Posted: 4/13/2007 6:50:11 PM EDT
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I'm looking for some good places in the MS area to do day or two day hikes on my days off from work and school. Any good suggestions? Thanks. |
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The problem with hiking down in the southern part of the state is that much of the Desoto National Forest is still closed due to Hurricane Katrina (at least as far as the trails and recreational areas). The Black Creek Trail is a 42 mile trail thats good for either day hikes or thru hikes. This is located in Stone and Perry counties. Its still closed unfortunately. A lot of folks are getting out on the trail and using it anyway. I'm making plans to try and thru-hike this later this year if they officially reopen it. Part of the Tuxachanie Trail (in the North Gulfport/Saucier area) is open from the Hwy 49 trailhead to Airey Lake. This will provide a 9 mile loop (not really a loop, you'd get to the lake and have to turn around), but its over flat, relatively unexciting terrain. There is an excellent day hike located in the Clark Natural Area in the Pond, Mississppi area. Its about a 3.5 mile loop, but its surprisingly challenging and one of the best kept hiking secrets in the region IMO. |
Hey thanks, I'm making a trip to Georgia to do the Appalachian Trial in May. I'm not going to do the entire trek of 2100miles but plan on doing the 75mile hike threw Georgia. Have you done any hikes along that route? Really looking forward to it looks beautiful. |
| What part of the state are you in? I know there are a few horse trails around Tupelo that I have heard of people hiking that are about 20 miles or so. If you are around oxford you are not more than about 2 and a half or 3 hours from some great spots in Arkansas. |
| I am in the SW corner of MS and I can highly reccomend the Clark Creek Natural Area in Wilkinson County. If you are close to SW MS you should check it out. It is about 30 miles west of Woodville. It has several waterfalls, primitive and developed trails and 150'-250' elevation changes. If you have ever heard of geocaching, the high tech GPS scavenger hunt, there are several caches on the trails. Also, the Homochitto National Forest has some good hiking, although few developed trails, in the area. |
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Quick update. A friend of mine called the Desoto Ranger District this week. He was told the entire twenty-something miles of the Tuxachainie Trail was now open. Additionally, the Black Creek Trail is open from Big Creek to the abandoned CCC Camp. This is approximately the first 8 miles at the northern-most part of the trail. The entire trail system is not scheduled to open until early 2008, which is a bummer because I wanted to thru hike it over Christmas. |
