Things To Do Near Natchez Trace Parkway
The Natchez Trace Parkway offers visitors the unique opportunity to travel the paths of our ancestors and explore the events and people who helped shape America. Hiking trails along the Natchez Trace can lead visitors through thick forests, to stunning waterfalls, or across historic battlefields. Camping, biking, and fishing are also popular activities for travelers along the Natchez Trace Parkway.
Hiking Trails
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Rocky Springs Trail
Rocky Springs Trail leads visitors on a winding trek through the woods of Mississippi just off the Natchez Trace Parkway. Named for the town of Rocky Springs that once stood along the path, the hike offers visitors a chance to step back into time and visit the bones of the old ghost town. Perhaps the most interesting historical site is the Rocky Springs Methodist Church, the only building from Rocky Springs still standing. Although the church is no longer active, hikers can still explore the building and the surrounding grounds, including the old cemetery.
Location
Natchez Trace Parkway, Milepost 54.8, Hermanville, MS, 39086
Length
6 miles
Intensity
Moderate
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Meriwether Lewis Loop Trail
Located at the Meriwether Lewis Monument along the Natchez Trace Parkway, the trail begins at the Meriwether Lewis monument. The monument marks the place where, in 1809, Meriwether Lewis, half of the famed Lewis and Clark expedition team, died under mysterious circumstances. Today, visitors can visit the spot where the explorer died and walk the path that he walked.
Location
Meriwether Lewis Park Road, Hohenwald, TN 38462
Length
3.5 miles
Intensity
Moderate
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Devil’s Backbone Trail
The name for this scenic hike can be intimidating, but don’t let that deter you from visiting this beautiful forested trail. Visitors will follow the path along the ridge of the Tennessee Highland Rim before dropping down into a hollow where it continues alongside a creek before leading back up to the rim.
Location
Natchez Trace Parkway, Milepost 394.1, Lewis, TN 38462
Length
3 miles
Intensity
Moderate
Sightseeing
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Chickasaw Village and Fort Site
This site near Tupelo, Mississippi, marks the location the Chickasaw Tribe once called home. Today, visitors can view the outlines of the original foundations of many of the structures in which the Chickasaw people lived and worked. Historical markers at the site and along the trails bring the rich Native American history of the area to life.
Location
Natchez Trace Parkway, Milepost 261.8, Tupelo, MS 38801
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Jackson Falls
Jackson Falls is a waterfall that brings the Jackson Branch crashing into the Duck River below. The waterfall offers some of the most stunning views along the Natchez Trace Parkway. More adventurous visitors can take the steep paved trail 900 feet down to stand next to the clear pool of water at the base of the falls in the Duck River Valley.
Location
Natchez Trace Parkway, Milepost 404.7, Duck River, TN 38454
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Mount Locust Historic House
This historic home has had quite a varied history. Archeologists have discovered remains of two Native American settlements on the site dating to between 600 and 800. Built by William and Paulina Ferguson in 1784, the home was both a working farm and a crude inn for boatmen traveling along the Mississippi River. Mount Locust was also a profitable cotton plantation through the mid-1800s. Archeologists who have studied the property believe that there were once between 12 and 16 slave cabins on the grounds.
Location
Natchez Trace Parkway, Milepost 15.5, Natchez, MS 39120
Museums
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W.C. Handy Museum and Library
William Christopher Handy would become known as the Father of Blues, but before the world came to know his name, he was just a kid who was born in a simple log cabin in Alabama. Handy’s father was a strict and religious man who believed that musical instruments were the tools of the devil and who forced his son to return the first guitar he purchased. Despite this, Handy still heard the music in the world around him, drawing inspiration from bird calls and other sounds of nature. Today, the museum houses a collection of papers, compositions, and belongings donated before his death.
Location
620 West College Street, Florence, AL 35630
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Pope’s Tavern and Museum
Built sometime in the 1830s, Pope’s Tavern and Museum has had a rich history. The building has been a stagecoach stop, an inn, and a private residence. During the Civil War, it served as headquarters and hospital for both the Confederate and Union soldiers. One of the oldest buildings in the area today, Pope’s Tavern and Museum offers visitors a glimpse into what life was like for the area residents during the 1800s.
Location
203 Hermitage Drive, Florence, AL 35630
Nearby Shops and Restaurants
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Barrelhouse
Located in Jackson's historic Fondren district and offering a hip, urban take on traditional Southern cuisine, Barrelhouse is a highly acclaimed Southern gastropub. From old-school favorites like shrimp and grits to contemporary creations like poke nachos, Barrelhouse serves seasonally inspired, classic food with a creative twist.
Location
3009 North State Street, Jackson, MS 39216
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The Loveless Cafe
Named the "Top Down-Home Dining Spot" by USA Today, The Loveless Cafe has been serving up home-cooked Southern dishes since 1951. Located near downtown Nashville, The Loveless Cafe offers everything from fried chicken to slow-smoked pulled pork, making it the perfect place to enjoy Southern cooking and friendly Southern hospitality.
Location
8400 Highway 100, Nashville, TN 37221
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The Dragonfly - An Emporium
The Dragonfly is a truly unique shop that offers everything from clothing and antiques to gifts carefully crafted by local artisans. While you’re there, stop by their coffee and beverage lounge for a snack and a cup of coffee while you take advantage of their free Wi-Fi to plan the next leg of your trip.
Location
100 Second Avenue North, Collinwood, TN 38450
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Antique Archeology
Owned by Mike Wolfe, best known for his appearances on the television show "American Pickers," Antique Archeology offers a wide variety of folk art along with unique vintage and antique items. Antique Archeology is a perfect place to hunt for your own treasures.
Location
1300 Clinton Street, Suite 130, Nashville, TN 37203