There’s A Hike In Mississippi That Leads You Straight To An Abandoned WWII POW Camp
There are a lot of great hiking trails in the Magnolia State, but not all of them lead to interesting remnants from the past like the Tuxachanie Trail. A must-visit for avid hikers and history buffs alike, the route includes plenty of beautiful views before coming to an end at an abandoned POW camp from WWII. This is one hike that should definitely be on your bucket list. Take a look:
Located within the DeSoto National Forest, the Tuxachanie Trail is a 12-mile out and back trail.
Loaded with beautiful views and a ton of history, it follows an abandoned lumber railroad and leads through forests, savannahs, and swamps straight to a POW camp from WWII.
Don’t let the 12-mile length deter you, though. There are three different trailheads, so you can shorten the route or even drive straight to the POW camp.
To hike the entire trail, begin the route at the western trailhead on Highway 49 near Saucier. Cut the trail in half by accessing it via the Airey Lake Recreation Area. Or, you can omit the hiking completely and enter through the POW Lake Recreation Area.
According to local historian Charles Sullivan, "Most of these German soldiers that we had here were just out of high school in Germany, put in uniform and told to shoot Americans. They weren’t really Nazis."
Though Daniella was born in New York and has lived in a couple of other states, Mississippi has been her home for the past 25 years. After graduating from the University of Southern Mississippi, Daniella began to hone her writing skills through various internships, working for The Royal Obsession and Anatomie clothing. In the years since, she’s had the privilege of having her articles appear in several publications, such as Parents & Kids Magazine and Girl Meets Strong. She’s also had the honor of interviewing actress Sela Ward for The Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Experience.
