• A curve along the Natchez Trace Parkway with fall colors

    Natchez Trace

    Parkway AL,MS,TN

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    On March 1, 2013, the Parkway was required to reduce its annual budget by five percent, in accordance with the sequestration provision of the Budget Control Act of 2011. Click the link to learn about visitor center, restroom, and services impacts. More »

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Park And Partners Open Multiuse Trail

6 park partners join superintendent Sholly for the multi-use trail ribbon cutting
Cutting the ribbon for the new trail section.
NPS Photo

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Date: February 11, 2011
Contact: Terry Wildy

Natchez Trace Parkway officially opened a new 5.3-mile-long section of the Multiuse Trail in Ridgeland, Mississippi, on Saturday, January 21st.   

Superintendent Cameron Sholly recognized trail development partners from the City of Ridgeland, Denver Service Center, and the Federal Highway Administration with superintendent’s appreciation awards.  Representatives from Senator Thad Cochran’s office, Madison County, Jackson Metro Cyclists and Bike Walk Mississippi were present to show their support for the new trail, which is designed to preserve the scenic cultural landscape of the parkway while providing an enjoyable recreational opportunity for the park’s 6 million visitors. Over 500,000 people live in the adjacent Jackson, Mississippi Metropolitan Area. The trail is graded for wheelchair users and is heavily used by visitors and residents.

The project was funded through the Park Roads and Parkways program, administered by the Federal Highway Administration. An additional 5.5 miles of new Multiuse Trail are currently being planned and constructed south of the newly opened section and are due to be completed in the fall of 2012.

Did You Know?

Boatmen from the Ohio River Valley walked along the Natchez Trace.

The "Kaintucks", or boatmen from the Ohio River Valley, would walk approximately 500 miles from Natchez to Nashville along the Natchez Trace in about 30 days.