Jeff Busby Campground, Milepost 193.1

• Campground sites are on a first come first served basis, no reservations. Campgrounds are typically busiest during the spring and fall, especially during holiday weekends.
• The campground is on your left as your enter the Jeff Busby Site. This is the smallest of our three Natchez Trace Parkway campgrounds. The parking areas at each site are paved. Please only park on the pavement. The sites are nestled throughout the forest with many trees providing shade in the summer and beautiful fall colors in the fall time.

Meriwether Lewis Campground, Milepost 385.9

• Campground sites are on a first come first served basis, no reservations. Campgrounds are typically busiest during the spring and fall, especially during holiday weekends.
• The 32 site campground is nestled on a ridge at the Meriwether Lewis Death and Burial Site. All sites are first come first served with no fees and no reservations. The pull-through and back-in sites are paved. Please only park on the pavement. There are no hook-ups, dump stations or showers at the campground. The campsites have grill and fire pits and are surrounded by forest.

Rocky Springs Campground, Milepost 54.8

• Campground sites are on a first come first served basis, no reservations. Campgrounds are typically busiest during the spring and fall, especially during holiday weekends.
• History and nature meet at Rocky Springs Campground. Campers can walk sections of the Old Natchez Trace on the Rocky Springs Section of the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail. There are historic short walks and nature walks. General U.S. Grant camped here as he began his campaign of the siege of Vicksburg.

Baker Bluff Overlook, Milepost 405.1

Baker Bluff is a scenic overlook with spectacular views of rural America.

• An overlook with vast views of farmland.

Ballard Creek, Milepost 201.3

Ballard Creek is a quiet picnic area located about eight miles north of Jeff Busby Campground along the Parkway. Ballard Creek has a small parking lot with a very short looping trail that leads to a single picnic table. The picnic area is near a flowing creek and surrounded by forests, providing a peaceful place to rest, eat, and enjoy nature.

• Ballard Creek has a sign near the Parkway indicating the location to the east. A short paved pull through parking lot exits from the Parkway on the eastern side. The parking lot is a small looping parking lot with a sidewalk on the eastern side of it and a handicap parking spot in the northernmost parking space. In the center of the parking lot towards its western edge is a trash can. On either of the eastern corners of the parking lot trailheads can be found which make a short loop through the forested area east of the parking lot. Towards the northeastern part of the small loop trail is a single wooden picnic table. About 15-20 feet east of the picnic table is Ballard Creek. Forest surrounds the small picnic area.

Battle of Raymond, Milepost 78.3

On May 8, 1863, Grant's forces drew fire from a Confederate brigade, commanded by Confederate Brigadier General John Gregg, located on the southern edge of Raymond three miles east of this location. After a day of bitter fighting the Confederates retreated toward Jackson, Mississippi leaving their wounded in the county courthouse. This convinced General Grant of the need to capture Jackson, Mississippi in order to assure success of his army's forthcoming siege of Vicksburg.

• This pull off is on the east side of the Natchez Trace Parkway. This pull off is paved and has parking for 4 cars. just east of the car parking is a large wood sign that is painted brown and have yellow letters. The sign is held up by two concrete posts painted gray. The sign is titled "Battle of Raymond."

Bear Creek Mound, Milepost 308.8

About 900 years ago, mound building began along Bear Creek, this site already had been used by semi-sedentary groups for thousands of years. Typical of a Mississippian period village, a ceremonial building sat on Bear Creek’s flat top, providing a focus for spiritual life. 

• A small pull through parking lot with room for a few cars. The flat top mound is off to the right hand side of the parking lot and sits nestled in trees. In front of the parking lot are two signs, one is big and made of wood. The other is smaller, both contain information about the Bear Creek Mound site.

Bear Creek Picnic Area, Milepost 313

A quiet picnic area along a large creek in the Chickasaw homeland.

• A loop road enters a shady picnic area along a wide creek.

Beech Springs Bicycle Camp (Parkway VC), Milepost 266

Take the closed trail across the street from the parking area for the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail. Potable water is not available, but is available at the Parkway Visitor Center a short distance away.

Beech Springs Nature Trail, Milepost 266

The Beech Springs Nature Trail is a paved loop through a natural hardwood forest. The trail is stroller friendly. When the visitor center is open, a trail quest is available upon request.

• A paved loop trail that leads through a hardwood forest next to the roadway.

Bethel Mission, Milepost 176.3

The commemorative sign that marks the location of a mission that taught traditional European school lessons to indigenous tribes.

• A pull-off with a brown routed sign.

Birdsong Hollow Double Arch Bridge, Milepost 438.0

A spectacular bridge with awesome views. An engineering feat, the first segmented bridge in the USA.

• A white concrete bridge 155 feet over a two lane highway. The bridge is supported by two huge arches.

Blackland Prairie Section Southern Terminus Trailhead, West Jackson Street, Closed

Closed until 2023.

• This section is closed until 2023. This is a large parking area located off the Natchez Trace Parkway on West Jackson Street in Tupelo, MS. This parking lot is located on the northside of West Jackson Street there is plenty of trailer and car parking. The trailhead at this location is on the east end of the parking spaces.

Blackland Prairie section Northern Terminus Trailhead, Milepost 266

This trailhead is located just across the Parkway from the Natchez Trace Parkway Visitor Center. Hikers can travel six miles along the outskirts of Tupelo (12 miles roundtrip). You can make the walk as long or as short as you would like on this out and back trail. This section of Scenic Trail is open to hikers only and requires walking on the Parkway for road and creek crossings.

• The northern terminus trail head is on the south side of the visitor parking lot. There is an information bulletin board to the left of the trail head. The trail is uneven and not paved and averages four feet wide. The trail meanders through the forest and prairie ecosystems. The hiking trail also parallels the Natchez Trace Parkway motor road. The parking area has room for several cars and a brick sidewalk runs parallel to the parking spaces in a north and south directions. The brick sidewalk leads to the trail head on the south side of the parking area.

Boyd Site, Milepost 106.9

A transitional American Indian mound site. Partially built in separate centuries.

• A grassy area surrounded by trees with a low mound in the center.

Brashears Stand and Old Trace, Milepost 104.5

Brashears Stand is named after Turner Brashears, who moved to the area in the late 1700s. He became a trader with the Choctaw and learned their language. Travelers on the Natchez Trace generally seemed to be pleased with their treatment and accommodations at Brashears Stand. In addition to earning money from his stand operation, Brashears prospered by selling land and enslaved people.

• This location is on the east side of the Natchez Trace motor road. When you pull into this site there is parking for several cars. The boardwalk leading to the craft center is handicap accessible. The portions of the Old Trace at this location are not wheelchair accessible as they go over uneven terrain. You are able to access the Chisa Foka Trail at this location. The Chisa Foka Trail is fully accessible to ADA standards.

Browns Bottom, Milepost 286.3

Browns Bottom is a great place to fish and watch for dragon flies.

• A long pond.

Bullen Creek, Milepost 18.4

A 1100-foot nature trail with interpretive stops explaining the characteristics of a mature hardwood forest.

• A nature trail through a hardwood forest.

Burns Branch, Milepost 425.4

This is a trailhead for the Highland Rim Section of the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail. This trailhead has parking for vehicles but not trailer parking and is not a staging area for horses. The site offers a hitching post and a picnic table to take a break if you would like.

• The pull off on the east side of the Natchez Trace Parkway. The parking area forms a cul-de-sac off the main parkway road. The parking is located on the eastern side of the cul-de-sac. From the parking you continue east to the picnic tables and trailhead. The picnic tables and trailhead is not wheelchair accessible and you must travel over uneven ground to reach both locations.

Buzzard Roost Springs, Milepost 320.3

Near the bubbling waters of Buzzard Roost Spring, Levi Colbert (Itawamba Minko, "Bench Chief") built one of the many inns, called stands, along the Natchez Trace. Trace travelers no doubt talked about Levi's stand. It was nicer than most, and offered respite from the miles of footsteps that defined a Trace journey.

• This site is located off the parkway on the access road to Highway 72 in Alabama. When leaving the Natchez Trace Parkway the pull off is on the left side of the road. There is plenty of parking for vehicles at this location. There are also 2 waysides exhibits and a Parkway information board near the parking area.

Bynum Mounds, Milepost 232.4

Bynum Mounds are the oldest mound site along Natchez Trace Parkway. These mounds were created by American Indians in what was known as the Middle Woodland Period between 100 BCE-100 CE. The mounds range in height from five feet to 14-feet.  Originally, there were six mounds at this site. However, in the 1940's five of them were excavated by National Park Service archeologists. The two largest mounds were rebuilt.

• Bynum Mounds is accessed by a paved road leading off of the Parkway to the east. The paved road winds around the forest area that is adjacent to the Parkway and leads to a large opening. The paved road continues and makes a loop around a small plot of grass and trees that are in the middle of the loop. At the southwestern end of the loop is a paved sidewalk that lead to a small sheltered exhibit that has brick ledges about two feet tall extending out about 15-feet on the eastern and western sides of it. Underneath the exhibit shelter are signs on the walls with depictions of American Indian life in the Middle Woodland Period. In the center of the eastern side of the sheltered exhibit is an information plaque that has an artists rendering of American Indian life during this time period and a button to press that gives an audio interpretation of the site. Directly behind the information plaque, the paved sidewalk continues eastward towards the two mounds. Along the sidewalk are small plaques that give more information about what the houses and structures that were once here looked like. As the sidewalk loops around, Mounds A and B are both to the east of the sidewalk. The mounds are grass covered and well maintained. Both are close to 15-feet tall and shaped like a large dome. Behind the mounds and surrounding the site on all sides is dense forest. The paved sidewalk ends at the northeastern part of the parking lot. In the center of the parking lot is another interpretive plaque that tells of the descendants that still visit the mound site.

Cave Spring, Milepost 308.4

It was a solution. Water dissolved the limestone. It was a solution. The Cave Spring provided shelter from the weather. It was a solution. The water quenched parched travelers.

• A short paved walk leads to a viewpoint that overlooks a shelf overhang and a cave. Water usually sits in the cave. Steps lead down to a walkway that passes by the cave and overhang.

Chickasaw Agency, Milepost 241.4

The United States agents to the Chickasaws lived from 1802 to 1825 west of here on the Old Natchez Trace. That Americans could peacefully travel the road through Indian lands was due in large measure to the agents. Their efforts to preserve harmony included such thankless tasks as collecting debts, recovering stolen horses, removing trespassers and capturing fugitives. Winters were lonely, but spring and summer brought thousands of “Kaintucks” on their long journey home.

• This site is located on the west side of the Natchez Trace Parkway. This is a small pull off with area for a 2 or 3 cars. The informative wooden sign with historical information about the Chickasaw Agency is on the west side of the parking area. The sign is about 3 to 4 feet tall and made of wood, it is painted brown with engraved letters painted yellow. The sign is held up with two concrete posts the same height as the sign. The wooden heading at the top of the sign says "Chickasaw Agency".

Chickasaw Council House, Milepost 251.1

Westerly on the Natchez Trace stood an Indian Village “Pontatock” with its council house which, in the 1820’s, became the “Capitol” of the Chickasaw Nation.

• A pull-off with a large brown routed sign with yellow text.

Chickasaw Village Site, Milepost 261.8

The Chickasaw Village Site is nearly 90 acres of Blackland Prairie and forest in the heart of Tupelo, MS. The size and shape of the Chickasaw summer and winter homes are preserved. The Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail goes through the village site. An interpretive shelter offers information about the Chickasaw people.

• The Chickasaw Village Site is nearly 90 acres of Blackland Prairie and forest in the heart of Tupelo, MS. The size and shape of the Chickasaw summer and winter homes are preserved. The Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail goes through the village site. An interpretive shelter offers information about the Chickasaw people.

Choctaw Agency, Milepost 100.7

Today, Jackson is the capital of Mississippi and the center of government business, but in the 1800’s this region was the center of business between the U.S. Government and the Choctaw Indians. The Choctaw’s homeland (Chahta yakni aboha) included lands that became the states of Mississippi and Alabama, but the land was gradually ceded to the U.S. Government. The last cession was made in 1830, following the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek.

• This site is located on the west side of the Natchez Trace Parkway. There is a short driveway leading to the parking spaces at this location. Once parked there is a brown wooden sign that gives historical information about the Choctaw Agency. Beyond of the sign is the Natchez Trace Parkway motor road. This is also a trailhead for the Chisha Foka Multi-Use Trail. The multi-use trail is fully ADA accessible.

Clinton Visitor Center, near Milepost 89

There are many welcome centers up and down the Natchez Trace Parkway that help visitors explore the park and communities near by. One is the Clinton Visitor Center in Clinton, MS just off the Natchez Trace at milepost 89. You can sit in the rocking chairs on the porch and walk the beautiful landscaped grounds. Come by the Clinton Visitor Center, whether you are visiting the city or the Parkway, a newcomer, or a longtime resident. For more details, call 601-924-2221. 

• A brick building sits with a parking lot and paved walkway to the front door. It is nicely landscaped with a statue to the side.

Colbert Ferry Bicycle Camp, Milepost 327.3

A bicycle only campground.

• A primitive campground in the woods.

Colbert Ferry Boat Ramp Area, Milepost 327.3

Following the signs from the entrance to Colbert Ferry to the boat ramp, visitors can find and two open parking lots. 

• Arriving by one road, there is an open area near the water. One large parking lot to the left hand side, and a smaller one to the right for boat equipment. A small restroom and boat ramp and dock are located to the right with the smaller parking lot. Picnic tables are everywhere past the larger parking lot.

Colbert Ferry Picnic Area, Milepost 327.3

Colbert Ferry picnic area is on banks of the Tennessee River, north of HWY 72 in Alabama. It is on the end of the road to the boat dock, so it's off the beaten path. There is plenty of room to stretch your legs and toss a ball. It's a great place to birdwatch and fish. 

• A shaded picnic area with several tables and a view of the Tennessee River.

Colbert Ferry Stand Site, Milepost 327.3

George Colbert used to live atop this ridge overlooking the Tennessee River.  As one of the many inns that dotted the Trace between Nashville and Natchez, it provided travelers with food and lodging. At this site you can take a short walk up to the ridge where the home once sat. An additional 20-minute stroll will take you along the Old Trace to the bluff overlook of the river. 

• The parking area has room for several cars. At the parking area there is a short sidewalk to lead you to one large wooden information sign, and two smaller ones. There is one stone Daughters of the American Revolution marker located here as well. From the parking lot, there is a short walk on an uneven and not paved path that leads to the home site. The home site is large and open with trees surrounding it. There is one historic round metal sign with a picture of what the house looked like. If you walk through the open space where the house stood, you can see the river bank.

Cole Creek, Milepost 175.6

A bit of a swamp, without the alligators...well, we haven't seen any there yet. This 750-foot trail will provide you with a mini experience of a swamp. 

• A 750-foot loop trail that circles a snippet of a large swamp.

Coles Creek, Milepost 17.5

Stop for a picnic and restroom break, at Coles Creek. The southern terminus of the Potkopinu Section of the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail is a half-mile to the south. 

• A shady picnic area with room to stretch your legs.

Cowles Mead Cemetery, Milepost 88.1

Cowles Mead’s home, called “Greenwood,” was located here, a mile northwest of Clinton in Hinds County, set in a lawn of fifty acres of Bermuda grass, which he is believed to have introduced into the United States.  He was an enthusiastic gardener, and proudly entertained distinguished guests amongst the well landscaped grounds. After his death, the home was destroyed in a fire in 1863.

• The site is located on the east side of the Natchez Trace Parkway. There is parking for RVs, vehicles pulling trailers and 12 cars. There is a wooden sign painted brown with yellow letters entitled Cowles Mead at the edge of the parking area. on the southern end of the parking spaces to the right of the wooden sign is a short paved trail leading to the Cowles Mead Cemetery. The headstones are surround by a black decorative wrought iron fence.

Cypress Creek Picnic, Milepost 343.5

A small picnic area next to the Cypress Creek.

• A picnic area next to a wide stream.

Cypress Swamp, Milepost 122

Many years ago, the Pearl River flowed here. The river changed course. A shallow area was created by the deposition of sediments as the river retreated. During periodic low water, seedlings of water-tolerant cypress and tupelo trees gained a foothold. The trees you see today are a result. This is also a trailhead for the Yockanookany Section of the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail.

• This paved pull off is on the east side of the Natchez Trace Parkway. It has parking for two to three cars. Just east of the parking area is a large wooden sign with yellow letters explaining the Cypress Swamp area. to the left of the sign are stairs leading down to the boardwalk and short nature trail. This site is not wheelchair accessible.

D.A.R. Marker at the Meriwether Lewis Death and Burial Site, Milepost 385.9

The Daughters of the American Revolution, D.A.R, began a program in 1903 to place markers along the old Natchez Trace. Mrs. Elizabeth Jones, of Holly Springs, Mississippi, said, “We are in danger of losing all traces of our one-famous military road” and as state regent she began a movement to mark the old Natchez Trace. Similar programs were later adopted in Alabama and in Tennessee. The monument at the Meriwether Lewis Death and Burial Site was placed in 2006.

• The granite monument is near the trail head just off the parking area at the Meriwether Lewis Visitor Information Center. The monument is about 8 feet high with words commemorating Meriwether Lewis and the Natchez Trace etched into the smooth granite face. The forest begins behind the monument. Watch your footing as fallen leaves cam be slippery due wet conditions and hide uneven terrain.

D.A.R. Marker at the Tobacco Barn, Milepost 401.4

The Daughters of the American Revolution, D.A.R, began a program in 1903 to place markers along the old Natchez Trace. Mrs. Elizabeth Jones, of Holly Springs, Mississippi, said, “We are in danger of losing all traces of our one-famous military road” and as state regent she began a movement to mark the old Natchez Trace. Similar programs were later adopted in Alabama and in Tennessee. The monument was placed at the Tobacco Barn area on May 5, 2004.

• This granite monument is located to the north of the Tobacco barn and near the oversized vehicle parking. The monument is about 3 feet talk and just off the paved side walk surrounded by grass.

Dean Stand Site, Milepost 73.5

The Treaty of Doaks Stand, 1820, opened this land to white settlement. Land was quickly claimed and pioneer families established themselves in this wilderness. William Dean and his wife Margaret settled about here on the Old Natchez Trace in 1823. The Deans supplemented their farm income by offering lodging to travelers.

• This site is located on the east side of the Natchez Trace Parkway. There is a access road that leads to a cul-de-sac. There is parking available along the cul-de-sac but there is now real designated parking. The site is surround by trees that provide shade in the summer months.

Dogwood Mudhole, Milepost 367.3

Dogwood Mudhole is located a mile to the south of the parkway. The Old Natchez Trace crossed a depression in the flat, dogwood covered ridge. After heavy rains it became almost impassable for wagons. Its name, "Dogwood Mudhole", recalls the ordeals of frontier travel. It shows too, how place names arising from local conditions of long ago are carried down through the years.

• This site is on the west side of the Natchez Trace Parkway. The large wooden sign that explains the site is located on a small pull off just north of the access road to the site. The access road forms a cul-de-sac and there is parking in the cul-de-sac.

Dogwood Valley, Milepost 275.5

Dogwood Valley Nature Trail is a 1600 loop trail into a hardwood forest valley. In April when the weather is right, the trail has several blooming dogwood trees.

• The loop trail leads into a hardwood forest in a valley and back out. Sometime in April, there are several dogwood trees along the trail.

Donivan Slough, Milepost 283.3

Donivan Slough, a cultural and nature trail invites walkers on an easy hike to learn about historic agricultural practices and the natural habitat of the area.

• A 1600-foot gravel trail that leads from the parking area down a stairway, past a dug out 10-foot wide, 6-foot deep ground trough. The loop trail has several small interpretive signs that identify plants and features of the slough.

Elizabeth Female Academy, Milepost 5.1

From 1818-1845, Elizabeth Female Academy stood on the southern end of the Old Trace. It was the first female institution of higher learning charted by the state of Mississippi. It was one of the first institutions to offer college degrees to women in Mississippi and one of the first female colleges in the country.

• A path heads up towards where the ruins now stand. What remains is one brick wall, it stands in a field with some wooden fence stopping people from getting close.

Emerald Mound, Milepost 10.3

Located about 10 miles northeast of Natchez, Mississippi, Emerald Mound is the second-largest Mississippian Period ceremonial mound in the United States, surpassed only by Monk’s Mound near Cahokia, Illinois. Built and used between the years 1200 C.E. (current era) and 1600 C.E., this 35-foot-high mound covers eight acres and measures 770 feet by 435 feet at its base.

• A large green 35-foot-hign mound that covers eight acres with two secondary mounds that sit atop the primary mound, bringing the total height to about 60 feet high. There is a wooden rail fence that lines the outer edge of the semi-circle shaped parking lot leading to a wooden and metal gate that takes you to up an established trail that allows you to climb to the top of the primary mound. At first the trail is paved and then transitions to grass once you reach the top.

Fall Hollow Waterfall, Milepost 391.9

Fall Hollow is one of two waterfalls along the Natchez Trace Parkway. Almost immediately after leaving your vehicle you can hear the water descending over the twenty foot drop making Fall Hollow waterfall. If you continue down this short trail you will come to a viewing platform that views the 20-foot tall waterfall. The trail and platforms get slippery due to the water and moisture of the area. Please watch your step.

• The parking lot at this location is small and can only have 3 cars at a time. The short trail leading to the trail is on the northeast side of the parking lot. It is a short walk to the viewing platforms. The trail and platforms get slippery due to the water and moisture of the area. Please watch your step.

Fly Trailhead On The Highland Rim Section, Milepost 416

The Fly Trailhead on Highway 7 provides a small parking area for one or two horse trailers. If space is available, this will be a great starting point for just a few people. If there are numerous people riding together, the Highway 50 trailhead may be a better option. There is no water available at this trailhead. One hitching post is available here.

• This is a parking area is located on the west side of Old Natchez Trace Road. This is a gravel parking area that will fit 3 or 4 cars or two vehicles pulling horse trailers. The trailhead and picnic tables are just west of the parking area and just beyond the split rail wooden fencing.

Footsteps Through History Trail, Milepost 385.9

Follow this trail to a preserved section of the Old Trace (Old Trace section is not paved), where Meriwether Lewis, renowned explorer, took his last steps. He met his untimely death at the inn that once stood hear here. As you follow the trail, you will encounter some "people" who walked along the Old Natchez Trace, a footpath used by thousands of travelers that spanned over 400 miles from Mississippi through Tennessee.

• This paved trail features exhibits on Natchez Trace travelers, including Meriwether Lewis, Chickasaw, and Kaintucks. It have benches throughout the paved sections of the hiking trail. Vehicle parking is available by the rest rooms closest to the Natchez Trace Parkway.

Freedom Hills Overlook, Milepost 317.0

An 1100-foot trail uphill to an overlook with spectacular views. A popular spot for leaf peeping in the fall.

• A trail to an overlook view.

French Camp, Milepost 180.7

Louis LeFleur first traded with the Choctaws at a bluff now part of Jackson, Mississippi. About 1812, he established his stand 900 feet to the northeast on the Natchez Trace. Because of the LeFleur's nationality the area was often called "French Camp", a name retained by the present village. LeFleur married a Choctaw woman. Their famous son who changed his name to Greenwood Leflore, became a Choctaw chief and a Mississippi State Senator. For him are named the city of Gree

• This small pull-off is on the east side of the Natchez Trace Parkway. At this location is historical information pertaining to the French Camp area. The small pull off has parking for 2 vehicles and beyond the parking area is a wooden fence that separates the Natchez Trace Parkway from local pasture land.

Garrison Creek and Highland Rim Section Northern Terminus, Milepost 427.6

Named for a nearby 1801-02 U.S. Army post, Garrison Creek is a trailhead for horseback riders and hikers on the Highland Rim Trail of the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail. Plenty of horse trailer parking is available. This part of the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail is 20 miles in length. From the Garrison Creek trailhead you can hike or ride your horse south to Tennessee Highway 50, milepost 408, near the Gordon House.

• This is a large site on the east side of the Parkway. When you drive into the site the first parking lot on your right is for cars and SUVs. This is also where the Scenic Trailhead is located as well as the accessible bathrooms. The bathrooms are located in the large brick building on the southside of the parking lot. There is a pavilion overhanging the entrance to the restrooms with picnic tables underneath. The trailhead is behind the building. If you pass by the parking area and continue down the hill you will arrive at the oversized vehicle, RV and Horse Trailer parking area. This parking lot is approximately 200 yards from the trailhead and restrooms.

Glenrock Branch, Milepost 364.5

A beautiful place to stop for a picnic.

• A forested picnic area next to a stream that flows through large boulders.

Gordon House Historic Site, Milepost 407.7

The brick home of Captain John Gordon and his family, built in 1818, was one of the impressive homes in the area. It was a landmark for travelers of the Old Trace, letting them know that soon they would be in Nashville, TN, where simple human comforts could be found after weeks of walking on a well-traveled but rustic trail. The Gordon family called it home, but it was a business as well. A ferry provided a safe way for travelers and locals alike to cross the Duck River.

• The Gordon House is two story red brick home. The front of the house has 2 white doors and 3 windows on the first floor and 3 windows on the second floor. All the windows are outlined in white. The home have a brick chimney on either side of the home. The doors and windows on the first floor are several feet off the ground. There is currently no porch or viewing platforms to see into the home. The home is roughly 100 yards from the parking area. There is a paved sidewalk 3 feet in width from the parking lot to the historic home. The restrooms, picnic tables and Parkway information bulletin board borders the parking lot on the north east side of the parking lot.

Grinder's Stand, Milepost 385.9

Meriwether Lewis arrived at Grinder’s Stand on the evening of October 10, 1809. He was accompanied by Pernia and James Neelly’s enslaved servant. Lewis stayed in the cabin while Pernia and Neelly’s enslaved servant stayed in the stables. Mrs. Grinder and her children stayed in the kitchen separate from the house. In the middle of the night Mrs. Grinder heard two gun shots and found Lewis bleeding from his wounds. By sunrise on October 11,1809, Lewis was dead.

• Grinder's Stand is no longer standing. It was located on the north side of the current Visitor Information Center, the log cabin, on site. All that marks the location is a metal sign saying Grinder House. Hearth stones are in the grass beyond the metal sign. The area is surrounded by mowed grass. Please watch your step for uneven ground and animal burrows.

Meriwether Lewis Visitor Information Center Milepost 385.9

• Meriwether Lewis Visitor Information Center Milepost 385.9
• The Meriwether Lewis Visitor Information Center is open seasonally. It is located at milepost 385.9. At this visitor center you can browse exhibits on the last days of Meriwether Lewis. Volunteers and rangers are on hand to help you plan your visit and discuss the final hours of one of the United States' most famous explorers! The exhibits are open and self-guided in a separate section of the visitor center.

Mount Locust Information Center Milepost 15.5

• Mount Locust Information Center Milepost 15.5
• Located at milepost 15.5, the Mount Locust Information Center is at the site of the only remaining inn, or "stand" on the Parkway. During open hours, rangers are available to hand out maps, brochures, and answer questions about the historic house, just a short walk up the hill from the information center. Videos are available at https://www.nps.gov/natr/learn/photosmultimedia/videos.htm. Please visit the America's National Parks online store at https://shop.americasnationalparks.org/store/

Parkway Information Cabin Milepost 102.4

• Parkway Information Cabin Milepost 102.4
• The Parkway Information Cabin is closed indefinitely. The Chisha Foka trail parking area is open.

Parkway Visitor Center Milepost 266

• Parkway Visitor Center Milepost 266
• The Parkway Visitor Center is just north of Tupelo, Mississippi. A ranger is on duty to answer questions and provide information and brochures. Ask and we will be glad to show you our movie. Other videos are available at https://www.nps.gov/natr/learn/photosmultimedia/videos.htm. The bookstore is open from 9am-4:30pm. You can also visit the America's National Parks online store at https://shop.americasnationalparks.org/store/

• Birding on the Natchez Trace Parkway
• Birding on the Natchez Trace Parkway

• Hiking to Waterfalls on the Natchez Trace
• Perhaps two of the most awe-inspiring sites along the Natchez Trace Parkway are Jackson Falls (milepost 404.7) and Fall Hollow (milepost 391.9) located in Tennessee. Though both falls are equally picturesque, each fall offers a unique experience. Both provide beautiful scenery, but also offer opportunities to see wildflowers, birds, and other wildlife.

• Earn a BARK Ranger Dog Tag
• HEY DOGS!!! Do you want to proudly wear the BARK Ranger dog tag? We made it easy for a human to help you get one, and you both can have fun while earning it. 

• Become a Natchez Trace Junior Ranger
• Do you care about exploring, learning about, and protecting the Natchez Trace? If yes, become a Junior Ranger! There are many ways to be a Junior Ranger badge at Natchez Trace Parkway, and this fun activity book is a great place to start.  

• Trails on the Natchez Trace Parkway
• 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 Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail
• The Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail consists of five sections running roughly parallel to the Natchez Trace Parkway motor road. The five sections of hiking trail, total more than 60 miles in southern forests. The trails offer opportunities to explore wetlands, swamps, hardwood forest, rock outcroppings, overlooks, and the history of the area. Established in 1983, the trail is part of the National Park Service and the National Trails System.

• Hiking the Yockanookany Section of the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail
• 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
• 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.

• Hiking the Blackland Prairie Section of the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail
• 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 Potkopinu Section of the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail
• 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 erode this type of soil, and centuries of human and animal traffic have done an impressive job. This trail has some embankments over twenty feet high!

• RVing the Natchez Trace Parkway
• Recreational vehicles are a popular way to see the parkway. The length restriction for RVs is 55 feet, including a tow vehicle, and the height restriction is 14 feet. Be on the lookout for cyclists! The Natchez Trace Parkway is a designated bicycling route. With a lane width of 11 feet and little to no shoulder, it is important to slow down, pass with care, and avoid distracted driving.

• Picnicking along the Natchez Trace Parkway
• A list of some of the picnic areas along the Natchez Trace Parkway.

• Campgrounds on the Natchez Trace Parkway
• The Natchez Trace Parkway manages three campgrounds along the length of the 444-mile Parkway. The three Parkway campgrounds are free, primitive, and available on a first come, first serve basis. They do not offer electricity, showers, or dump stations. The maximum stay at our campgrounds is 14 days combined throughout the year.

• Exploring the Meriwether Lewis Death and Burial Site
• The Meriwether Lewis monument marks the final resting place of famed American explorer Meriwether Lewis who died by suicide near by at Grinder's Stand on October 11, 1809.

• Leaf Peeping Along the Natchez Trace
• In middle to late October, the maple, hickory, oak and other hardwood trees begin to change colors and visitors have the opportunity to view the brilliant fall foliage along the Natchez Trace Parkway.

• Tent Camping on the Natchez Trace
• 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 days combined throughout the year. All camping must take place within designated campgrounds. The Natchez Trace Parkway does not allow dispersed camping.

• Hiking the Rocky Springs Section of the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail
• 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 moderately strenuous in places--up and down through deep ravines. Near the south terminus at Owens Creek is a good spot to sit quietly and listen to the forest.

• Horseback Riding along the Natchez Trace Parkway
• Visitors are able to bring horses to ride on the established horse trails. Four horse trails have been developed adjacent to the Natchez Trace Parkway in Mississippi and Tennessee, in connection with the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail. The Natchez Trace Parkway also provides access to the Witch Dance Horse Trail on the Tombigbee National Forest. Horseback riding is prohibited on all other areas of the parkway, including on the roadway itself.

• Fishing on the Natchez Trace Parkway
• Fishing is a great way to spend the day by yourself or with a friend or two. Fishing is allowed all along the Natchez Trace Parkway. Follow the fishing regulations for the state where you fish.

• Stargazing on the Natchez Trace Parkway
• Enjoy the beauty of the night skies on the Natchez Trace Parkway at: Big Tree Overlook, milepost 439.4  Little Mountain Exhibit Shelter, milepost 193.1 Reservoir Overlook, milepost 105.6 Overlooks close at 10pm

• Discover Women's History on the Natchez Trace
• To learn more about the women who historically worked and lived along the Natchez Trace Parkway, follow these sites from Natchez, MS, up to Nashville, TN, or vice versa. There is no designated starting or finishing place. A milepost and some brief history is given for each site you may visit. 

• Walking Trails Near Tupelo, MS
• These short hikes are within a 30 minute drive from Tupelo, Mississippi. They range from a 5-minute paved accessible walk to a six-mile one-way hike through the forest. Dogs on leash are allowed on trails.

• Walk in the Last Footsteps of Meriwether Lewis
• Follow last footsteps of explorer Meriwether Lewis on a section of the Old Natchez Trace and visit his burial site. This self-guide tour will take you a little over half a mile in an easy loop along a trail with interpretive exhibits, to the historic Old Trace, to his burial place and monument, then back past the Information Cabin at the Grinders Stand site where Meriwether Lewis died. 

• Finding Flowers
• This is a guide to help identify what wildflowers might be blooming when in what parts of the Natchez Trace Parkway.

• Exploring the Beech Springs Nature Trail: A Quest
• Experience a blend of nature and civilization on the Beech Springs Nature Trail next to the Parkway Visitor Center at milepost 266. This quest, a sort of visual scavenger hunt, leads you to consider the benefits and consequences of places where nature merges with civilization. The QUESTions do not have right or wrong answers but hopefully will inspire you to learn more. If you would like additional input from a ranger, stop by the visitor center.

• Discovering the Trail of Tears on the Natchez Trace
• The Trail of Tears began in May 1838 when Federal troops and state militias began to round up the Cherokee into stockades. In spite of warnings to troops to treat the Cherokee kindly, the round up proved harrowing. Families were separated and people were given only moments to collect cherished possessions. White looters followed, ransacking homesteads as Cherokee were led away. The Trail of Tears crosses the Natchez Trace Parkway in several locations in Alabama and Tennessee.

• Walking or Biking the Chisha Foka Multi-Use Trail
• The Chisha Foka Multi-Use Trail is a 10-mile paved path that runs through historic Choctaw homelands. Named in honor of the Choctaw town that stood where the city of Jackson is today, Chisha Foka (chee-sha-foe-ka) translates to “among the post oaks.” Today, trail users can enjoy the recreational opportunities and the trees, wildflowers, and wildlife of this protected greenspace in Ridgeland, Mississippi.