Ghost River Outfitters

Emerging from the red clay hills and purple sand of Holly Springs National Forest,MS, the Wolf River source is located at a Baker's Pond. 

Baker's Pond, actually a spring, feeds water to lower ground where it winds, widens and narrows back again until it meets forming the Wolf River.  The water rushes north into TN.  Here it re-routes westbound until it meets the Mississippi River just north of Mud Island.  The river is constantly changing from one ecosystem to another.  Some sections are easily navigable by boat, and others are arguably impossible to ride.  From the hills down into Ashland and Michigan City, MS, the Wolf struggles to find its channel.  This is a picture of Baker's Pond in the fall.

Upon crossing the stateline into TN, the Wolf River enters the Wolf River Wildlife Management Area and is protected by TWRA.  In this land one will find the Ghost River Canoe Trail and Ghost River State Natural Area.  This part of the river and surrounding area is abundant with wildlife.  In the Ghost River State Natural Area is Mineral Slough Boardwalk.  Along the trail to and from the boardwalk are informative posts about the diverse array of trees surrounding the slough.

 The next section up has wild grasslands and all collects much of the sand from the bottleneck out of the cypress-tupelo swamp and lake.  This is the only other section of the river with a marked canoe trail.  Winding its way to the Moscow, TN is the Hill - Dale Trail.  This section is around 6.5 miles.  This is a picture of the "Moscow" Section on a foggy morning:

The Wolf River flows into the towns of Rossville and Piperton.  The river finds a channel and meanders into civilization.  Between Moscow and Rossville is the North Fork.  Along these sections one will find plenty of sandbars that make a great place to rest.  Along the riverbank in Rossville is the William B. Clark Preserve.  There is a 1600 ft. boardwalk that tours bottomland cypress tupelo swamp.  This is a great way to experience the river for those unable to paddle a boat.

Through the cities of Collierville and Germantown, the Wolf River begins to change.  It's still beautiful, but easy to see how development changes the river.  From Germantown, the Wolf River winds its way through Shelby Farms Park, Kennedy Park and under many bridges of urban Memphis.  The Wolf River literally runs through the heart of Memphis.  It feeds the Mississippi River north of Mud Island at Harbor Town.  Below is a picture of our friend, Lee New.  He is a certified Ghost River Outfitters guide and has paddled with Harry Babb from LaGrange to the Mississippi River in one trip.

On its way to the MS River, the Wolf River passes through these cities, towns and areas of interest:                                                    Baker's Pond, HSNF (Hiking Trail)             Ashland, MS                                               Canaan, MS                                                LaGrange, TN                                            WR Wildlife MGMT Area (Boardwalk)      Moscow, TN                                             Rossville, TN                                             William B. Clark Preserve (Boardwalk)      Piperton, TN                                               Collierville, TN                                          Germantown, TN                                       Wolf River Nature Area (Paved Trail)        Memphis, TN                                   Shelby Farms Park                                 Lucius Burch State Natural Area                 Wolf River Greenway                                Downtown Memphis

Map of the Wolf River's drainage basin

If you're interested in taking a trip on a section other than the Ghost, we may be able to provide the boats.  Depending on adequacy of access,  water level, number of boats desired to rent, and distance from Moscow we would have to discuss pricing and options over the phone - if we are even able to outfit the trip. 

To inquire about a special trip on the Wolf River please contact Mark, with Ghost River Outfitters at 901 - 485 - 1220.

For more information about the Wolf River, visit these sites:                                Wolf River WMA                                                                                     WILLIAM B CLARK CONSERVATION AREA                                  THE WOLF RIVER CONSERVANCY                                                SHELBY FARMS PARK

Wolf River WIKIPEDIA