Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail

Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail is a national scenic trail run by the National Park Service in 3 states.

In the park service’s words

The Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail is five sections of hiking trail running roughly parallel to the 444-mile long Natchez Trace Parkway scenic motor road. The foot trails total more than 60 miles and offer opportunities to explore wetlands, swamps, hardwood forest, and the history of the area.

From the National Park Service (public domain).

Things to do

• Hiking the Blackland Prairie Section of the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail (1 to 6 Hours): The Blackland Prairie section of the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail is a popular 6 mile hiking trail in and around Tupelo, Mississippi.
• Hiking the Yockanookany Section of the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail (1 to 15 Hours): North of Jackson, Mississippi the Yockanookany section of the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail is the longest of the five developed trail sections at 26 miles. Eight miles run alongside the Ross R. Barnett Reservoir, and the other sixteen miles go through dense forests, seasonal streams and open pastureland.
• Hiking the Highland Rim Section of the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail (1 to 10 Hours): The Highland Rim section of the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail is a popular twenty mile hiking and equestrian corridor south of Nashville Tennessee along the Natchez Trace Parkway from Milepost 427.4 to 407.9.
• Tent Camping on the Natchez Trace (2 to 14 Days): The Natchez Trace Parkway manages three campgrounds along the Parkway. Those campgrounds are Meriwether Lewis at Milepost 385.9, Jeff Busby at Milepost 193.1 and Rocky Springs at Milepost 54. The campgrounds are free, primitive, and available on a first come, first serve basis. The maximum stay at our campgrounds is 14
• Trails on the Natchez Trace Parkway (15 to 460 Minutes): The Natchez Trace Parkway has trails from 200 feet to 27 miles long. There are many short nature trails, and the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail (www.nps.gov/natt) is totally contained within the Parkway boundaries.
• Hiking the Potkopinu Section of the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail (1 to 6 Hours): Potkopinu (Pot-cop-i-new), the southernmost section of the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail, is only three miles long, but it is the longest stretch of "sunken" historic Trace remaining. Named for the Natchez word meaning "little valley." Thus trail cuts deep into the rich, fine-grained soil. It doesn't take much to
• Hiking the Rocky Springs Section of the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail (1 to 12 Hours): The Rocky Springs Section of the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail is a six mile section located near Port Gibson, Mississippi. This trail crosses gently rolling forested land. 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 mod
• Finding Flowers (5 to 160 Minutes): This is a guide to help identify what wildflowers might be blooming when in what parts of the Natchez Trace Parkway.

Fees and hours

Entrance fee: No entrance fee.

Hours: Daily, Sunrise to Sunset. The Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail is open every day during daylight hours. Severe weather resulting in washouts and downed trees can cause temporary trail closures. The trail is located entirely within the property boundaries of the Natchez Trace Parkway and questions about the trail and its condition should be directed to the Parkway's visitor center by calling 662-680-4027.

Getting there

Directions to the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail vary greatly depending on what section you are trying to reach. For specific questions concerning how to get to a certain section or trail head of the National Scenic Trail, please call the Visitor Center at 662-680-4027.

Drive times run from the airport to Zion Canyon Visitor Center, estimated with OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap roads at normal speeds; allow extra for traffic, stops and construction.

Miles are straight-line distances.

Visitor centers

• Natchez Trace Parkway Visitor Center: Daily, 9:00AM - 4:30PM. The Parkway Visitor Center is open everyday except Thanksgiving, December 25, and January 1 from 9 am to 4:30 pm (Central Time).

Weather

Mississippi, Alabama, and most of Tennessee are classified as humid subtropical climates. The weather ranges from mild winters to hot summers. Average high temperatures reach into the high 80's in summer, and into the high 40's in winter. Thunderstorms are common in Mississippi, especially in the southern part of the state, and from June through November, the state is occasionally affected by hurricanes moving north from the Gulf of Mexico. Check local forecasts to plan your trip.

From the National Park Service (public domain).

Know before you go

Drones are banned at almost every park site, and you may not take rocks, plants or artifacts. Pets must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet where they are allowed. Bring no firewood from home.

Nearby

The nearest national park is Mammoth Cave, about 245 miles away in a straight line.

Sources

• National Park Service Data API: Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail (public domain)
• Official website

Last checked 1 November 2026.