Delta National Forest, National forest in Sharkey County, Mississippi, United States

Delta National Forest is a protected woodland spanning about 60,000 acres of floodplain forest with wetlands and river systems throughout western Mississippi. The terrain shifts between swampy areas filled with standing water and dense groves of hardwood trees typical of the region.

Delta National Forest lies entirely within Sharkey County and is the only bottomland hardwood forest in the National Forest system. Its Green Ash-Overcup Oak-Sweetgum Research Natural Areas were declared National Natural Landmarks in May 1976. The forest is operated as the Sunflower Wildlife Management Area under a memorandum between the U.S. Forest Service and the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks.

Delta National Forest is run as the Sunflower Wildlife Management Area under a memorandum between the U.S. Forest Service and the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, so hunting and fishing there follow state wildlife rules. The forest lies in Sharkey County, with its ranger district office in Rolling Fork.

You can visit freely, but prepare for wet and muddy conditions by wearing appropriate footwear and bringing insect repellent. Trails are often unpaved and can be difficult to navigate depending on the season, so take your time and stay alert.

The Green Ash-Overcup Oak-Sweetgum Research Natural Areas were declared National Natural Landmarks in May 1976, one of the few such sites in the National Forest system. They protect a rare old-growth example of bottomland hardwood forest in Sharkey County.