Milepost 0 to 131

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The Natchez Trace Parkway is a 444-mile recreational road and scenic drive through three states. It roughly follows the "Old Natchez Trace," a historic travel corridor used by Native Americans, "Kaintucks," European settlers, slave traders, soldiers, and future presidents. Today, people can enjoy a scenic drive as well as hiking, biking, horseback riding, and camping along the Parkway.

Starting in Natchez, MS, the Natchez Trace Parkway heads north for 444 miles. Learn more about the physical access of the stops along the parkway between Milepost 0 and Milepost 131.

 

Milepost 0

There is a small, paved pull-off with room for about 4 vehicles at the start of the parkway in Natchez, MS.

There is a paved path around the pull-off with:

• an information kiosk
• trash
• a memorial plaque

The parkway sign is located along the roadside set back in the grass.

 

Elizabeth Female Academy - Milepost 5.1

Elizabeth Female Academy was the first female institution of higher learning charted by the state of Mississippi. The Academy was named after Mrs. Elizabeth Roach Greenfield, who donated the land where the school stood. Study courses included natural philosophy, chemistry, Latin, botany, and classical subjects.

Parking

• 1 accessible space
• approximately 10 other spaces

Path

There is a path leading to the viewing area. The path is:

• paved and level
• approximately 450 feet long

 

Emerald Mound - Milepost 10.3

Emerald Mound is the second-largest Mississippian Period ceremonial mound in the United States. Built and used between the years 1200 C.E. (current era) and 1730 C.E., this 35-foot-high mound covers eight acres. Two secondary mounds sit atop the primary mound, bringing the total height to approximately 60 feet. Early records suggest there were six, smaller mounds located along the sides of the primary mound, but visual evidence of these smaller mounds has long since disappeared.

Parking

This paved parking lot is unstripped, and no spaces are designated as accessible. There are four waysides next to the parking area.

Interpretive Trail

To start the interpretive trail, there is a series of narrow gates. insert photo

The trail is:

• paved with section of mowed grass.
• steep in some sections

 

Mount Locust - Milepost 15.5

Mount Locust is a location that has been settled on by many different people and under many different flags during its long history of human occupation that dates back as far back as 600 C.E., long before Europeans first stepped foot in the area. There is an information center here and a historic home.

Parking

• 1 accessible space
• 1 van-accessible space
• Approximately 30 other spaces
• 2 RV spaces

Information Center

The information center is at the site of the only remaining inn, or "stand" on the parkway. During open hours, rangers are available to hand out brochures and answer questions about the historic house.

Restrooms and Drinking Fountains

Women’s Restroom

• 1 accessible stall
• 2 standard stalls

Men’s Restroom

• 1 accessible stall
• 2 urinals

There are two drinking fountains located just outside of the bathrooms.

Historic Home

The historic Mount Locust home is just a short walk up the hill from the information center.

 

Coles Creek Picnic Area - Milepost 17.5

This small picnic area has restrooms, waysides, and a bike repair station.

Parking

• paved
• 1 van-accessible space
• 13 other spaces

Restrooms

Women's

• 1 accessible stall
• 2 standard stalls
• running water

Men's

• 1 accessible stall
• 2 urinals
• running water

Picnic Area

• Over a dozen picnic tables
• 3 accessible picnic tables, 2 on concrete pads and 1 in the grass
• Several pedestal grills

 

Sunken Trace - Milepost 41.5

This is a section of the deeply eroded or "sunken" Old Trace. The natural corridor that became the Natchez Trace dates back many centuries.

Parking

• 1 van-accessible space
• 11 other parking spaces

Hiking Trail

The trail is:

• natural surface of compacted earth
• steep sections
• exposed tree roots and plants
• approximately 36 inches wide

 

Rocky Springs - Milepost 54.8

Rocky Springs Campground includes 22 campsites, picnic tables, restrooms, a section of the Old Natchez Trace, self-guiding walking trails through the old town site and the spring.

Parking

• 1 accessible space
• 10 other spaces

Paths

There are a number of different paths in this area. Some paths are paved while some are compacted dirt and gravel. There is also a wooden bridge.

There is a trail spur that leads to the historic town church. The path to the church entrance has a sloped surface of compacted crushed rock, protruding tree roots, and requires several sets of stairs.

Campground

All sites are free and available on a first-come, first-served basis. They do not offer electricity, showers, or dump stations. Drinking water and flush toilets are available on site.

The campground has:

• 1 accessible campsite
• 16 other campsites

Accessible Campsite

One campsite is intended to be accessible and is located near the restroom. It has:

• A paved asphalt surface for parking and where the picnic table is placed
• Other areas with a surface of compacted soil, crushed rock, and leaf litter
• A picnic table with an extended top (?)
• A fire pit and pedestal grill placed off the asphalt surface

Note: the transition from the asphalt pad to the natural surface is about 3 inches in height

Restrooms

Women’s

• 1 accessible stall
• 2 standard stalls
• running water

Men’s

• 1 accessible stall
• 2 urinals
• running water

 

Owens Creek - Milepost 52.4

Hike the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail! There is a trail access point at the far end of the parking area marked by a wooden post. That portion of trail connects to the Rocky Springs Picnic Area.

Parking

• 1 accessible space (parallel parking)
• 5 other spaces

Paths

• A paved path leads from the accessible parking space to the overlook platform

Overlook

The overlook area has:

• A large wood carved interpretive sign in the grass with a picnic table next to it
• A level paved surface with a metal guardrail looking down over Owens Creek Falls

 

Lower Choctaw Boundary - Milepost 61.0

The Natchez Trace Parkway transects the traditional homeland of the Choctaw Indians. At this location there is a line of trees that has marked the boundary for over 250 years. It was established in 1765 and marked the eastern limits of the Old Natchez District. Learn more about this history of this area from a few large carved wooden panels.

Parking

This pull-off has parallel parking without any lines.

Paths

• There is a paved sidewalk along the edge of the pull-off, though there is no curb cut.
• The path to the wooden panels is mowed grass and is uneven and sloped.

 

Battle of Raymond - Milepost 78.3

On May 8, 1863, Grant's forces drew fire from a Confederate brigade, commanded by Confederate Brigadier General John Gregg, located on the southern edge of Raymond, Mississippi three miles east of this location. After a day of bitter fighting the Confederates retreated toward Jackson, Mississippi leaving their wounded in the county courthouse. This convinced General Grant of the need to capture Jackson, Mississippi in order to assure success of his army's forthcoming siege of Vicksburg.

Parking

• 1 accessible space
• 5 other spaces

Paths

• There is a paved sidewalk along the edge of the pull-off.
• The path to the wooden panels is mowed grass and is uneven and sloped.

Picnic Area

The picnic area has:

• A single standard picnic table set in the grass
• A trashcan

 

Cowles Mead Cemetery - Milepost 88.1

Cowles Mead settled here and assumed the duties of Territorial Secretary of the Mississippi Territory January 20, 1806, appointed by President Thomas Jefferson.

Parking

• 1 accessible space
• 14 other spaces

Paths

The path to the cemetery:

• paved with some sloped areas
• 36 inches wide

 

Choctaw Agency and Chisa Foka - Milepost 100.7

Parking

There are two parking areas here: a lot and a pull-off area.

The lot:

• Closest to the information panels
• 1 accessible space
• approximately 9 other spaces

Pull-off area:

• closest to Chisa Foka Trailhead
• parallel parking for approximately 5 cars

Paths

• The path to the Choctaw Agency information panel is across the grass and is uneven.
• The path to the Chisa Foka Trailhead is across mowed grass.

 

Chisa Foka Multi-Use Trail Milepost 95.8 to Milepost 105.6

The Chisha Foka Multi-Use Trail is a 10-mile paved path that runs through historic Choctaw homelands. Named in honor of the Choctaw town that stood where the city of Jackson is today, Chisha Foka translates to “among the post oaks.” Today, trail users can enjoy the recreational opportunities and the trees, wildflowers, and wildlife of this protected greenspace in Ridgeland, Mississippi.

Sections are cracked and some have been repaired, surfaces are uneven. There are waysides off the side of the trail in the grass

 

Parkway Information Cabin - Milepost 102.5

The cabin is closed permanently. There is a restroom and picnic shelter.

Parking

• 1 oversized accessible space
• 7 oversized pull-thru spaces

Restrooms and Drinking Fountains

There are 2 single-user restrooms in a trailer. There is a wooden ramp to get into the trailer. There is a 2-inch change in level from the path to the ramp and a 1-inch change in level from the ramp to the trailer.

Each restroom has:

• grab bars on the rear and side walls
• room to navigate with a mobility device
• flush toilets
• running water

A single height drinking fountain is located in the breezeway.

Information Kiosk

• Information is available on an island in the parking lot.
• There is a curb cut to get onto the island.
• There's also a bike rack and bike maintenance station on that island.

Picnic Shelter

A paved path connects the sidewalk to the picnic shelter.

The picnic shelter has:

• The concrete surface is cracked in some areas and uneven.
• 2 picnic tables with knee clearance
• 1 picnic table in the grass

 

Brashears Stand and Old Trace - Milepost 104.5

Brashears Stand is named after Turner Brashears, who moved to the area in the late 1700s. He became a trader with the Choctaw and learned their language.

Parking

• 1 accessible space
• 4 other spaces

Chisa Foka Trail

The Chisa Foka Trail crosses the road to the Brashears Stand. The stripped crossing is marked by bollards and truncated domes at each end.

Paths

A paved path runs along the edge of the parking lot. There is a panel about the Old Trace in the grass nearby. One part of the path leads to a viewing platform and another leads to the Bill Waller Craft Center.

Old Trace Viewing Platform

There is a large concrete platform overlooking a section of the Old Trace with a metal guardrail.

 

Boyd Site - Milepost 106.9

Boyd Site started as two Native American mounds, built separately hundreds of years ago. Many years later, a third mound was built over the original mounds.

Parking

• 1 accessible space
• 14 other spaces

Self-Guided Walk

A 150-foot long paved path connecting the parking lot to the mound overlook.

 

Cypress Swamp - Milepost 122.0

The trail at this location leads through an abandoned river channel. As the channel fills with silt and vegetation, black willow, sycamore, red maple, and other trees will gradually replace the bald cypress and water tupelo. If you look closely you may see juvenile alligators sunning themselves on floating logs and other vegetation.

Parking

• Parallel parking
• No lines or designated parking spaces

Paths

• There are no curb cuts to the sidewalk.
• The concrete sidewalk leads to the start of the Cypress Swamp Walk and two interpretive panels placed off the sidewalk in mowed turf.

Cypress Swamp Walk

This 0.4-mile trail is along 36-inch wide boardwalk and has a series of steps.

 

River Bend - Milepost 122.6

River Bend is a popular spot for picnics where you can enjoy scenic views of the Pearl River as it becomes the Ross Barnett Reservoir. Alligators can sometimes be seen in the water. Herons, egrets, and other water birds are common here. It's also a great spot for fishing.

Parking

• No designated accessible parking
• Unstriped parking and some parallel oversized vehicle parking

Paths

A paved path lines the reservoir in front of the parking spaces. The path continues to the picnic shelter.

Restrooms

Women’s

• 1 accessible stall with a side grab bar but no rear grab bar.
• 2 standard stalls
• running water

Men’s

• 1 accessible stall with a side grab bar but no rear grab bar.
• 2 urinals
• running water

Picnic Area

There is a picnic shelter with:

• 1 extended top picnic table,
• 3 standard picnic tables,
• a brick floor
• a drinking fountain at standing height
• a trash can on a concrete pad about 2 inches above the grass

There are other picnic tables with grills in the grass.

 

Myrick Creek - Milepost 145

Parking

• 1 accessible space; there is a shortened access aisle and there is no curb cut
• unstriped space for about 7 cars

Paths

There is a paved path to the information shelter that continues to the Myrick Creek Trailhead.

Myrick Creek Trail

• Surface: compacted earth with leaves
• Width: XX inches wide on average, XX inches wide at the minimum
• Changes in level up to 2 inches at the transitions between the ground and the wood bridges