Hiking and Walking Trails

The Vicksburg Trails Commission and Vicksburg National Military Park offer Scout groups and interested hikers the opportunity to explore the park's resources using three different hiking trails. Two hikes, the 7-mile Trek and 14-mile Trail, follow the park's paved tour road, and include the Surrender Interview Site, Great Redoubt, 2d Texas Lunette, Railroad Redoubt, Stockade Redan, National Cemetery, and USS Cairo Gunboat exhibit and museum.

The Al Scheller Hiking Trail follows a more physically demanding route through the interior sections of the park, and gives the hiker an excellent perception of the obstacles and difficult terrain faced by the soldiers during the siege of Vicksburg.

Please Note: When using the hiking trails located in Vicksburg National Military Park -

- Any activities not authorized by park staff is strictly prohibited. This includes trail marking and maintenance.

- All groups and or individuals wishing to perform trail maintenance, including re-blazing of trees, MUST contact the park and coordinate their activities with staff to ensure adherence to park policies and regulations.

 

Al Scheller Hiking Trail. Left: Summer 2009 before trail work. Right: October 2009 after maintenance and upgrade by AmeriCorps team.

NPS Photos

 

AmeriCorps Delta 5 Team - Front: Amanda Moorhead, Thomas (Bama) Lucas, Brian Haley, Jocelyn Simpson, Paige Wierikko, Juan Amezquita. Back: Donald (D.J.) Bernat, Daniel Bingham-Pankratz (team leader), Kadie Winckelmann, and Ellen Wallin. Not Pictured: Robert (Bobby) McFadden and Nicholas (Nick) Petrancosta.

NPS Photo

Through the dedicated work of the AmeriCorps ‘Delta 5’ team, Vicksburg National Military Park is pleased to announce the completion of an extensive re-clearing and upgrading project on the Al Scheller Primitive Hiking trail. On October 2, 2009, the team finished a four-week effort that included extensive brush clearing and trail widening, improving drainage patterns and stream crossings, tree blazing to mark the route, painting trail markers at entry points, and exposing park monuments and markers along the trail.

The Al Scheller Primitive Hiking trail was originally established in 1979-1980, for the purpose of training Boy Scouts in the use of compasses and orienteering methods, while also learning the history of the park and its terrain as they trekked through the woods. Although segments of the trail have always remained accessible to hikers, its condition over the years steadily worsened to a point of virtual impassibility in many areas. Now, with the help of AmeriCorps, VNMP is again able to provide complete access to those wishing to experience the unique landscape of the park by hiking its high ridgetops , stream courses, and steep ravines. Even though maintenance of this hiking trail is under the supervision of park staff, the labor is performed entirely through volunteer efforts, and the park hopes to continue these successful partnerships to maintain this significant resource.

 

For more in-depth information please access the following, or check with the ranger at the Visitor Center desk:

Vicksburg Trails Orientation Booklet (PDF)
Leave No Trace Pamphlet (PDF)
Al Scheller Hiking Trail - 12 miles
Boy Scout Trail Hike - 14 Miles
Boy Scout Trek Hike - 7 Miles
Boy Scout Hiking Awards
Award Form
General Walking Route Map (PDF)
Vicksburg Trails Commission (non-NPS site)