10 reasons why the Natchez Trace Parkway is an excellent bike route.

The 444 mile long Natchez Trace Parkway stretches from Natchez, Mississippi to Nashville, Tennessee. Why should cyclists consider biking the Natchez Trace Parkway?

Listed below are what we think are the top 10 reasons why the Natchez Trace Parkway is an excellent bike route. After you read these articles you will understand why hundreds of people bike the entire length of the Trace and why thousands bike a section or enjoy a day bike on the Trace each year.

1. National Park Service designates the entire parkway as a bike route. Numerous signs instruct cars to share the road with bicycles.
2. Commercial traffic is prohibited.
3. Maximum speed limit for cars is 50 mph.
4. Motorized traffic is generally very light except around Tupelo and Jackson.
5. No stop signs or stop lights. Access on and off the Trace is via on/off ramps which means no need to worry about cross traffic.
6. Scenery is awesome. Instead of utility poles and buildings, the Trace is lined with forests, farmland, creeks and beautiful vistas.
7. All along the Trace through Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee, historical and nature attractions offer interesting breaks and rest stops.
8. Restroom facilities on the Trace are available about every twenty miles.
9. Numerous side trails take you past antebellum and victorian homes, sunken roads, civil war battlefields and southern towns.
10. There are many "cycling friendly" bed and breakfasts located along and near the Trace. 

Now that you are interested in biking the Natchez Trace Parkway go to NatchezTraceTravel.com's Biking the Natchez Trace Parkway  for information about:

• Bikes Routes and Elevation Maps
• Bike shops near the Natchez Trace Parkway
• Books about Biking the Natchez Trace Parkway
• Drinking Water and Markets
• Safety Rules and Recommendations
• Weather on the Natchez Trace Parkway
• Shuttle Services for the Natchez Trace Parkway
• Public Transportation near the Natchez Trace Parkway

Why Bike the Natchez Trace Parkway? Bed and breakfasts along and near the Trace.

The 444 mile long Natchez Trace Parkway stretches from Natchez, Mississippi to Nashville, Tennessee. Why bike (or drive) the Natchez Trace Parkway?

Reason #10: There are many "cycling friendly" bed and breakfasts located along and near the Trace.

Taking an overnight trip on the Natchez Trace without advance planning can be somewhat difficult, as the Park Service does not permit any advertising, either in the form of signs or in literature at their visitor's centers. Also, through the rural areas where the Trace passes there are very few hotels located within a few miles bike ride of the Trace.

Fortunately, there are bed and breakfasts located up and down the Trace that are a short bike ride away. Some innkeepers, who are further away, will come and pick you up if you don't have a support vehicle.

The bed and breakfasts are very "cyclist friendly". The innkeepers have been known to go out on the Trace during bad weather to pick up cyclists. They will often let cyclists use their laundry facilities. And, they provide a safe place to store your bicycles overnight.

The Natchez Trace Bed and Breakfast Reservation Service can help you locate the perfect spots to make your overnight stays a memorable part of your trip. They can help you plan your itinerary and provide tips passed on from other cyclists as to shuttles, routes, lunch stops, terrain, etc.

This is just one of 10 reasons why the Natchez Trace Parkway is an excellent bike route:

1. National Park Service designates the entire parkway as a bike route. Numerous signs instruct cars to share the road with bicycles.
2. Commercial traffic is prohibited.
3. Maximum speed limit for cars is 50 mph.
4. Motorized traffic is generally very light except around Tupelo and Jackson.
5. No stop signs or stop lights. Access on and off the Trace is via on/off ramps which means no need to worry about cross traffic.
6. Scenery is awesome. Instead of utility poles and buildings, the Trace is lined with forests, farmland, creeks and beautiful vistas.
7. All along the Trace through Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee, historical and nature attractions offer interesting breaks and rest stops.
8. Restroom facilities on the Trace are available about every twenty miles.
9. Numerous side trails take you past antebellum and victorian homes, sunken roads, civil war battlefields and southern towns.
10. There are many "cycling friendly" bed and breakfasts located along and near the Trace. 

Why Bike the Natchez Trace Parkway? Side trails: antebellum and victorian homes, sunken roads, civil war battlefields and southern towns

The 444 mile long Natchez Trace Parkway stretches from Natchez, Mississippi to Nashville, Tennessee. Why bike (or drive) the Natchez Trace Parkway?

Reason #9: Numerous side trails take you past antebellum and victorian homes, sunken roads, civil war battlefields and southern towns.

Cyclists can bike off the Natchez Trace onto numerous country back roads where you will see a slice of  the modern day south and remnants of what the south looked like before the Civil War when the area was known as the "Old Southwest".

As we have pointed out in a couple of our other "Ten reasons why the Natchez Trace Parkway is an excellent bike route" the Trace for the most part travels through rural areas of Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi. It is easy to bike off the Trace onto lightly traveled back roads.

There are several "loop routes" where you can start your ride on the Trace, bike on the Trace, exit the Trace onto a back road, bike past interesting sites and attractions, re-enter the Trace, and bike back to where you started.

For example, 15 miles north of Natchez you can start your bike route at Mount Locust on the Trace, bike south on the Trace for about 5 miles, exit onto Mississippi Highway 553, bike over to Emerald Mound, continue north on 553 past several antebellum homes, the historic town of Church Hill and Springfield Plantation (where Andrew and Rachel Jackson were married), back to the Trace and bike five miles south back to Mount Locust.

Glen Wanner's book Bicycling the Natchez Trace describes in detail several loop routes and other cycling routes located close to the Trace.

Many of the major "off the Trace" attractions, like Windsor Ruins (pictured above), Shiloh National Military Park, Elvis Presley's Birthplace and Vicksburg National Military Park are mentioned on NatchezTraceTravel.com with a description, pictures, directions from the Trace and a locator map.

This is just one of 10 reasons why the Natchez Trace Parkway is an excellent bike route:

1. National Park Service designates the entire parkway as a bike route. Numerous signs instruct cars to share the road with bicycles.
2. Commercial traffic is prohibited.
3. Maximum speed limit for cars is 50 mph.
4. Motorized traffic is generally very light except around Tupelo and Jackson.
5. No stop signs or stop lights. Access on and off the Trace is via on/off ramps which means no need to worry about cross traffic.
6. Scenery is awesome. Instead of utility poles and buildings, the Trace is lined with forests, farmland, creeks and beautiful vistas.
7. All along the Trace through Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee, historical and nature attractions offer interesting breaks and rest stops.
8. Restroom facilities on the Trace are available about every twenty miles.
9. Numerous side trails take you past antebellum and victorian homes, sunken roads, civil war battlefields and southern towns.
10. There are many "cycling friendly" bed and breakfasts located along and near the Trace. 

Why Bike the Natchez Trace Parkway? Restroom facilities on the Trace are available about every 20 miles.

The 444 mile long Natchez Trace Parkway stretches from Natchez, Mississippi to Nashville, Tennessee. Why bike the Natchez Trace Parkway?

Reason #8: Restroom facilities on the Trace are available about every twenty miles.

The national park service maintains restroom facilities at 16 of their 95 attractions along the Trace. When you are biking on the Trace there will usually be a park service restroom within twenty miles or less. There are a few stretches where they are spaced further apart.  

Most of the stops on the Trace that have restroom facilities also have a picnic area located in a nearby, shaded area. For cyclists packing a lunch or snack these are great places to stop.

Just off the Trace cyclists can find markets where they can purchase beverages, snack foods and in some cases sandwiches and other cooked foods. Go to NatchezTraceTravel.com to view a list of Gas, Water and Markets near the Natchez Trace Parkway.

This is just one of 10 reasons why the Natchez Trace Parkway is an excellent bike route:

1. National Park Service designates the entire parkway as a bike route. Numerous signs instruct cars to share the road with bicycles.
2. Commercial traffic is prohibited.
3. Maximum speed limit for cars is 50 mph.
4. Motorized traffic is generally very light except around Tupelo and Jackson.
5. No stop signs or stop lights. Access on and off the Trace is via on/off ramps which means no need to worry about cross traffic.
6. Scenery is awesome. Instead of utility poles and buildings, the Trace is lined with forests, farmland, creeks and beautiful vistas.
7. All along the Trace through Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee, historical and nature attractions offer interesting breaks and rest stops.
8. Restroom facilities on the Trace are available about every twenty miles.
9. Numerous side trails take you past antebellum and victorian homes, sunken roads, civil war battlefields and southern towns.
10. There are many "cycling friendly" bed and breakfasts located along and near the Trace. 

Why Bike the Natchez Trace Parkway? Historical and nature attractions along the way.

The 444 mile long Natchez Trace Parkway stretches from Natchez, Mississippi to Nashville, Tennessee. Why bike the Natchez Trace Parkway?

Reason #7: All along the Trace through Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee, historical and nature attractions offer interesting breaks and rest stops.

As cyclists bike the Natchez Trace there are an abundance of things to see and do. Take a short rest break at a waterfall, skip rocks on a wooded creek, see a section of  the "Old Trace", view an Indian burial mound, read about an historical event, take a short walk along a self-guided trail, take in the view of a scenic overlook, see rivers that frontier travelers either forded across or paid to ferry across, visit a once thriving town that no longer exists, visit a 200 year-old inn, see some pivotal Civil War battlefields...

The parkway offers 95 "sights to see" along the length of the Trace. 26 are along the 102 mile-long Tennessee section of the Trace, 7 are along the 31 mile-long Alabama section of the Trace and 62 are along the 310 mile-long Mississippi section of the Trace.

Many of the stops are also picnic areas and have water/restroom facilities.

This is just one of 10 reasons why the Natchez Trace Parkway is an excellent bike route:

1. National Park Service designates the entire parkway as a bike route. Numerous signs instruct cars to share the road with bicycles.
2. Commercial traffic is prohibited.
3. Maximum speed limit for cars is 50 mph.
4. Motorized traffic is generally very light except around Tupelo and Jackson.
5. No stop signs or stop lights. Access on and off the Trace is via on/off ramps which means no need to worry about cross traffic.
6. Scenery is awesome. Instead of utility poles and buildings, the Trace is lined with forests, farmland, creeks and beautiful vistas.
7. All along the Trace through Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee, historical and nature attractions offer interesting breaks and rest stops.
8. Restroom facilities on the Trace are available about every twenty miles.
9. Numerous side trails take you past antebellum and victorian homes, sunken roads, civil war battlefields and southern towns.
10. There are many "cycling friendly" bed and breakfasts located along and near the Trace. 

Why Bike the Natchez Trace Parkway? Scenery is awesome.

The 444 mile long Natchez Trace Parkway stretches from Natchez, Mississippi to Nashville, Tennessee. Why bike (or drive) the Natchez Trace Parkway?

Reason #6: Scenery is awesome. Instead of utility poles and buildings, the Trace is lined with forests, farmland, creeks and beautiful vistas.

The parkway is a long and narrow national park all the way from Natchez to Nashville. The width of the parkway land varies but is usually around 3-400 yards. For the most part (95+%) the parkway goes through rural areas passing through forests, farmland and state parks.

The park service prohibits advertising on the Trace. Even the on/off ramps are void of advertising.

No utility poles lining the road, no billboards or adverting signs - just beautiful scenery to enjoy as you bike along.

This is just one of 10 reasons why the Natchez Trace Parkway is an excellent bike route:

1. National Park Service designates the entire parkway as a bike route. Numerous signs instruct cars to share the road with bicycles.
2. Commercial traffic is prohibited.
3. Maximum speed limit for cars is 50 mph.
4. Motorized traffic is generally very light except around Tupelo and Jackson.
5. No stop signs or stop lights. Access on and off the Trace is via on/off ramps which means no need to worry about cross traffic.
6. Scenery is awesome. Instead of utility poles and buildings, the Trace is lined with forests, farmland, creeks and beautiful vistas.
7. All along the Trace through Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee, historical and nature attractions offer interesting breaks and rest stops.
8. Restroom facilities on the Trace are available about every twenty miles.
9. Numerous side trails take you past antebellum and victorian homes, sunken roads, civil war battlefields and southern towns.
10. There are many "cycling friendly" bed and breakfasts located along and near the Trace. 

Why Bike the Natchez Trace Parkway? No stop signs or stop lights.

The 444 mile long Natchez Trace Parkway stretches from Natchez, Mississippi to Nashville, Tennessee. Why bike the Natchez Trace Parkway?

Reason #5: No stop signs or stop lights. Access on and off the Trace is via on/off ramps which means no need to worry about cross traffic.

You could bike the entire length of the Trace without ever stopping! What is most important about the absence of stop signs and stop lights is there is no cross traffic. Cyclists don't have to watch for cars driving across the Trace at high speeds. The picture above shows a typical off ramp.

Access to the Trace from highways and major roads is provided by an on ramp that intersects with the Trace at a 90 degree angle. Cars entering the Trace must stop before turning onto the Trace (i.e. no merging ramps where the car enters the Trace at a high rate of speed).

There are some very lightly traveled back roads that don't have on/off ramps onto the Trace. The back road has a stop sign at the Trace intersection.

If you are looking for a highway or road that accesses the Natchez Trace Parkway go to NatchezTraceTravel.com at the following links:

• Tennessee Natchez Trace Parkway Access / Exit Highways 
• Alabama Natchez Trace Parkway Access / Exit Highways 
• Mississippi Natchez Trace Parkway Access / Exit Highways 

There you will find, for each highway, the parkway's milepost number, nearby towns and cities and a map of the highway/Trace intersection and nearby attractions, towns and bed and breakfasts.

This is just one of 10 reasons why the Natchez Trace Parkway is an excellent bike route:

1. National Park Service designates the entire parkway as a bike route. Numerous signs instruct cars to share the road with bicycles.
2. Commercial traffic is prohibited.
3. Maximum speed limit for cars is 50 mph.
4. Motorized traffic is generally very light except around Tupelo and Jackson.
5. No stop signs or stop lights. Access on and off the Trace is via on/off ramps which means no need to worry about cross traffic.
6. Scenery is awesome. Instead of utility poles and buildings, the Trace is lined with forests, farmland, creeks and beautiful vistas.
7. All along the Trace through Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee, historical and nature attractions offer interesting breaks and rest stops.
8. Restroom facilities on the Trace are available about every twenty miles.
9. Numerous side trails take you past antebellum and victorian homes, sunken roads, civil war battlefields and southern towns.
10. There are many "cycling friendly" bed and breakfasts located along and near the Trace. 

Why Bike the Natchez Trace Parkway? Motorized traffic is generally very light.

The 444 mile long Natchez Trace Parkway stretches from Natchez, Mississippi to Nashville, Tennessee. Why bike the Natchez Trace Parkway?

Reason #4: Motorized traffic is generally very light except around Tupelo and Jackson.

Most of the parkway passes through sparsely and lightly populated areas. Because of this, combined with the 50 mph speed limit and the prohibition of commercial traffic, most of the motorized traffic is done by people enjoying the Trace. The Natchez Trace Parkway is meant for recreational traffic - enjoyed and shared by drivers and cyclists.

However, people do use the parkway to "commute" to work. Commute traffic is minimal through rural areas and very light near small towns located along the Trace. But, commute traffic is very heavy in the Tupelo and Jackson areas:

"To ensure a safe and enjoyable trip, bicyclists are encouraged NOT to use the following areas during heavy traffic periods: Jackson (Clinton to Ridgeland), Mississippi, milepost 87-103, from 7:00-9:00 a.m.and from 4:00-6:00 p.m.and Tupelo, Mississippi, mileposts 258-268, from 7:00-8:30 a.m. and 3:00-5:00 p.m. on weekdays."
www.nps.gov/natr/bicyclinghome.htm

Our experience is that traffic through the Jackson and Tupelo areas is always fairly heavy during daylight hours and very heavy during "rush" hours as described above. Fortunately, these areas seem to be patrolled more by park rangers.

If you are biking the entire Trace please be careful when you cycle through the Jackson and Tupelo areas. If you are biking only part of the Trace we recommend that you steer clear of the sections mentioned above. On the outskirts of each city where the auto traffic begins to lessen but is still somewhat heavy try to avoid "rush" hours (i.e. in the morning bike away from town and in the afternoon bike towards town).

Update about biking the Trace in the Jackson/Ridgeland/Madison area. There is now a Multi-Use Path through the area that parallels the Trace that you can use to avoid the heaviest traffic. For more information follow this link.

This is just one of 10 reasons why the Natchez Trace Parkway is an excellent bike route:

1. National Park Service designates the entire parkway as a bike route. Numerous signs instruct cars to share the road with bicycles.
2. Commercial traffic is prohibited.
3. Maximum speed limit for cars is 50 mph.
4. Motorized traffic is generally very light except around Tupelo and Jackson.
5. No stop signs or stop lights. Access on and off the Trace is via on/off ramps which means no need to worry about cross traffic.
6. Scenery is awesome. Instead of utility poles and buildings, the Trace is lined with forests, farmland, creeks and beautiful vistas.
7. All along the Trace through Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee, historical and nature attractions offer interesting breaks and rest stops.
8. Restroom facilities on the Trace are available about every twenty miles.
9. Numerous side trails take you past antebellum and victorian homes, sunken roads, civil war battlefields and southern towns.
10. There are many "cycling friendly" bed and breakfasts located along and near the Trace. 

Why Bike the Natchez Trace Parkway? Maximum speed limit for motorists is 50 mph.

The 444 mile long Natchez Trace Parkway stretches from Natchez, Mississippi to Nashville, Tennessee. Why bike the Natchez Trace Parkway?

Reason #3: Maximum speed limit for motorists is 50 mph.

All car travelers should be aware of the following precautions when traveling:

• Speed limit is 50 mph, unless otherwise posted. 
• The Parkway is a designated bike route. Motorists are reminded to watch for bicyclists on the Parkway.

www.nps.gov/natr/planyourvisit/gettingaround.htm

The northernmost 15 miles of the Trace from milepost 428 (intersection with TN Hwy 46) to the northern terminus at milepost 433 (intersection with TN Hwy 100) vehicle speed is limited to 40 mph due to the abundant curves. The remaining 428 miles have a speed limit of 50 mph. Vehicles traveling faster than the posted speed limit risk being issued a heavy fine if caught by a park ranger.

This is just one of 10 reasons why the Natchez Trace Parkway is an excellent bike route:

1. National Park Service designates the entire parkway as a bike route. Numerous signs instruct cars to share the road with bicycles.
2. Commercial traffic is prohibited.
3. Maximum speed limit for cars is 50 mph.
4. Motorized traffic is generally very light except around Tupelo and Jackson.
5. No stop signs or stop lights. Access on and off the Trace is via on/off ramps which means no need to worry about cross traffic.
6. Scenery is awesome. Instead of utility poles and buildings, the Trace is lined with forests, farmland, creeks and beautiful vistas.
7. All along the Trace through Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee, historical and nature attractions offer interesting breaks and rest stops.
8. Restroom facilities on the Trace are available about every twenty miles.
9. Numerous side trails take you past antebellum and victorian homes, sunken roads, civil war battlefields and southern towns.
10. There are many "cycling friendly" bed and breakfasts located along and near the Trace. 

Why Bike the Natchez Trace Parkway? Commercial traffic is prohibited.

The 444 mile long Natchez Trace Parkway stretches from Natchez, Mississippi to Nashville, Tennessee. Why bike the Natchez Trace Parkway?

Reason #2: Commercial traffic is prohibited.

The National Park Service prohibits commercial traffic on the Natchez Trace Parkway. This means cyclists don't have to worry about semi-trucks, dump trucks, delivery trucks, buses, etc.

For the most part the vast majority of motorized vehicles on the Trace are cars, pickup trucks and motorcycles.

At each highway access point to the Trace there are "No Commercial Vehicle" signs posted on the on-ramps and on the Trace itself going both north and south. Any commercial vehicle that disregards these signs takes a huge risk of a heavy federal fine if a park ranger spots them.

The absence of large trucks makes the Natchez Trace Parkway an enjoyable bike route. Cyclists should always bike in single file on the right side of the road. The safest and smoothest ride is where the right wheels of cars typically roll. This spot gives cars plenty of room to pass around you with a lot of clearance.

The only "large" vehicles that bicyclists will encounter on the Trace are RVs and park service mowing and maintenance equipment. RVs are allowed on the Trace because they are "recreational" vehicles.

This is just one of 10 reasons why the Natchez Trace Parkway is an excellent bike route:

1. National Park Service designates the entire parkway as a bike route. Numerous signs instruct cars to share the road with bicycles.
2. Commercial traffic is prohibited.
3. Maximum speed limit for cars is 50 mph.
4. Motorized traffic is generally very light except around Tupelo and Jackson.
5. No stop signs or stop lights. Access on and off the Trace is via on/off ramps which means no need to worry about cross traffic.
6. Scenery is awesome. Instead of utility poles and buildings, the Trace is lined with forests, farmland, creeks and beautiful vistas.
7. All along the Trace through Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee, historical and nature attractions offer interesting breaks and rest stops.
8. Restroom facilities on the Trace are available about every twenty miles.
9. Numerous side trails take you past antebellum and victorian homes, sunken roads, civil war battlefields and southern towns.
10. There are many "cycling friendly" bed and breakfasts located along and near the Trace. 

Why Bike the Natchez Trace Parkway? National Park Service designates NTP as a bike route.

The 444 mile long Natchez Trace Parkway stretches from Natchez, Mississippi to Nashville, Tennessee. Why bike the Natchez Trace Parkway?

Reason #1: The National Park Service designates the entire parkway as a bike route. Numerous signs instruct cars to share the road with bicycles.

"visitors can experience this National Scenic Byway and All-American Road through driving and biking"
www.nps.gov/natr/

The U.S. Secretary of Transportation recognizes certain roads as All-American Roads or National Scenic Byways based on one or more archeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational and scenic qualities. The Natchez Trace Parkway is one of only 151 designated roads.

The park service has "bike route" signs posted at regular intervals along the entire length of the parkway.  These signs encourage motorists to "share the road" with cyclists.

Park service rangers patrol the parkway to provide safety for cyclists. Rangers can also assist cyclists when problems occur (accidents, bike damage, severe weather, etc.). Emergency call number signs are also posted periodically on the Trace: 1-800-300-PARK (7275).

The park service also provides five "bicycle only" campgrounds along the parkway for cyclists who want to camp. If you don't want to camp you can find a nearby, comfortable bed and breakfast through the Natchez Trace Bed and Breakfast Reservation Service.

This is just one of 10 reasons why the Natchez Trace Parkway is an excellent bike route:

1. National Park Service designates the entire parkway as a bike route. Numerous signs instruct cars to share the road with bicycles.
2. Commercial traffic is prohibited.
3. Maximum speed limit for cars is 50 mph.
4. Motorized traffic is generally very light except around Tupelo and Jackson.
5. No stop signs or stop lights. Access on and off the Trace is via on/off ramps which means no need to worry about cross traffic.
6. Scenery is awesome. Instead of utility poles and buildings, the Trace is lined with forests, farmland, creeks and beautiful vistas.
7. All along the Trace through Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee, historical and nature attractions offer interesting breaks and rest stops.
8. Restroom facilities on the Trace are available about every twenty miles.
9. Numerous side trails take you past antebellum and victorian homes, sunken roads, civil war battlefields and southern towns.
10. There are many "cycling friendly" bed and breakfasts located along and near the Trace. 

Natchez Trace Parkway divided into 15 geographic sections

The 444 mile-long Natchez Trace Parkway starts in Natchez, Mississippi and goes northeast through Mississippi, northwest Alabama and middle Tennessee before ending in Nashville, TN. There is quite a difference in climate from the southern terminus of the Trace at Natchez, MS (latitude 31.5) and the northern terminus at Nashville, TN (latitude 36.0).

NatchezTraceTravel.com has divided the Natchez Trace Parkway into fifteen geographic sections, each approximately 30 miles in length. The first nine sections are in Mississippi, one section in Alabama and the last five sections are located in Tennessee. Each section is named after nearby towns and cities.

We have written an article about each of the sections. Each article includes a map of that section of the Trace, a short description of each of the park service interpretive stops on the Trace, information about some of the nearby attractions and towns and a short video slide show of pictures.

Click on the section/article links listed below. We hope you enjoy this virtual tour.

Mississippi:

• Natchez and Lorman
• Port Gibson and Vicksburg
• Raymond and Jackson
• Jackson and Canton
• Kosciusko
• French Camp
• Houston
• Tupelo
• Belmont and Tishomingo

Alabama:

• Tuscumbia and Florence 

Tennessee:

• Collinwood and Waynesboro
• Summertown and Hohenwald
• Centerville and Columbia 
• Fly and Leiper's Fork
• Franklin and Nashville

Natchez Trace Parkway - Nashville | Franklin, Tennessee

This 15 mile section of the Natchez Trace Parkway starts near the Leiper's Fork, Tennessee area at milepost 428 (intersection with TN highway 46) and goes to the northern terminus of the Trace (intersection with TN highway 100) at milepost 443.

Traveling south to north you will encounter several sites that are part of the Natchez Trace Parkway and are overseen by the National Park Service:

• Birdsong Hollow - Double-Arched Bridge
  Completed in 1994, the double-arched bridge that spans Birdsong Hollow received the Presidential Award for Design Excellence in 1995 for its innovative design that rises 155 feet above the valley. The bridge carries Trace travelers 1,648 feet across the valley and Tennessee Highway 96.
  The bridge can be viewed from two locations. We recommend taking in both views. Just north of the bridge there is a parking area with a view of the bridge and the valley below. Just south of the bridge is an exit ramp that takes you down to Tennessee Highway 96. At the bottom of the hill there is a parking area with a view looking up at the entire length of the bridge.
  

For additional pictures, information and interactive maps of the Nashville | Franklin, Tennessee section of the Trace please see NatchezTraceTravel.com.

Bed and Breakfast travelers will enjoy Chigger Ridge Bed and Breakfast in Pegram, TN, Magnolia House Bed and Breakfast in Franklin, TN and East Park Inn Bed and Breakfast in Nashville, TN.

Next section south on the Trace: Leiper's Fork | Fly

Natchez Trace Parkway - Leiper's Fork - Fly, Tennessee

This 12 mile section of the Natchez Trace Parkway starts near the Fly, Tennessee area at milepost 416 (intersection with TN Highway 7) and goes north to the Leiper's Fork, Tennessee area at milepost 428 (intersection with TN highway 46).

Traveling south to north you will encounter several sites that are part of the Natchez Trace Parkway and are overseen by the National Park Service:

• Tennessee Valley Divide
  When Tennessee joined the Union in 1796, this watershed was the boundary between the United States to the north and the Chickasaw Nation to the south.
• Burns Branch
  The Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail horse path traverses past Burns Branch. The creek and heavy shade create a cool spot to enjoy a picnic.
• Old Trace
  This is the northernmost intersection of the old "Natchez Road" and the new "Natchez Trace Parkway". Heading north, the old path lies east of the modern parkway as it headed towards what is now downtown Nashville. The new roadway goes a little west towards the southwest corner of Nashville.
• Garrison Creek
  Named for a nearby 1801-02 U.S. Army post, this area is a trailhead for horseback riders and hikers on the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail. Plenty of horse trailer parking is available. This section of the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail is 24 miles in length. From the Garrison Creek trailhead you can hike or ride your horse south to Tennessee Highway 50 (milepost 408).

For additional pictures, information and interactive maps of the Leiper's Fork | Fly, Tennessee section of the Trace please see NatchezTraceTravel.com.

Also, just off the Trace you will find:

• Leiper's Fork, Tennessee
  Leiper's Fork sits a mile east of the Natchez Trace Parkway. The old Natchez Road came through the middle of town. The village, with many late 19th century buildings and homes, is a Registered National Historic District. Many of the historic buildings that line both sides of Old Hillsboro Road (Hwy 46) through the center of town are restaurants, antique shops, gift shops and art galleries.

Bed and Breakfast travelers will enjoy Creekview Farm Retreat Bed and Breakfast in the Fly / Santa Fe area.

Next section north on the Trace: Nashville | Franklin
Next section south on the Trace:  Columbia | Centerville

Natchez Trace Parkway - Columbia | Centerville, Tennessee

This 25 mile section of the Natchez Trace Parkway  in the Columbia | Centerville, Tennessee area goes from milepost 416 (intersection with TN Highway 7) to milepost 391 (intersection with US Highway 421).

Traveling south to north you will encounter several sites that are part of the Natchez Trace Parkway and are overseen by the National Park Service:

• Fall Hollow Waterfall
  A path and a set of wooden bridges take you across the small creeks before they begin their tumbling descent.
• Swan View Overlook
  From here you can see the water tower in Hohenwald, Tennessee, the town with the highest elevation  between New Orleans and Chicago.
• Old Trace
  Before 1805 the Chickasaw Indians owned all the land in this area. Only the Natchez Trace, part of which is still visible at this location, made inroads into tribal territory. Treaties in 1805 and 1816 ceded portions of the area to the United States and then in 1837 the government removed the Chickasaws to the Indian territory in Oklahoma over the tragic Trail of Tears.
• Sheboss Place
  A widow operated an inn here on the Old Natchez Trace with her Indian husband who spoke little English. According to legend when travelers approached with questions about accommodations he would only point to his wife and say, "She boss."
• Tobacco Farm / Old Trace Drive
  Exhibited at this location is a typical early 1900s tobacco farm. A 10 minute walk takes you through a tobacco field to the barn where tobacco is hanging to dry. Also, from this location you can drive north on a two-mile section of the Old Natchez Trace and meet the parkway on the other end.
• Old Trace
  Here you can walk a 2000 foot long, preserved section of the Old Natchez Trace that follows a ridge 300 feet above the Duck River.
• Jackson Falls
  A steep trail (concrete) 900 feet long trail descends to Jackson Falls. Named for Andrew Jackson, the falls cascade down and into the Duck River.
• Baker Bluff Overlook
  Family farms on the other side of the Duck River are visible from the bluff. There is also a 1/3 mile-long trail along the bluff that sits high above the river and continues on to Jackson Falls.
  
• Gordon House Historic Site
  The Gordon House, owned by ferry operators John and Dorothea Gordon, is one of the few remaining buildings associated with the old Natchez Trace. In the early 1800s, Gordon made an agreement with the Chickasaw Chief George Colbert to operate a trading post and ferry on the Duck River.
• Water Valley Overlook
  A short road off the Trace takes you to the top of a ridge that offers 180 degree views of Water Valley.

For additional pictures, information and interactive maps of the Columbia | Centerville, Tennessee section of the Trace please see NatchezTraceTravel.com.

Also, just off the Trace you will find:

• Columbia, Tennessee
  Columbia has several antebellum homes open for tours every day, including the home of President James K. Polk. Columbia is known as the "Mule capital of the world" and honors this fact with Mule Day, a large celebration held annually every April.

Bed and Breakfast travelers will enjoy Creekview Farm Retreat Bed and Breakfast in the Fly / Santa Fe area,  Blue Moon Bed and Breakfast in Columbia and several Bed and Breakfast/Cabin options in the Hohenwald / Hampshire area.

Next section north on the Trace: Leiper's Fork | Fly
Next section south on the Trace:  Hohenwald | Summertown

Natchez Trace Parkway - Hohenwald | Summertown, Tennessee

This 21 mile section of the Natchez Trace Parkway  in the Hohenwald | Summertown, Tennessee area goes from milepost 391 (intersection with US 421) to milepost 370 (intersection with US 64).

Traveling south to north you will encounter several sites that are part of the Natchez Trace Parkway and are overseen by the National Park Service:

• Old Trace Drive
  A 2.5 mile of the original Old Natchez Trace has been graded into a one-way road that parallels the modern parkway.
• Jacks Branch
  From the parking area, a stone walkway takes you down into the valley next to Jacks Branch. Several picnic tables and grills await under the shade of tall trees.
• Napier Mine
  Napier Mine was an open pit mine in the 1820s and 1830s. The mine provided most of the ore for the nearby iron making operations.
• Metal Ford and Buffalo River
  At this location travelers on the Old Natchez Trace crossed the Buffalo River which was fordable except after heavy rains. The ford takes its name from its stone bottom, which reminded frontier travelers of stone-surfaced or “metaled” roads of the day.
• Meriwether Lewis
  Meriwether Lewis (1774 to 1809), captain in The United States Army, Private Secretary to President Jefferson, senior Commander of the Lewis and Clark Expedition and Governor of the Territory of Louisiana, tragically and mysteriously died on October 11, 1809 at the Grinder House here on the Old Natchez Trace. His body is buried under a monument erected in 1848 by the State of Tennessee.

For additional pictures, information and interactive maps of the Hohenwald | Summertown, Tennessee section of the Trace please see NatchezTraceTravel.com.

Also, just off the Trace you will find:

• Hohenwald, Tennessee
  Hohenwald, the county seat of Lewis County, is located in Middle Tennessee about 8 miles west of the Natchez Trace Parkway.

There are several bed and breakfast and cabin opportunities in the Hohenwald / Linden / Hampshire area.

Next section north on the Trace: Centerville | Columbia
Next section south on the Trace: Waynesboro | Collinwood

Natchez Trace Parkway - Waynesboro | Collinwood, Tennessee

This 28 mile section of the Natchez Trace Parkway spans the area north of Waynesboro, Tennessee at milepost 370 (intersection with US 64) to south of Collinwood, Tennessee at the Tennessee-Alabama state line at milepost 341.8.

Traveling south to north you will encounter several sites that are part of the Natchez Trace Parkway and are overseen by the National Park Service:

• Cypress Creek
  This stop, along Cypress Creek, features a large shady area with several picnic tables and grills.
• Holly
  Named for the many holly trees in the area, this picnic area is covered with shade and sits next to a flowing stream.
• Sunken Trace
  During wet weather the Old Natchez Trace would turn into a muddy, sinking path. When the trail became so water logged that wagons could not be pulled through, travelers cut new paths through the nearby woods. At this stop you can see three paths.
• McGlamery Stand
  One of the many inns or "stands" along the Old Natchez Trace was located here. The nearby village is known as McGlamery Stand.
• Sweetwater Branch
  A 20-minute trail takes you along this fast-flowing stream.
• Glenrock Branch
  In my humble opinion this is the most beautiful picnic area along the entire length of the Natchez Trace Parkway. From the parking area it is a short walk down a trail to a natural ampitheater. The creek and limestone bluff bend around the shaded picnic area.
• Dogwood Mudhole
  About a mile from the current parkway the Old Natchez Trace crossed a low area in the flat, dogwood covered ridge. After heavy rains it became almost impassable for wagons.

For additional pictures, information and interactive maps of the Waynesboro | Collinwood, Tennessee section of the Trace please see NatchezTraceTravel.com.

Also, just off the Trace you will find:

• Shiloh National Military Park
  Besides preserving the site of the bloody April 1862 battle in Tennessee, the park commemorates the subsequent siege, battle, and occupation of the key railroad junction at nearby Corinth, Mississippi. From the Natchez Trace Parkway, exit onto US 64 at milepost 370 and go west through Waynesboro and Savannah to the park area.
• Collinwood, Tennessee
  The close location to the Trace (150 yards) and the town's markets, grocery stores and a couple of restaurants make Collinwood a popular stop for anybody traveling the Trace, especially cyclists.

Travelers will enjoy Miss Monetta's Country Cottage in Collinwood.

Next section north on the Trace: Hohenwald | Summertown
Next section south on the Trace:  Florence | Tuscumbia

Natchez Trace Parkway - Florence | Tuscumbia, Alabama

This 33 mile section of the Natchez Trace Parkway travels through the northwest corner of Alabama from milepost 341.8 at the Tennessee-Alabama state line to milepost 308.9 at the Alabama-Mississippi state line.

Traveling south to north you will encounter several sites that are part of the Natchez Trace Parkway and are overseen by the National Park Service:

• Bear Creek
  A large, shady picnic area with several picnic tables and grills sits next to Bear Creek.
• Freedom Hills Overlook
  A steep, 1/4 mile paved trail takes you to the overlook.
• Buzzard Roost Spring
  Named Buzzard Roost in 1801 by Levi Colbert, a renowned Chickasaw chief, the spring was a water source for his house which was also an inn for travelers on the Old Natchez Trace. A short trail takes you to Buzzard Roost spring.
  
• Colbert Ferry
  The park service provides a ranger station, restrooms, visitor center (in season), picnic area, boat launch and fishing at the site where George Colbert operated a ferry across the Tennessee River from 1800 to 1819.
• Lauderdale
  This picnic area is located across the Tennessee River from Colbert Ferry on the north shoreline.
• Rock Spring
  A 20 minute self-guided trail takes you along Colbert Creek.

For additional pictures, information and interactive maps of the Florence | Tuscumbia, Alabama section of the Trace please see NatchezTraceTravel.com.

Also, just off the Trace you will find:

• Wichahpi Commemorative Stone Wall
  Tom Hendrix has been building a stone wall for over 30 years in memory of his great-great-grandmother's journey. His great-great-grandmother Te-lah-nay was part of the Yuchi Indian tribe that lived near here along the Tennessee River in the 1800s.
• Tuscumbia, Alabama
  Tuscumbia, located 20 miles east of the Natchez Trace Parkway, is the birthplace and home of Helen Keller.

Bed and breakfast travelers will enjoy Riverside Cottage Bed and Breakfast located between Cherokee and Tuscumbia.

Next section north on the Trace: Waynesboro | Collinwood
Next section south on the Trace: Tishomingo | Belmont

Natchez Trace Parkway - Tishomingo | Belmont, Mississippi

This 28 mile section of the Natchez Trace Parkway spans the area south of the Tishomingo | Belmont, Mississippi area from milepost 281 to the Mississippi-Alabama state line at milepost 309.

Traveling south to north you will encounter several sites that are part of the Natchez Trace Parkway and are overseen by the National Park Service:

• Donivan Slough
  Self-guiding trail through an area that floods quite frequently creating an environment for a large variety of plants.
• Pharr Mounds
  This is the largest and most important archaeological site in northern Mississippi. Eight large dome shaped burial mounds are scattered over an area of 90 acres.
• Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway
  The Natchez Trace Parkway passes over the waterway less than a mile downstream from the US Army Corps of Engineers dam that creates Bay Springs Lake.
• Cave Spring
  Indians may have used this site as a source of water and safety. The water is now unsafe to drink and the cave is dangerous.
• Bear Creek Mound
  This ceremonial mound, located next to Bear Creek, was built over 600 years ago.

For additional pictures, information and interactive maps of the Tishomingo | Belmont, Mississippi section of the Trace please see NatchezTraceTravel.com.

Also, just off the Trace you will find:

• Bay Springs Lake
  Bay Springs Lake and Dam, part of the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway, is only a few minutes off the Trace. The lake is very popular with fishermen and boaters.
• Tishomingo State Park
  Named after Chickasaw medicine name Tishomingo. The Trace travels through the center of the park.
• Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center
  For six months in 1862, Corinth, Mississippi, a critical railroad junction, captured the full attention of a divided nation. The visitor center interprets the key role of Corinth in the Civil War's Western Theater.
• Corinth, Mississippi
  Corinth is home to four museums, a National Park Service Civil War Interpretive, pristine Civil War earthworks, historic neighborhoods, churches and cemeteries, and much more. Shiloh National Military Park is 20 miles north of Corinth.

Bed and breakfast travelers will enjoy Belmont Hotel in Belmont and Generals' Quarters Inn Bed and Breakfast in Corinth.

Next section north on the Trace: Florence | Tuscumbia
Next section south on the Trace: Tupelo