
National Scenic Trail ยท Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee
NPS Photo
Scenic trail in the United States
The Natchez Trace Trail is a designated National Scenic Trail in the United States, whose route generally follows sections of the 444-mile (715ย km) Natchez Trace Parkway through the states of Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi. The Natchez Trace Trail is not a long, continuous footpath, as is the case with other national scenic trails ; rather, only a limited number of trail segments along the route, currently over 60 miles (97ย km) of trail, have been developed for hiking and horseback riding. Moreover, the Natchez Trace Trail, unlike many others that rely heavily on volunteers for trail construction and maintenance, is managed and maintained by the National Park Service. Sections of the trail follow along the Natchez Trace Parkway road shoulder, and cross county and state roads. It was originally intended to be longer and follow most of the Natchez Trace Parkway, but only a portion was built.
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.



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 1-800-305-7417.
| mon | tue | wed | thu | fri | sat | sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunrise to Sunset | Sunrise to Sunset | Sunrise to Sunset | Sunrise to Sunset | Sunrise to Sunset | Sunrise to Sunset | Sunrise to Sunset |
Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail is free to enter.
Popular activities at Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail include: Hiking, Horse Trekking, Horseback Riding.
Mississippi, Alabama, and most of Tennessee are classified as humid subtropical climates. The weather ranges from mild winters to hot summers. Average high temperatures reach into the high 80's in summer, and into the high 40's in winter. Thunderstorms are common in Mississippi, especially in the southern part of the state, and from June through November, the state is occasionally affected by hurricanes moving north from the Gulf of Mexico. Check local forecasts to plan your trip.
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 1-800-305-7417.
Free Admission
Mississippi, Alabama, and most of Tennessee are classified as humid subtropical climates. The weather ranges from mild winters to hot summers. Average high temperatures reach into the high 80's in summer, and into the high 40's in winter. Thunderstorms are common in Mississippi, especially in the southern part of the state, and from June through November, the state is occasionally affected by hurricanes moving north from the Gulf of Mexico. Check local forecasts to plan your trip.
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 1-800-305-7417.
๐ View on Google Maps โOther national park sites you might enjoy