Photo via Fox News

Best hikes in and around Oxford to get you ready for Ole Miss-LSU's week three showdown

Read the original at Fox News ↗
Cite

Perry, A. (2026, September 17). Best hikes in and around Oxford to get you ready for Ole Miss-LSU's week three showdown. Fox News. https://www.foxnews.com/outkick-culture/best-hikes-oxford-ole-miss-lsu-week-three-showdown

Dated when The Aporia collected the article, usually within hours of publication. Check the original for its exact date and byline.

Fox News · collected 2026-09-17 · by Austin Perry

Quick Summary

This article lists four hikes around Oxford, Mississippi, recommended for visitors attending the upcoming college football game between Ole Miss and LSU. Featured are the South Campus Rail Trail, with its five-mile round trip through woods near campus; Clear Creek Trail at Sardis Lake, offering a 13-mile loop with views of the lake; and Holly Springs National Forest, covering 155,000 acres for those seeking solitude. Each hike is described based on distance, difficulty level, and scenic features to help visitors enjoy nature before game day.
Written by AI on 2026-09-18, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

AI analysis

Story summary

The eyes of the college football world are on Oxford, Mississippi this weekend for a showdown between Ole Miss and LSU, two top-ten teams in the SEC. The game is notable as it marks the return of former Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin to Vaught Hemingway Stadium. For those looking to enjoy nature before the game, Clear Creek Trail at Sardis Lake offers a 13-mile loop with scenic lake views and options for fishing. It’s about 30 minutes from downtown Oxford but well worth the drive, especially during late summer and early fall when the scenery is spectacular. Additionally, South Campus Rail Trail provides a five-mile round trip hike near campus, following an old gravel railroad bed, making it convenient for those who prefer to stay close to town.

Written for “College Football Season” on 2026-11-03, grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.

Story

📰 College Football Season
Sports · 1 article(s) covering the same event.

Compared with similar articles

This article reads unscored and hedges 5% of its claims. Each row says how that neighbour differs.
Fox News
Hedges 6 of 44 claims Outlet record 69/100
“While both articles discuss Lane Kiffin's return to Oxford for an LSU-Ole Miss game, they are not describing the exact same specific incident; Article A focuses on hiking and outdoor activities while Article B discusses historical context of returning coaches.”
Fox News
Hedges 2 of 24 claims Outlet record 69/100
“The articles discuss different aspects of the upcoming football game between LSU and Ole Miss, but do not describe the same specific incident or occurrence.”
Fox News
Hedges 3 of 41 claims Outlet record 69/100
“The articles discuss related events surrounding Lane Kiffin's return to Ole Miss for a game against LSU, but they describe different aspects and timeframes.”
ABC News (US)
Hedges 0 of 3 claims Outlet record 70/100
“While both articles mention an upcoming football game between Ole Miss and LSU with Lane Kiffin's return to Oxford, they refer to different times - one before the event and another during/after the event.”
New York Post
Hedges 1 of 19 claims Outlet record 66/100
“The articles cover related topics but discuss different aspects of the event (hiking and watching Lane Kiffin's return), not a single specific incident.”
How this article was measured signals, leaning charts, publisher record, byline, topics and claims

Signals How these are calculated →

Claims extracted
20
sentences that state something as happening or true
Uncertain
5%
1 of 20 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")
Leaning
not political
takes no side on a contested political question
Publisher signals
69/100
Fox News's corrections and hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.
Outlets on this story
1
Sports
Same framing elsewhere
1
articles that frame the event the way this one does
Analyzed 2026-09-18 · how these are computed

How this is being covered How these are calculated →

Article leaning vs. publisher reliability
Source leaning vs. consistency

Publisher

Fox News · 6337 article(s) · 11 correction(s) detected
Running correction rate · 11 correction(s)

Who wrote this

Austin Perry
51 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction
🔮 Of course, the proliferation of talent would become "flatter" when every program is allowed to legally pay money for players.
🔮 If only someone could have warned Dukes fans before they hired a guy like Napier.
🔮 While the NFL Draft isn't until next April, that never stops general managers, scouts and even fans from opining on what their teams will do in the spring.
🔮 In a split-second decision that might have saved his life - or at the very least, a limb or two - Slavich reels his line in quickly to ensure the shark doesn't take the bait and pull him in with it.
🔮 This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners.
🔮 This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners.
🔮 This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners.
🔮 Seven games into his tenure, Meyer has been blown away by Sumrall, and joined Dan Dakich on his show, "Don't @ Me," to discuss how he had a small part in helping usher the new Gator to The Swamp this past fall. "I don't like him, I love the guy," Meyer said with the same smile a proud older sibling would wear when talking about his younger brother's accomplishments.
🔮 This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners.
🔮 This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners.
Also by Austin Perry
Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.
All 51 articles by Austin Perry →

Topics

LSU Mississippi Ole Miss Oxford SEC

Subjects

Oxford GPE · 5× SEC ORG · 3× Mississippi GPE · 2× Google Maps ORG · 1× LSU ORG · 1× Lane Kiffin PERSON · 1× Ole Miss GPE · 1× OutKick OutDoors ORG · 1× Tigers ORG · 1× the Magnolia State GPE · 1×

Narrative

Clear Creek Trail at Sardis Lake Serious hikers who actually came to work up a sweat will love Clear Creek Trail. It's a little further away - about 30 minutes from downtown Oxford - but the drive is well worth it. Clear Creek Trail offers a 13-mile loop around nearby Sardis Lake, and the trails are even split up for different levels of hikers. There's a three-mile beginner loop or an eight-mile beginner/intermediate combination, meaning there's something for everyone. The views of the lake are spectacular, especially during late summer and early fall, and the proximity to the water means hikers can make a full outdoors day that includes a little fishing if you've come prepared. One thing to note is that this doubles as a mountain biking trail, so hikers should be aware of this and yield appropriately. The combo of the woods and the water make this a must-see.
framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-09-18
🔮 The eyes of the college football world will be focused this weekend on Oxford, Mississippi, for the showdown between Ole Miss and LSU.

Claims (20 extracted, 1 hedged)

The eyes of the college football world will be focused this weekend on Oxford, Mississippi, for the showdown between Ole Miss and LSU. asserted
eyes → focus → Miss
Two top-ten teams in the SEC duking it out is already newsworthy, but with the added context of Tigers coach Lane Kiffin making his way back to Vaught Hemingway Stadium for the first time since his departure from the university, this one is sure to be a hot ticket. asserted
one → duke → university
If you're lucky enough to be attending the game, you'll likely want to enjoy the great outdoors and take in all the natural beauty that the Magnolia State has to offer, and luckily for you, we here at OutKick OutDoors have you covered. asserted
you → attend → OutDoors
Here are four of the best hikes in and around Oxford to help you usher in the game on Saturday. asserted
you → help → Saturday
For those of you wanting a real hike without ever leaving the friendly confines of Oxford, this one is an absolute slam dunk. asserted
one → want → Oxford
The South Campus Rail Trail features a five-mile round trip trail that follows an old gravel railroad bed (hence the name), while the surrounding network contains more than 20 miles of single-track trails, according to the university website. uncertain
network → feature → website
It's right by campus so you don't have to travel too far, and it also features a quiet, wooded area to take your mind off the stresses of gameday. asserted
it → have → gameday
Whether you're looking for a straightforward walk or something a little more adventurous through the surrounding woods, South Campus Rail Trail is the move. asserted
Trail → look → woods
Clear Creek Trail at Sardis Lake Serious hikers who actually came to work up a sweat will love Clear Creek Trail. It's a little further away - about 30 minutes from downtown Oxford - but the drive is well worth it. Clear Creek Trail offers a 13-mile loop around nearby Sardis Lake, and the trails are even split up for different levels of hikers. There's a three-mile beginner loop or an eight-mile beginner/intermediate combination, meaning there's something for everyone. The views of the lake are spectacular, especially during late summer and early fall, and the proximity to the water means hikers can make a full outdoors day that includes a little fishing if you've come prepared. One thing to note is that this doubles as a mountain biking trail, so hikers should be aware of this and yield appropriately. The combo of the woods and the water make this a must-see. asserted
this → come → woods
It's been called the antithesis of a college football Saturday, and although that sounds like a pejorative, I can assure you it's not. asserted
it → call → you
Holly Springs National Forest is probably the most secluded and serene spot on this list, so if you really just need to get away from it all before a stressful slate of SEC football, this is the place for you. asserted
this → need → you
The area offers a remote destination for hikers who don't want to deal with the large crowds some of the more "touristy" destinations hold. asserted
some → offer → destinations
The whole forest is home to 155,000 acres of federal land, and a special mention needs to be made for the recreation area at Chewalla Lake, which is great for hiking, fishing, canoeing, and more. asserted
which → need → hiking
With it being so secluded, you'll have to drive a bit to get here (Google Maps plots it as 65 minutes from Oxford), but that's the price you pay for being one with nature. asserted
you → have → nature
If you're looking to broaden your horizons and really explore everything northern Mississippi has to offer, make the trek here. asserted
Mississippi → look → trek
You won't regret it. asserted
You → regret → it
So, you brought the whole family along for a little SEC football action? asserted
you → bring → action
If you're looking for a hike you and the kids can enjoy, Lamar Park is the place to be. asserted
Park → look → hike
It's a six-minute car ride from the stadium, so you won't have to worry about entertaining the rugrats on a long road trip, and once you arrive, you'll find a well manicured park and a low intensity walking loop for hikers trying to avoid a more strenuous workout. Anyone who is trying to get a little sunshine and some fresh air on the morning of the game without busting their butt should check this place out, as it's more of a scenic stroll than a heart-racing romp through the wilderness. asserted
it → have → wilderness
Visit Oxford's website specifically recommends its paved loop for families and visitors of varying mobility levels, so you know it's kid-friendly. asserted
it → visit → levels
💬Give feedback
🕘History 🎫Support