About Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail
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.
Plan a Visit
Core visitor information on this page is sourced from the National Park Service. NPD proximity sections use NPS reference coordinates and straight-line distance. Local source bundle updated Sep 27, 2026. View the official NPS page.
Weather & Conditions
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…
NPS Reference Location
Park state / territory membership: Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee. This map uses the National Park Service reference coordinate. It may represent an administrative or reference point rather than a park entrance, trailhead, visitor center, or the nearest access point. Use the official NPS directions below when planning travel.
Operating Hours
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.
Activities
Current Alerts
The Rocky Springs section is closed from the Rocky Springs campground at milepost 55 to the northern terminus at milepost 59 until further notice. Visitors should observe posted closures. The trail is unsafe due to trail erosion and deteriorated bridges.
The Yockanookany section of the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail is closed to equestrian use effective immediately, due to safety concerns with trail bridges and boardwalks. The trail will remain open to pedestrians.
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.
View Official DirectionsContact & Address
The NPS-listed address may be an administrative office, visitor center, mailing/contact location, or other park facility rather than a park entrance.
Topics & Themes
Things To Do
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
More Things to Do
Additional activities and experiences from the National Park Service.
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…
Finding Flowers
This is a guide to help identify what wildflowers might be blooming when in what parts of the Natchez Trace Parkway.
Visitor Centers
Natchez Trace Parkway Visitor Center
The National Park Service administers the scenic trail site through the Natchez Trace Parkway.Visitors are welcome to learn more about the scenic at the Parkway…
Nearby National Park Service Sites
These sites are ordered by straight-line distance between NPS reference coordinates. This is useful for comparison, but it is not road mileage. Trails, parkways, rivers, and distributed units may extend far from their reference point.
Nearby Cities for Trip Planning
These cities are ordered by straight-line distance from the NPS reference coordinate. They are comparison starting points, not official park gateways or road-distance estimates. Trails and other distributed units may extend far beyond this reference point.
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