Blackland Prairie Trail

Trail Closure

A portion of the Blackland Prairie Section of the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail (not the Parkway) between milepost 265.5 and Old Town Creek will be closed to all trail users beginning February 13, 2013, for a period of two years. The closure is due to construction under Tupelo's Major Thoroughfare Construction Project.

Trail sections north of 265.5 from the Beech Springs Road area and south of Old Town Creek will remain open.

The closed section will be posted for public notice.

Travelers on the Natchez Trace Parkway may encounter construction delays, but detours are not expected.

The closure is necessary to ensure safety in the use of the trail. The trail is expected to reopen in February 2015, or when construction is completed. The Parkway will provide updates when available.

 

Download both an overview map and a more detailed map of the Blackland Prairie Trail.

 

A bulletin board provides hikers information to start their trip on the Tupelo section of the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail.

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Parkway Visitor Center Trailhead (Milepost 266)

This trailhead is located just across the Parkway from the Natchez Trace Parkway Visitor Center. Hikers can travel six miles along the outskirts of Tupelo (12 miles roundtrip). You can make the walk as long or as short as you would like on this out and back trail. This section of Scenic Trail is open to hikers only, and requires walking on the Parkway for road and creek crossings.

 

The Old Town Overlook parking area provides parking and access to the Tupelo section of the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail.

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Old Town Overlook (Milepost 263.9)

Hikers can continue north for 2 miles to reach the Parkway Visitor Center, or continue south for 2 miles to reach the Chickasaw Village Site. This section of Scenic Trail is open to hikers only, and requires walking on the Parkway for road and creek crossings.

 

Visitors can hike a loop by using the National Scenic Trail and horse trail from the Chickasaw Village Site.

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Chickasaw Village Site (Milepost 261.8)

The Chickasaw Village Site provides hikers access to the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail, as well as a one half mile interpretive trail. The half mile trail identifies plants and their uses by American Indians, especially the Chickasaw. Visitors can continue north to the Old Town Overlook and Visitor Center, or can make a loop by using the horse trail and hiking trail. This section of Scenic Trail requires walking on the Parkway for road and creek crossings.

 

The Jackson Street Parking area is large enough to accommodate horse trailers, and is the only staging area for horse back riding for this section of scenic trail.

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Jackson Street Trailhead (Exit the Parkway at milepost 260 )

This trailhead is open to both hikers and horseback riders. This is the only staging area for horseback riders on the Tupelo section of Scenic Trail. A 3.5 mile loop trail is available for horseback riders. From the Natchez Trace Parkway, exit onto Highway 6 at Milepost 260. Travel west on MS Highway 6 for approximately ½ mile to Air Park Road. Turn right and travel north to the end of the road at Jackson Street. Turn right on Jackson Street. A paved parking/staging area is on the left.