SIBLEY — St. Catherine Creek Refuge’s Magnolia Trail offers locals a calm forest setting to enjoy a pleasant stroll, and the refuge is about to hike the experience.

Workers are in the process of expanding the trail and adding more landmarks to help view the scenery, such as fishing piers, an amphitheater and benches, the Refuge’s Manager Bob Strader said.

“The trail is in good shape,” Strader said. “We are improving it with benches to make it more friendly with groups, such as classes.”

The Magnolia Trail is also getting an amphitheater to give classes an area to sit near a shallow water pond.

“We are putting this here so that the children can watch ducks and wading birds,” Strader said. “But if they find birds boring, there are also reptiles and frogs around.”

The current trail, open from dawn until dusk, loops around to be about three and a half miles long.

Approximately one mile will be added to the trail. Other renovations include a pond with a fishing pier near the new office.

“Because of ongoing projects, this extension likely won’t be done until summer 2010,” Strader said. “But we’ll see how much we can get done before hunting season.”

One of the features of the trail is a photography blind.

“The photography blind is one of our biggest draws,” Strader said. “We are looking to add benches to this area, where several species of birds roost, to make it better.”

The trail has a variety of scenery.

“We have a cypress swamp, higher lands, bluffs,” Strader said. “And (we have) upwards of 70 to 80 species of birds in the forest.”

“This trail is great for someone looking to hike in, or get an aerobic workout,” he said. “You could run the trail.”

However, the trail is used by most to take in the sights.

“I use it for a peaceful walk, a place to take in the beauty of the forest after I get off work,” Strader said.

St. Catherine Creek Refuge is approximately 10 miles out of Natchez on U.S. 61 South.

To get there, turn on York Road near the Sibley Store.