Natchez Trace Trail

34°40′3.81″N 88°5′17.93″W / 34.6677250°N 88.0883139°W / 34.6677250; -88.0883139

Natchez Trace Trail
Natchez Trace Trail in Warner Park, Nashville, Tennessee.
Length	over 60 miles with 5 segments [1]
Location	Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee in the United States
Designation	National Scenic Trail in 1983
Use	Hiking, Horseback riding
Sights	ghost town of Rocky Springs Ross Barnett Reservoir
Surface	soil
Website	Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail

The Natchez Trace Trail is a designated National Scenic Trail in the United States, whose route generally follows sections of the 444-mile (715 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 (such as the Appalachian Trail); rather, only a limited number of trail segments along the route, currently over 60 miles (97 km)^[1] 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,^[2] but only portion was built.

The Natchez Trace Parkway and National Scenic Trail commemorate the historic Natchez Trace, an ancient path that began as a wildlife and Native American trail, and has a rich history of use by colonizers, "Kaintuck" boatmen, post riders, and military men.

Sections

This trail comprises five sections. The table below is ordered from South, Milepost 0 (Natchez) to North, Milepost 444 (near Nashville), but can be sorted differently.

References

External links

• National Park Service website
• Natchez Trace Compact