Natchez Trace Parkway Voted Best Hiking Area in Mississippi
Looking for yet another reason to visit the historic Natchez Trace Parkway this summer? Well here’s one! The readers of Mississippi Magazine just voted the Natchez Trace as the Best Hiking Area/Destination in Mississippi!
Spring and summer means prime time to get to hiking along the Natchez Trace Parkway. In case you haven’t heard, there are plenty of places along this 444-mile scenic route to enjoy unspoiled nature with friends and family. Folks who have visited the Trace love the hiking trails because they are easygoing, uncluttered, and offer rare, natural beauty. If you would enjoy exploring nature and outdoor wonder, the Trace should be at the top of your list!
Did you know that the Natchez Trace Parkway offers nearly 100 miles of hiking? It sure does, and you can find over 60 miles of Natchez Trace Scenic Trail and at least 52 different hiking, horseback riding, and nature trails. Best of all, you can experience portions of the Trace the way the first travelers did – on foot. Amazing!
Not able to make it to Mississippi? No worries. There are plenty of hiking routes in Tennessee and Alabama, too!
In Tennessee, the Highland Rim Trail section of the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail runs approximately 25 miles through the Tennessee hills near the eclectic community of Leiper’s Fork, within the boundaries of the Trace. The trail parallels the Parkway from the Garrison Creek comfort station (Milepost 427.6) parking/staging area to Tennessee Highway 50/Shady Grove (Milepost 408.0) parking/staging area.
Over in Alabama, you can find several miles of hiking, walking, jogging, and biking trails available to the public. On the TVA Reservation, nature and wildflower walks are scheduled on a regular basis. Fifteen miles of hiking trails are maintained in Cane Creek Canyon Nature Preserve, which is located just a few miles outside of the city limits of Tuscumbia, Alabama.
So next time you’re planning to get outdoors in this sunny weather, consider taking a hike along the Natchez Trace. We would like to extend a special thanks to the National Park Service for providing additional travel information, and of course to the extremely smart voters at Mississippi Magazine!
We hope to see you out exploring the Natchez Trace Parkway’s beauty and fresh air this spring and summer. Check out photos and stay up-to-date by following us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram @TheNatchezTrace
