Fall Foliage on the Natchez Trace Parkway

It won't be long until the leaves start turning colors. Fall foliage color along the northern half of the Natchez Trace Parkway (Tupelo, Mississippi to Nashville, Tennessee) is generally at or near its peak from mid-October to the first week of November. South of Tupelo to Natchez, MS fall colors usually arrive mid to late November.

Shown below is a slide-show of fall pictures taken during the 2008 and 2009 fall seasons from the northern terminus of the Trace south to the Tennessee River crossing in Alabama.

For additional fall pictures from 2008 and 2009 and hopefully from 2010 go to NatchezTraceTravel.com's Fall Season Natchez Trace Pictures.

Nashville's Trace

On June 3, 2010, The Tennessean wrote an article about the state of Tennessee's newest tourism trail called "Nashville's Trace". The trail follows the 102 mile section of the Natchez Trace Parkway through Tennessee.

"Nashville’s Trace, the third of 16 self-guided driving trail in the Discover Tennessee Trails and Byways program, was announced today during a ceremony at the Loveless Barn, near the northern terminus of the Natchez Trace Parkway."

Click here to read the entire article.

Food and Gas near the Natchez Trace Parkway in Tennessee

We often hear people say that there are no gas stations, markets or restaurants near the Natchez Trace Parkway. It is true that none are located "right on" the Trace. But, there are plenty of places just off the Trace to "fuel up" your vehicle and yourself! You only need to know where to find them.

Along the 100 mile-long section of the Trace that passes through Tennessee there are markets within 2 miles or less at eight of the ten major exits. Bicyclists traveling without a vehicle can easily bike to these markets for a quick snack or for a lunch break.

Most of the markets are decades old and are well known in the local community. In fact, one is 120 years old. Most have gas pumps and all offer sandwiches and other items like pizza, ice cream, plate lunches, etc. Play the video for a quick look at the markets.

Click on these articles to learn more about the markets, including how far and which direction they are from the Trace, their address, services provided and some pictures.

• Milepost 444 - Tennessee Highway 100 (northern terminus)
• Milepost 428 - Tennessee Highway 46 (Leiper's Fork)
• Milepost 416 - Tennessee Highway 7 (Fly)
• Milepost 408 - Tennessee Highway 50 (Shady Grove / Duck River)
• Milepost 386 - Tennessee Highway 20 (between Hohenwald and Summertown)
• Milepost 370 - US Highway 64 (between Waynesboro and Lawrenceburg)
• Milepost 354 - Collinwood, Tennessee
• Milepost 351 - Tennessee Highway 13 (Collinwood)

Tennessee Crossroads video about the Natchez Trace Parkway

The popular Nashville public television program Tennessee Crossroads featured the Natchez Trace Parkway on one of their programs. They created a video of the program that you can see here.

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

Most Popular Tennessee Attractions on the Natchez Trace Parkway

The Natchez Trace Parkway generally follows the route of the Old Natchez Road for 102 miles through central Tennessee from Nashville to the Tennessee-Alabama stateline. Along the Tennessee section of the Trace, the parkway offers 26 historical and/or natural attractions. During 2009 the most popular attractions along this section of the Natchez Trace Parkway were (ordered south to north along the parkway - mileposts start at zero in Natchez, MS):

• Glenrock Branch - milepost 364.5 (near Collinwood, TN)
  From the parking area it is a short walk down a trail to this natural ampitheater. The creek and limestone bluff bend around the shaded picnic area. 
• Fall Hollow Waterfall - milepost 391.9 (near Hohenwald, TN)
  A path and a set of wooden bridges take you across the small creeks before they begin their tumbling descent. The easy part of the path ends at an observation deck where you can look down at the largest waterfall.
• Jackson Falls - milepost 404.7
  A steep, 900 foot long trail takes you to a beautifully sculptured cascade that seems ageless but it isn't.
• Garrison Creek - milepost 427.6 (near Leiper's Fork, TN)
  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.
• Double-Arched Bridge - milepost 438 (near Franklin, TN)
  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

Popularity was determined by how often each attraction's information was viewed during 2009 at NatchezTraceTravel.com. Would love to hear your comments about your favorite attractions on the Natchez Trace Parkway in Tennessee.

Charlotte Observer - The Southeast's other parkway

On November 21, 2009 the Charlotte Observer wrote an article about the Natchez Trace Parkway titled "The Southeast's other parkway", comparing it to the Blue Ridge Parkway:

"Unlike the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Natchez Trace is flat, uncrowded and snow-snarl free."

Click here to read the entire article.

Tennessean writer thankful for the Natchez Trace Parkway

Joe Biddle, sports writer for The Tennessean newspaper in Nashville, wrote an article in the Thanksgiving Day edition of the paper titled "Pilgrims thankful they didn't have to watch the Lions".

The title of Joe's article was poking fun at the woeful Detroit Lions football team. But, the rest of the article lists many things that Joe is thankful for in the sporting world, those serving in the military and life in general. He also mentioned the natural beauty that we enjoy here in Tennessee, including:

"I'm thankful for the Natchez Trace Parkway and all its beauty and history. You can stop and learn about our state and see some incredible scenery. You are forced to drive slow. There are no commercial trucks, billboards or advertising to spoil the drive."

Click here to read Joe's article.

Fly and Bethel communities near the Natchez Trace Parkway

If you find yourself traveling on the Natchez Trace Parkway about an hour or so south of the northern terminus of the Trace or if you live in the Nashville area and are wanting to get out on some back roads you are in luck.

The parkway from milepost 425 (Leiper's Fork area) south to milepost 391 (intersection with US 412) follows a ridge where the altitude approaches 1100'. 'Kaintucks' that used to walk the Old Natchez Road home from Natchez, MS called this area the 'Devil's Backbone'. To the east of this ridge lies some of the most beautiful Tennessee valleys that you will ever see. There are some overlooks along the Trace where you can view the valleys: Water Valley Overlook, Baker Bluff Overlook and Jackson Falls.

To access these valleys you can exit the Trace at either the Leiper's Fork exit or the Fly exit which I took a few days ago. I exited the Trace at  milepost 416 onto Tennessee Highway 7 and headed south (towards Columbia). A mile or so down the hill takes you into the Fly community. On the left is Fly's General Store. Proprietor is B. Wilson Fly who has been enjoying the backroads of this area for decades. He loves to show off a shoebox full of pictures that he has taken over the years. And, he has a few recommended driving or biking routes that will take you back in time through the valleys and hollers of this breathtaking country.

If you are just the slightest bit hungry you can fill your belly with a bona-fide hand sliced bologna sandwich. The hardwood floored store is filled with snack items and general supplies. In the mornings the parking lot is usually overflowing with pickup trucks as folks stop by to get a bite to eat and to visit with friends on the front porch. The general store is real popular with cyclists (bicycles and motorcycles) who come off the Trace in search of nourishment.

Fly's General Store
5661 Leipers Creek Road
Santa Fe, TN 38482
931-682-2356

From Fly, there are two different directions you can take to view valley back roads. You can go north on Leiper's Creek Road towards Bethel and Leiper's Fork or you can go south on Leiper's Creek Road towards Water Valley. Leiper's Creek Road parallels the Natchez Trace Parkway but it is located in the valley as opposed to up on the ridge.

I have been south before to the Water Valley area but then I got lost. Next time I go that way I'll take Mr. Fly's map which shows you how to navigate the back roads all the way across the Duck River and eventually to US 412 between Columbia and Hohenwald. The Water Valley Overlook stop on the Natchez Trace Parkway mentioned above is a panoramic view of the small community of Water Valley and the surrounding farms.

On this trip I headed north on Leiper's Creek Road towards the Bethel community. Several times before I had passed by The Quilting Frame. This time I stopped and met Sandra Adkinson owns the store. Sandra  carries all types of fabric and quilting supplies.

In the center of the big yellow building is a Gammill Long Arm Quilting Machine and a computerized Statler Stitcher Quilting Machine.

The Quilting Frame is open Monday-Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Friday from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. - noon. They are closed on Thursday and Sunday.

The Quilting Frame
6000 Leipers Creek Road
Santa Fe, TN 38482
(931) 682-3746

Another mile or so north on Leiper's Creek Road brought me to Nett's Grocery. The old store is close to the road - look for the orange and blue "76" gasoline sign. Nett's Grocery gets its name from owner Annette Dotson - everybody calls her Nett.

Nett's, like Fly's General Store, is another local gathering place. Grocery shelves are located at the front of the store. Beyond the grocery shelves is the dining area. And, at the back of the store is a small stage for karaoke music on Thursday night (6:00 to 8:00) and live, local music on Saturday night (6:00 to 8:00).

The 'deli' at Nett's is typical of that southern genre of restaurants referred to as "Meat & Threes" where you select one meat and three vegetables (or just two veggies for a lesser price). And, like many meat and threes, one of the meats on Friday is catfish. I ordered catfish, fries and coleslaw. Of course, hush puppies automatically came with the catfish. All were worth a return trip (actually I have eaten here three or four times).

Nett's is open on Monday from 5:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (breakfast is served in the morning), Tuesday and Wednesday from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (7:00 p.m. in the winter), Thursday and Friday from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Saturday from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and on Sunday the store is open from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and the deli is open for lunch from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Nett's Grocery
Skelley Road (just off of Leipers Creek Road)
Santa Fe, TN 38482
(931) 682-2315

From Nett's I headed on north on Leiper's Creek Road past several horse farms and eventually to the small village of Leiper's Fork. Here you can hop back on the Natchez Trace Parkway at the intersection with Tennessee Highway 46 at milepost 428.

Natchez Trace Parkway trip with Mom and Dad - Day 3

Day 3 - Collinwood, TN back to Nashville

On Friday morning we went to the Dragonfly - an Emporium in Collinwood for a quick breakfast. I had a peach smoothie and mom and dad drank hot chocolate and we shared a couple of muffins. David Harrison, the owner, showed us some of the arts and crafts items made by local artisans.

The Dragonfly is located next to the Wayne County Welcome Center in Collinwood, only 150 yards from the Trace.

We went back to Miss Monetta's Country Cottage and packed up our belongings and headed north on the Trace. We planned on stopping at a few of the areas that we didn't have time to visit on the way down on Day 1 of the trip.

Our first stop was at the Metal Ford / Buffalo River area at milepost 382. If you need to stretch your legs this is a great place to stop. The nature walk that takes you along the river and through an old mill run is absolutely beautiful.

Hard to imagine the old "Kaintucks" fording their way across the swift moving waters. But they did in order to make their way back home.

Our next stop was at the Tobacco Barn / Old Trace Drive area at milepost 401. Mom and Dad checked out the Tobacco Barn and talked to some other travelers while I made some phone calls.

Tobacco cut from the small tobacco field next to the barn was hanging to dry in the barn rafters.

Behind the tobacco barn there is an opening in the trees that reveals a breathtaking view of the valley below. Also behind the tobacco barn is the beginning of a two-mile section of the Old Trace that has been graded, just enough, to be a one-way road for cars. The Old Trace Drive takes you north and then exits back out onto the parkway. The drive takes you through dense forest and a few glimpses down into the valley that lies to the east.

We made a "pit stop" at Garrison Creek at milepost 427.  The park service maintains bathroom facilities spaced out along the parkway every 20 miles or so.

Garrison Creek is the northern trailhead of the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail. The 24 mile hiking and horse trail parallels the parkway and Old Trace from here to the southern trailhead near the intersection of the parkway and Tennessee Highway 50. Just as we were about to leave a couple on horseback rode past us and onto the trail.

Just north of Garrison Creek we pulled off the Trace onto Tennessee Highway 46 and headed into the historic village of Leiper's Fork for lunch and a little shopping.

There are three restaurants in Leiper's Fork: Puckett's Grocery, the Twisted Fork Cafe and Country Boy. We dined at Puckett's Grocery. Puckett's is a small grocery store, restaurant and music venue. All three restaurants are worth the drive.

Of course, there is more to Leiper's Fork than just a bunch of good restaurants. There are several stores and shops housed in historic buildings all along the same little stretch of road as the restaurants. You can park your car and easily walk from one place to the next. Here are  mom and dad in one of the antique stores.

Leiper's Fork is a short 15 miles down the Trace from the northern terminus. This would be our last stop on our three day tour of the northern half of the Natchez Trace Parkway. Once off the Trace and a few more miles we were driving on I-40. What a difference.

Natchez Trace Parkway trip with Mom and Dad - Day 1

My mom and dad, Karen and Bill Fought, live in Ohio. I invited them to come to Nashville and take a short trip down the Natchez Trace Parkway during the fall foliage season. We went on a three day trip down the Trace from the northern terminus near Nashville, Tennessee to northeast Mississippi and back to Nashville.

Day 1 - Nashville, TN to Collinwood, TN

From my home in Madison, TN we drove 30 minutes to the community of Pasquo, TN where the Natchez Trace Parkway ends. We arrived in the area at lunch time and since my mom had seen a TV show about the Loveless Cafe and its famous biscuits we decided to eat at this world famous diner.

Dad and I ordered breakfast food (French Toast and Pancakes) and mom had a pulled pork BBQ sandwich that had enough meat to make three sandwiches. Before our meals arrived our waiter brought us some of the famous biscuits and three types of jams. You could just about make a meal of the biscuits - in fact, you can order a dozen!

We checked out a few of the shops that now encircle the cafe (they used to be motel rooms). The beginning (actually the end) of the Trace starts about 150 yards from the Loveless Cafe.

Just a few miles down the Trace takes you to one of the most popular stops on the entire 444 mile long parkway - the Double-Arched Bridge that spans Birdsong Hollow. The nearly 1/3 of a mile long bridge takes the Trace over 150 feet above the valley below.

The weather was fantastic for early November. Quite a few cyclists were out on the Trace. Here we are passing a solo cyclist. Notice how we pulled completely over into the other lane to pass the bike. Unfortunately, there has been two cyclists hit and killed by automobile drivers this year on the Trace.

Our next stop was Water Valley Overlook at milepost 411. The Trace follows the top of a ridge through this area and from the overlook you can see several farms in the Water Valley area. Several other people were also enjoying the view. We think the smoke in the picture is from a tobacco barn.

Our next stop was Jackson Falls at milepost 404. The parking area is on top of the same ridge with the Duck River 300 feet below. A 900 foot paved trail takes you down into a gorge where Jackson Falls tumbles. When we arrived at the falls we were not along. A young father and his three children were having a lot of fun playing in the water and jumping from rock to rock. We have had a very wet fall so there was quite a bit of water cascading down the two falls.

Our next stop was Fall Hollow Waterfall at milepost 391. Again, there was a lot of water flowing down the streams that feed the waterfalls. We only walked on the paved trail to the observation deck where you have a great view of the first cascade. Past the observation deck the trail is not paved and starts to go downhill. We decided to go no further. A more daring couple came up the path and reported that the main falls below was well worth the hike. We convinced ourselves that we had many more miles to travel on Day 1 and didn't have time to hike down into the gorge!

We made a quick drive through the Meriwether Lewis area at milepost 385. He died and was buried here along the Natchez Trace 200 years ago.

Our last stop of the day before arriving in Collinwood was at Glenrock Branch at milepost 364. This is one of the best picnic areas along the Trace. Several picnic tables and grills are located down the hill from the parking area. The creek (Glenrock Branch) flows around the picnic area. On the other side of the creek are rock walls and some very oddly shaped rock formations. The temperature in the heat of summer is usually 10-15 degrees lower here under the forest shade and next to the cool flowing water. We were still filled up from lunch at Loveless Cafe so we pushed on towards Collinwood.

Collinwood, Tennessee sits just off the Trace at milepost 354. In fact, the old Natchez Trace wilderness route looks like it went through what is now the middle of town. Our lodging for tonight and the next night was Miss Monetta's Country Cottage. I had stayed here once before and told mom and dad how nice it was. Needless to say - they were impressed. We had plenty of room. One bedroom has a queen bed and another bedroom has two twin beds. The living room featured a large TV with cable channels, two couches (one a sleeper sofa and the other one leather), a recliner and a chair. The kitchen is fully equipped with everything you need. We watched the last baseball game of the season as the Yankees put the wraps on yet another World Series championship.

Fall Foliage on the Natchez Trace Parkway

Fall foliage color along the Natchez Trace Parkway is generally at its peak from mid-October thru November. Of course, there is quite a difference between Nashville at the north end of the Trace and Natchez at the southern end of the Trace. The 444 mile parkway runs northeast to southwest (a little more north/south than east/west) from latitude 36.03458 at the northern terminus to latitude 31.5479 at the southern terminus. So, the peak season moves down the Trace into warmer weather.

At the northern end of the Trace in Tennessee the peak season looks to be the last week of October and the first week of November. The picture shown here is of the Double-Arched Bridge that spans Birdsong Hollow at milepost 438 near Franklin, Tennessee. The picture was taken as the leaves were just beginning to turn colors on October 24th. More fall foliage pictures from October 24th and dozens from the first week of November 2008 can be found at NatchezTraceTravel.com.