation site; sources describe the fee/pass system but do not specify lot size or whether it's paved lot vs. gravel/roadside.
Restrooms
Yes
Two bathhouses with showers and flush (accessible) toilets serve the day-use/swim area; a separate bathhouse also serves the campground. Vault toilets are noted at trailhead(s) for the Noxubee Hills Trail on site.
Hours
Day-use area open 6am-10pm; quiet hours 10pm-6am for campers (day users must be out of the area by 10pm).
On the water
Restrictions: No-wake lake; water skiing and jet skiing are prohibited; boaters must comply with posted speed limits. Two boat ramps serve the lake, separate from the swim beach/zone.
Non-motorized craft (kayak, canoe, paddleboard) and slow/no-wake motorboats appear to be permitted via the boat ramps; nothing suggests an electric-only or carry-in-only restriction beyond the no-wake and no-jet-ski rules.
Choctaw Lake: FAQ
Does Choctaw Lake charge a fee?
Day use fee of $5 per vehicle ($2.50 with a pass); camping $20/night (or $13/night with a pass); a separate Choctaw Lake Day Pass/Activity Pass is also sold via Recreation.gov.
Is Choctaw Lake kid friendly?
Designated USFS swimming beach in a developed, no-wake lake day-use area with bathhouses right there, which is more forgiving than a wild swimming hole, but no source confirms a lifeguard on duty or states water depth/entry slope at the beach, so supervise kids closely.
Do I need to hike to reach Choctaw Lake?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Choctaw Lake?
Day-use parking is inside the fee area at the recreation site; sources describe the fee/pass system but do not specify lot size or whether it's paved lot vs. gravel/roadside.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Choctaw Lake?
Non-motorized craft (kayak, canoe, paddleboard) and slow/no-wake motorboats appear to be permitted via the boat ramps; nothing suggests an electric-only or carry-in-only restriction beyond the no-wake and no-jet-ski rules.
What are the rules at Choctaw Lake?
No-wake lake; no water skiing or jet skiing; no pets allowed on the beach (leashed elsewhere); no alcohol or drugs; ATVs, UTVs, and golf carts prohibited; day-use hours 6am-10pm with quiet hours 10pm-6am; fishing requires a valid license; firewood must be sourced locally.
What water body is Choctaw Lake on?
Choctaw Lake is on Noxubee River, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.
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