De Soto National Forest, National forest in southern Mississippi, United States.

De Soto National Forest covers 518,587 acres of pine forest in southern Mississippi, between Hattiesburg and Gulfport, across parts of ten counties. Longleaf pine savannas, pine flatwoods and wet pine savannas dominate; Buttercup Flats is known for its carnivorous pitcher plants. Black Creek, the state's only National Wild and Scenic River, and the Leaf River flow through the forest.

The forest was established in 1936 by the United States Forest Service and named after Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto, who traveled through southeastern North America. This creation was part of a broader effort to protect forests across the country.

The forest's name honours Hernando de Soto, the 16th-century Spanish conquistador who crossed the southeastern interior. Today the land is used for hunting, fishing, canoeing and bird-watching, and the ranger district office sits in Wiggins, a town the forest surrounds on three sides. Buttercup Flats, a wet pine savanna, is known among botanists for its carnivorous pitcher plants.

The forest has multiple entry points with camping areas, hiking trails, and recreation zones open throughout the year. Bring water and sun protection, and check local conditions before you go, since parts of the land become wetter or harder to reach depending on the season.

The forest protects one of the last remaining longleaf pine savanna ecosystems in North America, with open woodland spaces dotted with tall pines. This habitat supports plants and animals found rarely anywhere else.