Lake Thoreau's Trail: A Blend of Charm and Challenges

“There’s nothing good to see in Mississippi” “It’s all just flat land.” Mississippi is lame.” 

These are all things I have heard in my lifetime living in Mississippi. Plot twist, there are many sites to see in this great state. You just have to be willing to explore a little. I’ve spoken about a few of them: Red Bluff, Dunn’s Falls, and Clark Creek Natural Area. On this particular day, we decided to go hiking at Lake Thoreau in Hattiesburg. 

It was a beautiful little hike. After walking down a trail from the car, we crossed a little bridge by the lake. The bridge was a little rickety which my friend didn’t appreciate, but it was worth it for the view of the lake. The photos were gorgeous. There was not much elevation on this hike as it wrapped around the like, which makes it great for an afternoon stroll. 

There were very few markings on the trail so we turned around multiple times. Once we got turned into what seemed to be the right direction, I noticed that a pretty good portion of the trail was underwater due to the like exceeding its banks. We attempted to cut through the woods to extend the hike, but Jay saw a big spider and refused to walk under it, ending the hike. 

We made the most of the walk back and even took the trail around the bridge which gave me some elevation. The gravel trail was mainly for ATVs to go on the trail to manage it and for rescues as well as for a place for the lake to drain when it begins to overflow. 

As said previously, it was a beautiful hike, but it’s not something I would attempt anytime soon. If you’re looking for a leisurely stroll or a starter hike for smaller children, this one is for you.