Distance: 2.2 - 7 miles
Drive from Mobile: 15 minutes
This is the first trail we've done that includes walking under a major American interstate. That's what you do to start the hike on Misery Trail. Park at Chickasabogue's public beach, head under I-65, and you will be in the woods in just a few minutes. Misery Trail is a series of switch-backs going east, west, east, west. It connects to several other trails - Black Forest, South Trail, I-65 Loop and the Hemp Trail - that allow you to tailor the 2.2 miles into just about any length of a hike you would like.
We took the Misery Trail to a connector to South Trail to the I-65 Loop and back, for a total of 3.7 miles. At first, the buzzing of cars on the interstate was a bit distracting, but eventually, as the hike moved deeper in the woods, the sounds of cars and 18-wheelers grew faint to non-existent.
Most of the hikes we take are pretty flat, so it was nice to have some hills to walk up and down. The trails are not well-marked, so definitely use the AllTrails app, and ask for a trail map when you arrive at the park. These trails are popular with cyclists, and we could see why.
Scenery: At the beginning of the trail, we took a small detour to the left to get a look at Chickasaw Creek. We definitely want to bring our kayaks here this summer. The trail is deep in the woods, with oaks, dogwoods and pines. There are hills, gullies, swamps, and some bridges made out of bricks and wood to keep hikers and cyclists dry in areas that tend to puddle.
Wildlife: We didn't see any wildlife, but our dog was excited to have a scent of something that kept him intrigued. (These trails are great for dogs.) Those familiar with the park say you can often spot deer here. And anglers are known to catch bass, bluegill, crappie, catfish and other types of fish.
Highlights: This is a good place to hike that is so close to home. I appreciated that it was not completely flat. The boys liked going down a hill at the end of the Misery Trail as we were walking toward the South Trail called "Nosedive."
Trail Markings: The trails are in need of markings. (HINT: This would make a great Eagle Scout project). The map you get at the park gate is helpful as the trails appear to be color coded. But once you get into the woods, some of the colors are confusing and incorrect. The Misery Trail is yellow, and there are some yellow arrows and some yellow blazes on trees. Definitely have your cell phone charged and record your route on AllTrails so you can see the direction you are going and compare it to the park map.
L says: It's good practice for hikes with elevation. As a Boy Scout, I need to practice hikes that aren't just flat, so I would love to come back to this one.
G says: It's a nice, long hike. But my parents tricked me. They told me we were going on a 2-mile hike, but we went further than that.
About the trail: The 1,100-acre Chickasabogue Park is located in Eight Mile. Its highlight is Chickasaw Creek. Recreational activities here include hiking, cycling, camping, swimming, kayaking/canoeing, fishing and disc golf. The park has a total of 17 miles of hiking and cycling trails. We have also hiked the Indian Loop and the Cemetery Loop, which includes a really cool swamp. There are picnic tables and pavilions and restrooms here. Park entry is $1 per person.
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