Old Spanish Fort

Old Spanish Fort provides boat access to the Pascagoula River in downtown Pascagoula. Located at 4629 Hickory Street, this facility offers a public boat ramp with paved parking and courtesy docks for launching kayaks, canoes, and motorboats. The site has historical significance—the nearby LaPointe-Krebs house, built in 1757, is Mississippi's oldest structure.

The Pascagoula River is a major waterway (Stream Order 9) with strong flow characteristics: average currents of 3.19 feet per second and a drainage area of 9,363 square miles. Paddlers should be prepared for moderate currents and tidal influences, as the river flows 81 miles to the Gulf of Mexico. This access point places you in the lower estuary section, where freshwater transitions to saltwater and conditions can change with tides. The Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve and Grand Bay National Wildlife Refuge are nearby, offering excellent wildlife viewing opportunities for paddlers exploring the region's diverse coastal ecosystems.