The 450-plus-mile foot trail that became known as theNatchez 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 theNatchez Trace National Scenic Trail was established as aunit of the National Park System and the National Trails
System. It runs parallel to the Parkway, providing visitorswith another opportunity to enjoy the scenery andhistory of the Natchez Trace corridor.

National Scenic Trail
Alabama / Mississippi / Tennessee

National Park ServiceU.S. Department of the Interior

From the Mississippi River Bluffs to the Tennessee Hills
Today the national scenic trail consists of five separate
sections—over 60 miles—developed for hiking and horseback riding (see maps on the other side of this brochure).
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 thesights and sounds experienced by those who came long
before you.

US states as of 1820.
The Trace is shown fromNatchez to Nashville.
The Old Southwest was
roughly Mississippi andAlabama, with parts ofsurrounding states andterritories.

© florida center for instructional technology

National Scenic Trail

Great blue heron with snake

Sunken Trace, Potkopinu section Wild turkey

visuals unlimited

nps

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Southernmagnolia

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Have a Safe Visit, Help Protect the Park

Planning Your Visit
There are visitor information centers at Meriwether Lewis (mp 386),
Tupelo (mp 266), Ridge­land (mp102.4), and Mount Locust (mp 15.5).
Each has information about theparkway and national scenic trail
sections. The maps on the otherside of this brochure give details
about the trail sections.
There are campgrounds and picnic
areas along the parkway. Backcountry camping requires a permit;
call 662-680-4014. Nearby towns
have food, fuel, lodging, and otherservices.

Flatboat on the Ohio River

Natchez Trace

Red foxphoto researchers, inc.

Natchez Trace National Scenic Trailis one of over 390 areas in theNational Park System. For more
information on national parks,visit www.nps.gov.
Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail
c/o Natchez Trace Parkway
2680 Natchez Trace Parkway
Tupelo, MS 38804
1-800-305-7417
www.nps.gov/natt
www.nps.gov/natr
Emergencies: call 911

Trails sometimes cross roads orfollow the parkway’s shoulder.
Use extreme caution in these situations. • Trails may run close to
private property. Please respectowners’ privacy and posted signs.
• Heavy rain can produce muddy
and wet trail conditions, even longafter the rain has ended. Always
remain on the trail and tread
lightly to prevent further erosion.
• Pets must be on a leash six feetlong or less and under physicalcontrol at all times. Service animals
are welcome. • Motorized vehicles
and bicycles are prohibited.

• Stream and reservoir water isunsafe to drink. • Camp­fires areprohibited. • Carry out all litter.
• Be watchful for fire ants, poison
ivy, and venomous snakes, anddon’t put your hands or feet inplaces you can’t see. • If you carry
firearms inside the park, you areresponsible for understanding
and complying with federal, state,
and local firearms regulations.
Visit the park website for more
information. • All natural, historical, and archeological objects areprotected by federal law. Do notdamage or collect these items.

Mount Locust historic stand,mp 15.5

Chickasaw Indian village
nps

nps / © marc muench

The Road Through the Old Southwest
People have walked the Natchez Trace for thousands ofyears. Choctaw, Chickasaw,Natchez, and other American
Indians traveled long distances
through the southern pine andhardwood forests via a network of northeast/southwest
trails.

Fall color along the trail
nps / © marc muench

In the late 1800s, the Trace
gained a new importanceamong the American settlersof the Ohio River Valley. Kaintucks—farmers—transported
products to market on wooden
flatboats. The men floateddown the Ohio and Mississippi
rivers to the ports of Natchez
and New Orleans. There theKaintucks sold the farm goods
and, because they couldn’t
float back upriver, sold theflatboats for lumber. Thenthey set out on the Natchez
Trace on foot or horseback, covering hundreds of miles on thejourney 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 thetrail tramped down by millionsof footsteps home. It was adangerous journey; extremeweather conditions, disease,or accidents could incapacitateor kill you. If you had enoughmoney, you could get food,drink, and crude lodging at astand, or inn. By the mid-1820s
steamboats made travel uprivera far quicker way home thanfoot travel. The Natchez Tracesoon became obsolete.

Blackland Prairie section
nps / © marc muench

Natchez Trace
National Scenic Trail

Highland Rim

The five developed sections of thenational scenic trail are accessedfrom many points along theNatchez Trace Parkway. The map
at left shows the 444-mile lengthof parkway with the trail sections
labeled. Specific information
about each trail section is at right.
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 withhorse enthusiasts. Garrison Creek
is a good staging area for trailrides.

mp 407.9–427.4

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 hillon the left.
Carter Lane picnic area is notaccessible from the parkway; use
Old Natchez Trace Road.

Blackland Prairie

mp 260.8–266

In and around Tupelo, this section
is a popular recreational corridor
for visitors and residents alike.
Go to the Parkway Visitor Centerfor 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 fol­
low the road’s shoulder: the creek
crossing at mp 264.5 and the US
178 (McCullough Blvd.) crossing at
mp 262.5. Be extremely careful on
the road, at all road crossings, andat the railroad track crossing northof Chickasaw Village.

Yockanookany

mp 108–131

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 stretchof trail; many sites are accessible
via short side trails (you may haveto cross the parkway).
The trail parallels the parkway
roadbed; use caution at all times,
especially at bridge crossings,
where you must walk along theroad.
To reach the MS Hwy. 43 trailhead,exit the parkway at mp 115; gowest on Hwy. 43 a short distanceto Yandell Rd.; turn left (south)
for 100 feet; turn left into theparking area.

Rocky Springs

mp 52.4–59

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., crossover the parkway, and take thefirst 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 ismoderately strenuous in places—
up and down through deep ravines.
Near the south end of the sectionis the Owens Creek waterfall, a
good spot to sit quietly and listen
to the forest.

Potkopinu

mp 17–20

Potkopinu is the Natchez Indian
word for ”little valley.” This is
the longest continuous section ofsunken Trace. The trail cuts deep
into the rich, fine-grained soil. It
doesn’t take much to erode thistype of soil, and centuries of hu­
man and animal traffic have done
an impressive job.
The land surrounding the trail isprivate; please stay on the trail.
The southern trailhead at mp 17
is not recommended for RVs be­cause of the narrow access roadand lack of turnaround space.
Prepare to walk through waterat stream crossings. Crossing con­ditions vary from muddy areas
to knee-deep water, dependingon rainfall. Trail improvement isongoing; call 1-800-305-7417 forcurrent conditions.
✩GPO:20xx—xxx-xxx/xxxxx Reprint 20xx
Printed on recycled paper.

Blackland Prairie section
nps / © marc muench