Welcome to the first edition of Tuesdays on the Trails, a weekly feature where we spotlight Mississippi and the Gulf Coast’s most scenic, historic, and underrated outdoor paths. This week, we head deep into the DeSoto National Forest, where pine canopies, military history, and quiet solitude await along the Tuxachanie Trail’s western section and the nearby POW Recreation Area.
📍 Trail Overview: Tuxachanie Trail (West End)
- Location: Near Saucier, MS — trailhead off US Highway 49 just south of Perkinston
- Length: Approx. 11 miles (out-and-back to the POW Camp site)
- Difficulty: Easy to moderate
- Trail Type: Natural surface, forested path
- Landmark Highlight: World War II German POW Camp ruins
This segment of the Tuxachanie Trail winds through the southern stretch of the DeSoto National Forest through the abandoned community of Howison. An old mill town that operated here from 1885 to 1920. The section of the trail is also partly paved for the first mile offering hikers a quiet, shaded journey through pine flatwoods, hardwood swamps, and historical ground. The trail is relatively flat and well-marked, ideal for day hikers, beginners, and families looking for a manageable yet immersive outdoor escape.
Airy Lake: A Hidden Gem Just Off the Trail
Roughly six miles down the path you will come across Airy Lake. Airy Lake is ideal for those doing a longer out-and-back hike or an overnight backpacking trip. Whether you’re birding, fishing, or just enjoying the stillness of the pine canopy reflected on the water, it’s worth the extra effort. You’ll find people setting up tents and there are bathrooms with water fountains at Airy Lake. You can also access Airy Lake via car, which makes for the halfway stop between the trailhead marker at Highway 49 and the abandoned POW camp.
Historic Stop: The WWII German POW Camp Site
At the end of the trail 12.5 miles from the trail head at Highway 49 you’ll find the remains of a World War II prisoner-of-war camp, once used to house German soldiers captured during the war. Constructed in the 1940s by the U.S. military, this POW camp housed captured German soldiers, many of whom were transported to the Gulf Coast region to alleviate labor shortages. Most were used in timber work and sawmills — a practical solution that also kept them isolated from the coast and urban centers.
Today, the foundations of the barracks, mess halls, latrines, and fences still linger — cracked but visible, scattered across a quiet clearing. Some foundations are moss-covered. Others are half-buried. But if you pause and look closely, the layout of the camp begins to emerge like a ghost town remembered.
There’s no museum, no gift shop, no highway marker nearby. Just a few wooden signs posted by the Forest Service and the echo of history resting beneath the soil. For those who take time to walk slowly, it’s a powerful and sobering stop — an outdoor classroom in the middle of Mississippi’s wilderness.
Today, concrete foundations and scattered relics are all that remain, with interpretive signage helping visitors understand the camp’s historical context. It’s a powerful contrast — quiet, secluded woods standing in for what was once a guarded military installation. You can also access the POW Camp Ground via car as well, some people choose to start their treck here and work their way west towards Highway 49.
The POW Recreation Area features:
- A tranquil pond stocked for fishing
- Picnic tables and grassy clearings under pines
- Primitive campsites
- Vault restrooms
It’s the perfect spot to begin or end your hike, especially for families looking for a low-key day outdoors. You can fish, birdwatch, or even camp overnight before hitting the trail the next morning.
🧭 Tips Before You Go
- Download trail maps in advance – cell signal is weak in many areas
- Wear bug spray – gnats and ticks are active year-round
- Bring your own water – there are no fountains along the trail
- Leave no trace – pack out everything you bring in
- Consider camping at either POW Lake or Airy Lake to stretch the experience
📍 Getting There
From Gulfport or Biloxi, take U.S. Highway 49 north toward Saucier. The main trail head is located directly off Highway 49 just four miles south of the Pecan House in McHenry, and about 8 miles south of MGCCC campus in Perk. To access the POW Recreation Area turn onto Bethel Road or POW Lake Road depending on your preferred trailhead. Look for the POW Recreation Area signage maintained by the U.S. Forest Service. Airy Lake Campground is accessible via Forest Service roads further east and is also marked on official maps.
🧵 Final Thoughts
The Tuxachanie Trail West End isn’t just a hike — it’s a passage through Mississippi’s lesser-known legacy. The POW camp ruins, quietly nestled among the trees, make this trail unlike any other in the state. Where you walk through pristine national forest and stumble upon remnants of global war ?
It’s a place where silence speaks volumes. A place where history is literally under you. And it’s the perfect beginning for our Tuesdays on the Trails journey.
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