Paddling near Ocean Springs, MS

Ocean Springs sits on Mississippi's Gulf Coast in Jackson County, flanked by bays, bayous, and barrier islands that make it one of the more varied paddling areas on the northern Gulf. Front Beach and the Ocean Springs Harbor serve as accessible launch points for flatwater bay paddling, while Old Fort Bayou winds through marsh and, north of I-10, into wooded, sheltered creek scenery. The barrier islands of Gulf Islands National Seashore — including Horn Island and Ship Island — draw more experienced paddlers looking for open-water crossings and genuine solitude.