Hurricane Landing sits near the eastern end of Sardis Lake's southern shoreline. It is the closest Corps landing to Abbeville, and Recreation.gov lists it under the town's name. It has three concrete ramps. On October 20, 2026, the lake was low enough that two of them ended above the waterline.
On that date the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks Sardis Reservoir report put the lake at 248.5 feet. The water was falling 0.20 feet a day and sat 1.6 feet above the Corps of Engineers' guide curve. The target for this time of year is winter pool at 236 feet. Between those two numbers, Abbeville's ramps stop working one at a time. Through November and into December, the best place to launch keeps moving west, away from home.
Why the water keeps falling
Every year the Corps lowers Sardis, Arkabutla, Enid and Grenada starting in late summer. That makes room to hold spring rainfall. In the Corps' words, "As lake levels drop, some boat ramps will become unusable." The Corps' October 2022 notice shows what that looks like. That year the district reported most upper-lake ramps at Sardis still usable and Sleepy Bend Campground closed for the season.
At Sardis the drawdown usually starts August 1. MDWFP says the 2026 drawdown started a couple of days early because of lake levels. The pace changes. MDWFP's report says to expect "water level rises and drawdowns as rain events happen" while the Corps works to stay on its rule curve. At the October 20 rate of 0.20 feet a day, the lake loses about a foot and a half each week. A steady rain can stop that. Weeks of dry weather can keep it going.
Hurricane Landing's three ramps, by the numbers
The Corps' Sardis Lake recreation page gives a launch range for every ramp on the lake, from an upper elevation down to a lower one. The lower number is the one that matters this time of year. Below it, the concrete ends before the water starts.
| Ramp | Lowest listed launch elevation | Water level of 248.5 ft on Oct. 20 |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Landing No. 1 | 258.80 ft | Concrete ends about 10 ft above the water |
| Hurricane Landing No. 2 | 249.40 ft | Concrete ends just under a foot above the water |
| Hurricane Landing No. 3, Indian Mound | 240.00 ft | Still within range |
| Clear Creek | 237.25 ft | Still within range |
| Coles Point | 234.00 ft | Still within range |
| Pat's Bluff | 234.00 ft | Still within range |
| Engineer Point, Low Water | 234.00 ft | Still within range |
Indian Mound carries Hurricane Landing for the rest of the fall. Recreation.gov describes the landing as offering "boat launching at high and low water levels." That holds for as long as the lake stays above Indian Mound's 240-foot bottom. On October 20 there were 8.5 feet to go. At the October 20 rate of fall, that is roughly six weeks. Rain and Corps releases will change that timing either way.
The table lists elevations. It is not a live report on conditions. Silt, debris or a damaged slab can close a ramp that the numbers say should work. The Sardis Lake Field Office answers at 662-563-4531 on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., excluding holidays. The same number gives water level information. MDWFP also links to the Vicksburg District Daily River Bulletin, which it says is usually updated around midday.
Where to launch next as the lake falls
Below 240 feet, Hurricane Landing has no usable ramp. Going by the Corps' listed elevations, here is the order in which the nearby options run out:
- Indian Mound at Hurricane Landing, down to 240 feet. It is the closest to Abbeville and the first of these to go.
- Clear Creek, down to 237.25 feet. Recreation.gov places it about 15 minutes from Oxford. Clear Creek's bottom sits just above the 236-foot winter pool, so it may stop working if the lake reaches full winter level.
- Coles Point, Pat's Bluff and the Engineer Point low-water ramp, each down to 234 feet. These are the only ramps on this list that reach below winter pool.
The Corps adds one exception. Frank Walker Landing is on the Tallahatchie River, and because "the elevation of the river is higher than the lake," boats can launch there when the lake is lower.
The fishing moves west too
The current fish locations match the ramp table. MDWFP's report updated October 20, 2026, says the best bet for crappie is the main lake from Clear Creek to the dam, 12 to 14 feet deep, using active sonar, trolling or drifting with jigs and minnows. For white bass, the report says "winter often concentrates white bass at engineers' point and the dam," and there are no size or number limits on them. Engineer Point's low-water ramp is one of the three that work all the way down to 234 feet.
The same report says that, except for catfish, "fishing is usually better on a slow fall than a fast rise." A steady drop of a couple of tenths of a foot a day is the kind of fall it means. Bass are moving toward shallow cover as the water cools. MDWFP suggests topwater baits early around flooded grass and structure in the creeks, then moving to brushtops, ledges and the edges of the river channel later in the day.
The reservoir's crappie rules are 10 fish per angler, a 12-inch minimum and four poles per angler. Boats with three or more anglers have a 25-fish aggregate limit. The rules are different in the spillway and Sardis Lower Lake. The 12-inch minimum does not apply there, but the 10-crappie limit does. On October 20 the spillway had two gates open 6 feet and was releasing 2,724 cubic feet per second. MDWFP says the spillway fishes best "when some water is being released, but not too much."
On shore, the dry fall sets the rules
The same dry weather speeding up the drawdown has also put a ban on fires around the lake. On October 6, the Lafayette County Board of Supervisors approved an outdoor burn ban, citing drought and lack of rainfall. The Mississippi Forestry Commission's burn ban list shows Lafayette County's ban running from 10/6/26 to 11/6/26. The county's notice says the ban can be lifted sooner.
The Forestry Commission defines what a ban covers as anything with an open flame that produces an ember. That includes campfires, fire pits and fire rings. Propane and gas grills, propane and gas heaters, and charcoal grills are allowed if used safely. The commission asks that charcoal be cooled completely and doused with water before it goes into a metal container.
Hurricane Landing's campground has 15 reservable sites with 50-amp electric and water hookups, plus a flush restroom and shower building. The day-use side has a pavilion that holds about 100 people and a small playground. At Clear Creek, Recreation.gov notes that much of the campground is closed. All 19 reservable sites are in the back section, starting at Site 20 on the left and Site 62 on the right. Vicksburg District campgrounds limit stays to 14 days in any 30-day period at a single campground.
Low water has no effect on the Clear Creek Mountain Bike Trail, which the Corps describes as a 13-mile public route of three connected loops. Trailforks showed the area status as "Caution" as of its September 28, 2026 update, without listing a reason. Check the current status before you go. The Corps asks riders to wear helmets and read the trailhead safety rules.
What a fall of launching costs
The Corps charges $5 a day to launch, or $40 for an annual pass. Day use is $2 per walk-in and $5 per vehicle, and children under 16 get in free. The Clear Creek Day Use Pass on Recreation.gov has the same $5 and $40 prices. The annual version works at all Corps-operated day-use facilities for a year, and the online receipt has to be exchanged for a hang tag within 14 days. Recreation.gov states that the pass does not guarantee parking and that there are no refunds if a ramp is not launchable. That matters this time of year. If you buy an annual pass in late fall, the ramps you can use with it are probably a drive west of Abbeville. Fees, limits and burn ban dates are set by the agencies above and can change, so confirm them with the Corps, MDWFP or Lafayette County before you go.
When I'm not showing homes, I keep an eye on the lake level and the ramp list too. Plenty of buyers ask me how far a property is from Hurricane Landing, Clear Creek or the dam, and the honest answer depends on the season. If you'd like to talk through Abbeville or the Sardis side of Lafayette County, Alison Alger is glad to help. Let's Connect.
