The Mississippi Gulf Coast offers one of the very best prospects for bird watching. A wide variety of bird species stop along the coast during their annual migrations between North and South American, thereby creating the opportunity for an exquisite birding experience. While all public land offers wonderful birding opportunities, the Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge is the premier birding sanctuary that offers trails and undisturbed habitats for a once-in-a-lifetime chance to view birds in their natural habitat, including the rare species for which the refuge is named. Other places that provide a wide range of habitats and bird watching opportunities are: the Grand Bay National Wildlife Refuge, the Gulf Islands National Seashore, De Soto National Forest, and the recently established Audubon Birding Trail.

There are countless nature trails throughout the area on both public property and on privately owned lands managed for visitors. Practically all public lands offer some form of nature trail, and most privately owned campsites offer hikes of varying lengths, difficulty, and habitat types.