Bailey's Woods Trail

If you’re looking a beautiful and historic trail to do with your dog, Bailey’s Woods Trail is the perfect choice for you. This forest trail takes you from the University of Mississippi Museum to Rowan Oak — novelist William Faulkner’s historic mansion. Faulkner often walked this trail when he was looking for inspiration for his writing. The trail is about .6 miles long, and it welcomes pups on-leash.

Bailey’s Woods Trail has two trailheads: the North End trailhead at the University of Mississippi Museum and the South End trailhead at Rowan Oak. Both trailheads offer plenty of parking. As you walk on the trail, you’ll go through a wooded area filled with native trees and lots of wildlife. Some parts of the trail feature a small incline, but the majority of the trail is flat. As you go along the trail, you’ll walk over four wooden bridges. These bridges help control erosion in the forest.

After your hike, you and your pup can spend some time wandering the grounds at Rowan Oak. There are lots of historic outbuildings at Rowan Oak you and your dog can explore together. This includes a detached kitchen, a post oak barn, servants’ quarters, and old horse stables.

Rowan Oak’s grounds are also filled with beautiful natural sites. This includes the pawesome Concentric Circle Garden, which is surrounded by a circle of cedar trees. You’ll also go by an English Knot Garden that’s filled with wisteria and roses. Plus, you and your dog can go for a stroll on Rowan Oak’s famous Cedar Walkway, which leads up to the mansion itself. While pups can’t go inside the mansion, you can walk around the outside of the house together.

Bailey’s Woods Trail is a short and scenic trail that’s perfect for history buffs, nature lovers, and fans of Faulkner’s novels. Bring some doggy bags so you can clean up after your dog during your hike, and have a great time walking on this trail!