If you start the trail from the dam at the far end of the State Park (farthest you can drive after passing through the gate), you ride across the grass dam and up into some logging area. There's a small sign that directs you to the "hiker's trail," and it starts with a pretty steep single track with wooden steps built in. After that, the first half of the 3.6 mile loop is mostly single track, and even though the gate guard said maintenance hadn't been out there this season yet, it was in pretty good condition. There are some bridges built in across most of the brooks, and the riding is moderately easy, with some ups and downs and some tricky sections. After that, the trail starts to open up into a wider, double-track(ish) kind of route that is a lot hillier, with some good ups and downs. At the very end of the trail, it dumps you out onto some horse trails, so be prepared for some loose sand and mud if there's been any rain. There are a couple of places where you can turn right or left, and I always went left, which brought me back to the entry gate of the state park. From there its about a mile and a half on the roads of the park to get back to where you parked your truck/car.
It's a pretty quick ride, but as there doesn't seem to be many good trails around here, its a nice little afternoon 30 minute ride. There was really only one place where a tree made me "bushwhack," and that wasn't bad at all. Very pleased!
Lake Lowndes Park is located to the south east of Columbus, MS. From Columbus, follow highway 82 EAST towards alabama, and take the ROUTE 50 exit south (Gardner blvd). Keep following the road, and it becomes ROUTE 69 S. Keep following straight for a few miles, and you'll eventually see "Lake Lowndes Road" on the left. Turn left, and follow it for a few miles, and it will literally run you right in to the state park. Enter the park, and drive all the way to the back of the park until you get to a "do not enter" sign, and park on the left. You'll see the dam off to the left (at the end of the lake) and that's where you start.<br /><br />3319 Lake Lowndes Road<br />Columbus, MS 39702
http://www.singletracks.com/item.php?c=1&i=1732