• A curve along the Natchez Trace Parkway with fall colors

    Natchez Trace

    Parkway AL,MS,TN

  • Parkway Detour in effect near Ridgeland

    An 8-mile section of the Parkway will be closed to vehicular traffic on March 14, 2012, due to a major safety hazard that has developed near milepost 94.8 between Ridgeland, MS, and Clinton, MS. More »

High School Science

What's Happenin' on the Trace: The students will investigate current events associated with the Natchez Trace Parkway. They will write a journalism type report and/or develop a visual presentation. Subject areas may include: community events or issues, plants, animals, invasive species, boundary issues, social issues and environmental issues.
Alabama Mississippi Tennessee

Scenic Trail Discovery Hike: Students will walk a trail and record information from observations. They will investigate the different living and non-living elements that make up one section of their local environment.
Alabama Mississippi Tennessee

Population Estimation: Capture, Mark, and Recapture Method: Students will learn how to estimate an animal population and evaluate the results when an unnatural event affects that population.
Alabama Mississippi Tennessee

Alien Invasion: On a National Scenic Trail, students will investigate how privet, a non-native, invasive plant species out-competes and affects native plant species diversity. (large file)
Alabama Mississippi Tennessee

Bears on the Trace: Students will examine the system of classification developed by Carlos Linnaeus in the 1750's. Items from the Life Sciences traveling trunk may be useful for this activity. Mississippi

Beavers on the Trace: Students will visit the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail to learn how one species may affect the biodiversity of an area. Items from the Life Sciences traveling trunk may be useful for this activity. Mississippi

Wetlands: On a National Scenic Trail students will observe aquatic plants and animals and investigate the role that wetlands play in our environment. Items in the Swamp Kit traveling trunk may be useful for this lesson. Mississippi

Did You Know?

Dogwood tree along the Natchez Trace Parkway

Over 100 different species of trees, including the Dogwood and Redbud, grow along the Natchez Trace Parkway.