Park Archives: Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail

The 450-plus-mile foot trail that became known as the Natchez Trace was the lifeline through the Old Southwest in the nation's early decades. The Natchez Trace Parkway was established as a unit of the National Park System in 1938 to commemorate this historic route. In 1983 the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail was established as a unit of the National Park System and the National Trails System. lt runs parallel to the Parkway, providing visitors with another opportunity to enjoy the scenery and history of the Natchez Trace corridor.

Today the national scenic trail consists of five separate sections-over 60 miles-developed for hiking and horseback riding. Portions follow the segments of the original Trace. Like the parkway, the scenic trail is best enjoyed at a leisurely pace. Take your time and you will be rewarded with the sights and sounds experienced by those who came long before you.

People have walked the Natchez Trace for thousands of years. Choctaw, Chickasaw, Natchez, and other American Indians traveled long distances through the southern pine and hardwood forests via a network of northeast/southwest trails.

In the late 1800s, the Trace gained a new importance among the American settlers of the Ohio River Valley. Kaintucks—farmers—transported products to market on wooden flatboats. The men floated down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to the ports of Natchez and New Orleans. There the Kaintucks sold the farm goods and, because they couldn't float back upriver, sold the flatboats for lumber. Then they set out on the Natchez Trace on foot or horseback, covering hundreds of miles on the journey home.

The Trace was not a single path, but many interconnected paths within a wide corridor. You can still see places where the old route is obvious—deeply sunken portions of the trail tramped down by millions of footsteps home. It was a dangerous journey; extreme weather conditions, disease, or accidents could incapacitate or kill you. If you had enough money, you could get food, drink, and crude lodging at a stand, or inn. By the mid-1820s steamboats made travel upriver a far quicker way home than foot travel. The Natchez Trace soon became obsolete.

The five developed sections of the national scenic trail are accessed from many points along the Natchez Trace Parkway. The map shows the 444-mile length of parkway with the trail sections labeled. Specific information about each trail section is below. When you're on the trail itself, look for markings of white blazes or brown and white signs.

This trail section just south of Nashville is very popular with horse enthusiasts. Garrison Creek is a good staging area for trail rides.

To reach the trailhead north of TN Hwy. 7, exit the parkway at mp 416, turn left on Hwy. 7, then turn left on Old Natchez Trace Road. The trailhead is at the top of the hill on the left.

Carter Lane picnic area is not accessible from the parkway; use Old Natchez Trace Road.

In and around Tupelo, this section is a popular recreational corridor for visitors and residents alike.

Go to the Parkway Visitor Center for orientation information on the parkway and national scenic trail. There are exhibits on the area's history and natural features.

At two road crossings, you must walk up to the parkway and follow the road's shoulder: the creek crossing at mp 264.5 and the U5 178 (McCullough Blvd.) crossing at mp 262.5. Be extremely careful on the road, at all road crossings, and at the railroad track crossing north of Chickasaw Village.

North of Jackson, this is the longest trail section. Eight miles run alongside the reservoir and the other 16 go though dense forests, seasonal streams, and open pasture land.

There's a lot to see on this stretch of trail; many sites are accessible via short side trails (you may have to cross the parkway).

The trail parallels the parkway roadbed; use caution at all times, especially at bridge crossings, where you must walk along the road.

To reach the MS Hwy. 43 trailhead, exit the parkway at mp 115; go west on Hwy. 43 a short distance to Yandell Rd.; turn left (south) for 100 feet; turn left into the parking area.

This trail crosses gently rolling, forested land. To get to the northern trailhead, exit the Parkway at mp 59.2. Turn right at the stop sign onto Fisher Ferry Rd., cross over the parkway, and take the first right to the parking area.

At Rocky Springs, a side trail leads to the remains of the old town, including a church and cemetery.

South of Rocky Springs the trail is moderately strenuous in places up and down through deep ravines. Near the south end of the section is the Owens Creek waterfall, a good spot to sit quietly and listen to the forest.

Potkopinu is the Natchez Indian word for "little valley." This is the longest continuous section of sunken Trace. The trail cuts deep into the rich, fine-grained soil. It doesn't take much to erode this type of soil, and centuries of human and animal traffic have done an impressive job.

The southern trailhead at mp 17 is not recommended for RVs because of the narrow access road and lack of turnaround space.

Prepare to walk through water at stream crossings. Crossing conditions vary from muddy areas to knee-deep water; depending on rainfall. Trail improvement is ongoing.

There are visitor information centers at Meriwether Lewis (mp 386), Tupelo (mp 266), Ridgeland (mp 102.4), and Mount Locust (mp 15.5). Each has information about the parkway and national scenic trail sections. Above are details about the trail sections.

There are campgrounds and picnic areas along the parkway. Backcountry camping requires a permit. Nearby towns have food, fuel, lodging, and other services.

Trails sometimes cross roads or follow the parkway's shoulder. Use extreme caution in these situations. • Trails may run close to private property. Please respect owners' privacy and posted signs. • Heavy rain can produce muddy and wet trail conditions, even long after the rain has ended. Always remain on the trail and tread lightly to prevent further erosion. • Pets must be on a leash six feet long or less and under physical control at all times. Service animals are welcome. • Motorized vehicles and bicycles are prohibited. • Stream and reservoir water is unsafe to drink. • Campfires are prohibited. • Carry out all litter. • Be watchful for fire ants, poison ivy, and venomous snakes, and don't put your hands or feet rn places you can't see. • If you carry firearms inside the park, you are responsible for understanding and complying with federal, state, and local firearms regulations. Visit the park website for more information. • All natural, historical, and archeological objects are protected by federal law. Do not damage or collect these items.

The contents of brochures, site bulletins and trading cards (denoted with a colored caption) can be viewed by clicking on the cover. Most modern-day brochures, however, are cover only (denoted by a white caption) due to photograph copyrights. These items are historical in scope and are intended for educational purposes only; they are not meant as an aid for travel planning. The dates under each brochure do not reflect the complete range of years that a particular brochure was issued.

cover only Date Unknown		2011-2016

Yockanookany Trail (Ridgeland District) Date Unknown	Potkopinu Section Date Unknown	Rocky Springs Trail (Port Gibson District) Date Unknown	Highland Rim Trail (Leipers Fork District) Date Unknown	Blackland Prairie Trail (Tupelo District) Date Unknown
Fast Facts about the Natchez Trace Parkway Date Unknown		Campgrounds on or Adjacent to the Natchez Trace Parkway Date Unknown		Gas, Food, Lodging Information by Locale Date Unknown
Campgrounds 04/2010

The following visual bibliography is just a sampling of the handbooks and books which have been published for this park. NPSHistory.com does not endorse these, but are merely presenting them for informational purposes only. As most are copyrighted, we are only able to provide the covers, and not contents, of these publications.

cover only

The Natchez Trace: Indian Trail to Parkway
Dawson A. Phelps
c1985