Self-Guided Field Trips

A hiker ventures on a trail during the fall with trees changing color all around him

NPS Photo

Teachers, Have You Thought About Planning Your Own Field Trip?

Self-guided field trips are an excellent way for teachers and school groups to get out and explore the park while being able to maintain their own schedule. While many teachers understandably request ranger programs for their trips there could be several reasons you may want to consider a self-guided field trip for your class. Sometimes limited staffing and a high volume of field trip requests mean not every school group can have this experience on their preferred visit date and time. For others our current educational program offerings may not meet your curricular needs. Whatever the reason organizing your own class field trip into the park is always a great option to consider. The following resources will help in planning your visit. If you need further assistance, please contact us.

• Natchez Trace Parkway, Tupelo National Battlefield, Brices Cross Roads National Battlefield and Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail are all fee free! You do not need an educational waiver.

• Lead your own field trip with help from the park map!
• Please keep group sizes under 35 participants to limit impact on other visitors and the resource.
• In regards to COVID-19, mask requirements vary by specific location on the Parkway, based on CDC's COVID-19 Community Level tool. If the CDC identifies a location as high COVID-19 community level, masks are required for everyone in all NPS buildings regardless of vaccination status. If that location is rated as low and medium COVID-19 community level areas, masks are optional in most, but you should follow signs and instructions from park staff and volunteers. Please be prepared for all situations.
• Consider incorporating the Junior Ranger program into the lesson plan.
• If you are going to a visitor center, please contact the rangers as far ahead of time as possible to let them know!

  - Mount Locust Inn and Plantation Visitor Center, milepost 15.5 near Natchez, MS call [phone] or e-mail.

  - Parkway Visitor Center milepost 266 near Tupelo, MS, call 662-680-4027 or e-mail.

  - Meriwether Lewis Death and Burial Site milepost 385.9 near Hohenwald, TN call 662-322-7324 or e-mail.

• Learn more background information about people, places and things to do around Natchez Trace Parkway.

 

Learn More Together!

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  So Many Stories

  10,000 Years of Stories

  We are working on discovering and sharing the stories of all the people who lived along and walked on the Old Trace..

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  The First People

  American Indian History

  American Indians were the first people to live along and use the Natchez Trace.

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  War of !812

  Andrew Jackson Carved a Road

  Although US troops had improved the Natchez Trace since 1801, it wasn’t until the War of 1812 that the military capitalized on the efforts.

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  The Grinders Stand Connections

  Connections Here and Across the Nation

  Grinders Stand was a bookend in Lewis's life. Natchez Trace and other parks provide information connected with Grinders.

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  Stands of the Old Trace

  Few Stands Remain

  Inns, or stands, provided occasional shelter for travelers along the Natchez Trace from the 1790s to the 1840s.

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  History of the Natchez Trace

  General History of the Natchez Trace

  Learn the history of the Parkway, going back thousands of years when bison roamed through today.