The Civilian Conservation Corps used loblolly pine because it was easy to plant, was suitable for the depleted soils of the north central hills, and cast a large load of needles to help prevent further erosion.

In 1983, the Reagan administration proposed auctioning off the entire national forest to private bidders as part of a nationwide asset management program.

In descending order of land area the forest is located in parts of Benton, Lafayette, Marshall, Yalobusha, Tippah, and Union counties.

[3] The source of the Wolf River, Baker's Pond, is located in the northernmost tip of the national forest, approximately 1-mile (1.6 km) southwest of where U.S. Highway 72 crosses the border between Tippah and Benton counties.

The Forest Service began working with the Wolf River Conservancy in 1999 to develop hiking trails there.