We started at Hwy 49 and wanted to go as far as lake and turn back, but a little over 4 miles in the bridge was out and you couldn’t go further. Wish there had been a notice stating that. There is not a single bench to rest. Trail is well maintained and easy to navigate.

Good trail for a workout ¿ went 4 miles in yesterday. Volunteers with chainsaws clearing trail. Lots of families with small children. Didn't see any wildlife but deer prints.

Loved the tall pine trees. Trail was awesome!! We had time to only walk 6 miles. One of the best we’ve walked. Looking forward to coming back soon and walking the entire trail!!

Woke up by 0600. I ate 3 eggs with spinach, finished it with a nice up of coffee. I started trail by 0945. The route from the trail head to lake airey was good. Got to lake airey and had a 30 minute lunch. Got back on trail by 1200. The first few miles towards POW lake were flat and easy at about the 11.5 miles it will get dense but nothing hard. The trail will go from 4 feet wide to about a foot wide. After the 12 mile marker, just know you will need to hike about .7 miles untill POW.. It was a great trail and worth every step

This is a very easy trail but a good scenic trail. Get to look at a lot of different types of nature, ponds, lakes, and a POW camp. Flat trail that makes the higher mileage easier for newer hikers.

This is a great trail for beginners. It is well marked and fairly flat. If you park a car at Airey Lake and ride in a second car to the Highway 49 trailhead, the roughly 6 mile walk is fairly nice. I have hiked it one way (6.2 miles) or roundtrip from Airey Lake to Highway 49 and back (12.4 miles) or the long hike from Highway 49 to Airey Lake to the POW Camp. Sometimes the long route is not well marked, so you have to figure out which way to go, but as hikes go, it's nice, but long. As someone else said, you need to bring plenty of water for these hikes, as there is not a supply except a couple of spots. Also, South Mississippi can get incredibly hot midday till late afternoon. I recommend starting very early in the morning. Parts of the trail have no canopy, so you are in full sunlight.

This is a pine forest trail. It is well marked and clean. We at lunch by a stream. It has a few hills and some roots, but it is really a well maintained trail.

I traveled I-10 W-exit 46 D'Iberville-hwy 67. When 67 junctions with 49-the trail head is just north on the east side.
The trail was very well marked with white blazes-though they were only needed for confirmation as the trail is very obvious the entire way. Mostly flat, wide enough for 2 to walk abreast most of the way, very well maintained trail. A large part of the trail is grassy and had been recently mowed-I actually encountered a mower while hiking-kudos to them as I can't imagine how tall the grass might be w/o them.
There were mile markers every mile and I felt they were probably appropriate distance as my time hitting them was very consistent.
Great easy hike to Lake Airey and back. Distance to Lake Airey from 49 definitely around the 5. 5 to 5.6 range.

Hike: 25 May 2008, Review: 29 May 2008

First and formost, if you plan to start this hike and plan on going all the way to POW lake, make sure you have the time and resources for the hike. It will take you a day to do this. I started my hike with my friend and my dog, all three of us young and full of energy with both of us being in the military. The hike started at 7:30am, and we did not return until 8:40 pm.

At the trail head on 49, the first 5 miles are easy going, good for a stroll in the woods if thats what you were looking for. Lots of little streams here and there with plenty of shade for the most part. Pretty flat too, with just the occational hill here and there. The trail is marked pretty well with white diamonds, so if you do happen to wonder off the trail, you could spot those easyily and make your way back. Each mile is marked with the mile markers, little posts in the ground, although im not too sure how accurate the distances are, but its a good mental tool in either case. once you emerge from the woods and come into Airey lake camp ground, the first thing you come to is the only bathroom you will have the chance to use the entire trip (you may want to bring your own TP for two reasons, one the bathrooms TP is like tissue paper, and two you may need it while your out in the woods). After the restroom, you can go fill all your water at one of the two water stations on the camp ground. I might also add that these are the only ones on the trail that I know of. This is a great place to stop eat and rest/relax before the next leg... IF your going on to POW lake.

When your ready to hit the trail for the next 7 miles, you continue on around to the left of the lake and follow the path. The first mile is pretty much all down hill (keep this in mind when your on your return trip, because your going to be hating this mile on the way back). The next 2 or 3 miles is pretty flat, but curvy grass land under a light cover of trees, little shade throught here, so make sure to have lots of water. Once you hit the 10 mile marker, its gets ruff. For two miles its twist and turn up and down... it really gives you a work out, and with the 11 mile marker missing, it plays a mind trick on you, makes it feel like your hiking for ever. But once you get out of it all, you come to POW lake and its a wonderfull site. Beware of the gators, so dont get to close to the shore. Once you have had a breather, time to go back.

Things you will need for your hike on this trail. Water... Lots of it. Food that does not need to be kept cool, you could bring a cooler but there is no way it is going to stay cold the entire time. TP, you never know when you will need it. Extra socks, you will be sweating heavily depending what time of year you go out. Did i mention water yet? yeah, thats the most important part, bring water and have fun.