Hiking for Days

  • Published
  • By Airman Daniel Lile
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  Columbus Air Force Base is practically a goldmine of outdoor recreation. There are many things to do outdoors and one of the most common is hiking. Lake Lowndes State Park and Roosevelt State Park are just some of the many locations around Columbus AFB to hike.

If an Airman doesn't want to leave base there are area's to hike on base, there are numerous trails around SAC Lake. Airmen hiking these trails are advised to wear bright colors, such as hunters orange, while hiking to advise hunters of your presence.

The most popular trail at Lake Lowndes State Park is the Opossum Nature Trail. The trail is open to hikers fall through spring and is located about 20 miles south of base.

"Opossum Trail is my favorite placed around here to hike," said Airman 1st Class Parth Shah, a Public Health Technician 14th Medical Operations Squadron. "My favorite time of year to go there is in the fall it's beautiful."

The Opossum trail is moderate in difficulty and is about five miles long. You will want to be sure to bring bug spray along with your water and food this time of year because of all the mosquitoes.

"The trail makes a loop around Lake Lowndes," said Airman 1st Class Christopher Tarantino 14th Civil Engineering Squadron. "It's a great hike. It takes me and my friends around three hours to get all the way around and back to the parking lot."

If you want to hike outside of fall through spring Roosevelt State Park is open to hikers year around.

"It's a great nice long hike to go out and do with friends on the weekends or whenever you have time," said Tarantino. "It usually takes me about two hours to complete the trail when walking casually."

The Roosevelt State Park trail is three miles long and a moderate in difficulty. It's advised to wear pants while hiking here, or anywhere for that matter, to avoid poison ivy.

"I enjoy the hiking in Roosevelt State Park," said Shah. "It would be nice if the trail was a loop but I really don't mind it too much. It's really cool having a good place to hike in the winter and during hunting season."

Hiking is a great recreational activity and it's a lot better than sitting inside watching TV or playing video games.

"I would rather be out in the woods on a trail any day rather than sitting around bored," said Shah.