Woodall Mountain - Mississippi's High Point

Order of Visit: High Point #27

Date Visited: January 3, 2021

Route Taken: Drive up to the summit – 100 feet walk

Type of Terrain: Well-maintained, improved dirt road (Road 185) with lots of trees and a gentle climb up

Elevation: 806 feet

Ancestral Lands: Cherokee, Shawnee, Yuchi, Chickasaw

What’s in a name?

Mississippi’s high point sits inside Tishomingo County, which gets its name from the Tishu Miko, a prominent 18th century Chickasaw chief who was born in the area that would later become Mississippi. The capital city of the Chickasaw Nation also carries Tishomingo’s name, and the Great Seal of the Chickasaw Nation bears his image.

Although we don’t have any record of what the Chickasaw people called this meager mound in northern Mississippi, the first recorded name was Yow Hill. This early moniker came from its one-time owner, George Dempsey Yow (1828-1897) who is buried nearby.

Despite its relatively meager elevation, Yow Hill had enough physical prominence that it played a role in the U.S. Civil War. The Union and Confederate Armies are both believed to have used it as an observation post in the war’s early years. However, the hill earned its reputation as the “bloodiest high point” in September 1862, when General William Rosencrans occupied the mountain and used its vantage point to launch artillery at the Confederate Army in the Battle of Iuka, which had nearly 1,500 casualties.

Yow Hill changed hands two decades later in 1884, when Tishomingo County Sheriff Zephaniah Harvey “Z.H.” Woodall, Jr. (1827-1910) purchased the mound and its surrounding acreage.

Born in December 1927, Woodall was an Alabama native who was twice widowed by the age of 36. He married Rebecca Betty Wynn in 1863, and with a new wife now available to care for his young children, Woodall enlisted in the Confederate Army. He subsequently served as an infantryman with B. Co, 11th Alabama Cavalry, until the unit surrendered in May 1865.

After the Civil War, Woodall moved to his wife’s hometown of Iuka, Mississippi, where they raised 11 children – the three boys from his prior marriage and eight more children from their union.

Woodall began serving as the Tishomingo County Sheriff beginning in 1880 and remained in the post for the next 12 years. Perhaps the most noteworthy event of his tenure involves the fire that partially destroyed the county courthouse in 1886. According to local lore, arsonists set the fire to destroy evidence in a murder case.

It’s unclear whether the arsonists were successful in their evidence tampering quest, but virtually all the county records were destroyed in the fire, clearing the way for the peak to be officially renamed Woodall Mountain in 1887.

Five years later, Sheriff Woodall left his position and moved his family west to Texas. They settled in the Texas Hill Country in 1892, where both he and Rebecca lived out the remainder of their lives. Nevertheless, this tallest “mountain” in Mississippi still carries their surname.

TRIP SUMMARY

Mississippi was the final high point I needed to complete the southeastern part of the US. I’d already completed the rest of the “sweet tea” states (as I fondly call them), including Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee.

The only southern state that eluded me these first two and a half years into my highpointing quest was the Magnolia State.

And so, my January 2021 road trip to Texas was the perfect excuse to finally tick this outlier off my to-do list. After an overnight stay in Huntsville, Alabama, I was ready to nab Woodall Mountain before stopping for lunch in Memphis.

The drive across northern Alabama and Mississippi on Highway 72 was a pleasant departure from the busy interstates we normally take when driving across the South. There was far less traffic and fewer big rigs surrounding us. But truth be told, the geography of the area was still pretty boring.

Getting to Woodall Mountain from the nearby town of Iuka was super easy. It’s less than a 4-mile detour from the highway. Plus, the route was exceptionally well-signed at each turn. It was nearly impossible to get lost. (Thank you Iuka!)

The final turn onto County Road 185 took us up an extremely well-maintained dirt road toward the summit of Woodall Mountain. These road conditions were a welcome sight after our arduous drive up the rugged rural road in Kentucky the prior day!

Initially, I wanted to park at the base of County Road 185 and take the 2-mile (roundtrip) walk up to the summit. But, we soon discovered there wasn’t any designated place to park, so we scrapped that plan and drove up instead.

Near the top of the hill, we passed a tall microwave tower before cresting the final peak and another car was already parked in the small roundabout that encircled the summit. Standing squarely in the center of the circular drive was a giant boulder with an inset plaque signaling our arrival. We had arrived!

Woodall Mountain – Mississippi’s highest natural point

After posing for a photo with the rock and historical plaque (courtest of the Highpointers Club), I spotted the small post just in front, which held an interesting, bluish-colored survey benchmark.

On the opposite side of the boulder, a black mailbox with the summit register waited for me to add my name and proclaim my this was my 27th state high point.

There weren’t many views to be had from Woodall Mountain, thanks to all the tall trees surrounding the summit.

Nonetheless, a short walk over toward the microwave tower led me to an area that had been clear-cut for utility lines. This narrow division in the forest provided a glimpse of the agricultural fields that lay below and the flat expanse of northern Mississippi beyond.

At a mere 806 feet above sea level, I didn’t expect much more from my visit. Yet, I was overjoyed to tick another easy high point off my bucket list. The higher my tally gets, the fewer of these uncomplicated “drive-up” peaks remain.

DETAILS

When to Visit: Woodall Mountain is accessible year-round. However, you may want to be mindful about wandering too far into the trees during hunting season (November 21-January 20).

Getting There: Mississippi’s highest point sits in the far northeast corner of the state – only 7 miles from the Alabama border and 15 miles from the Tennessee border. The closest medium-sized town is Tupelo, Mississippi, located approximately 50 miles to the south.

Entrance Fees: None.

Parking: There is a large parking circle at the summit that can accommodate about a dozen cars. However, there are no bathroom facilities.

Accessibility: This drive-up high point is suitable for any ability level.

Bonus: If you’re making your way to Woodall Mountain, then chances are, you either came from Memphis, TN (120 miles west) or Huntsville, AL (100 miles east). Both of these cities have some fantastic museums that are worth the stop if you have time. Two of my favorites are the National Civil Rights Museum (in downtown Memphis) and the US Space and Rocket Center (in Huntsville). But if you’re looking for more of an outdoor learning experience, the Shiloh Battlefield and National Military Park is also just about 30 miles to the north of the high point.