Milepost 341.7 to 444

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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.

Learn more about the physical access of the stops along the parkway between Milepost 341.7 and Milepost 444, the northern terminus of the parkway. Or, check out our other accessibility pages.

 

Glenrock Branch Picnic Area - Milepost 364.5

Glenrock Branch is a great place for a picnic. Sit by the stream and imagine yourself as a traveler of long ago.

Parking

No spaces are striped in this parking lot, but there is a sign with the International Symbol of Accessibility for the parking closest to the restroom building.

Restroom

Women's

• 1 accessible stall
• 2 standard stalls
• running water

Men's

• 1 accessible stall
• 2 urinals
• running water

Picnic Area

The paved accessible picnic site:

• next to the restrooms
• picnic table is standard and does not have toe clearance
• a pedestal grill

There are 5 picnic tables and 3 pedestal grills located down the hill at the stream's edge.

 

Exhibit Shelter - Milepost 370

John Bell led one detachment from Cherokee Agency at Charleston, Tennessee, westward across the southern part of Tennessee to Memphis and then to Indian Territory. This route is now Highway 64 and crosses the Natchez Trace Parkway here at milepost 370.

Parking

• 1 accessible space, unstriped but there is a sign with a wheelchair on it
• 10 spaces (no striping)

Exhibits

There is a shelter with a number of information panels about the Trail of Tears as well as and park brochures.

 

Jacks Branch - Milepost 377.8

Jacks Branch is a stream the runs through the forest at this stop.

Parking

• 1 accessible space, no curb ramp
• Other parking spaces

Restrooms

Women's

• 1 accessible stall
• 2 standard stalls
• running water

Men's

• 1 accessible stall
• 2 urinals
• running water

Paths

• Large stone pavers that are uneven.
• To get to the picnic area, there are two steep stone staircases without handrails.

Picnic Area

To get to the picnic area, there are two steep stone staircases without handrails. There are:

• 12 picnic tables
• Pedestal grills with adjustable grilling surfaces
• The picnic tables are in a mowed grassy area with tree roots and uneven surfaces.

 

Metal Ford - Milepost 382.2

At Metal Ford travelers on the old Natchez Trace crossed the Buffalo River which was fordable except after heavy rains. The ford takes its name from its stone bottom, which reminded these earlier travelers of stone surfaced or “metaled” roads back home.

Parking

• 1 accessible space, unstriped but there is a sign with a wheelchair on it
• There is no curb ramp

Paths

• Visitors must travel through mowed turf down a brief but steep slope to a flatter area where the picnic sites are located.

Picnic Area

• 4 picnic tables
• 2 pedestal grills
• fairly level natural ground surface

 

Meriwether Lewis Area - Milepost 385.9

The Meriwether Lewis Area is a large complex that has:

• Grinder's Stand
• Meriwether Lewis Campground
• Little Swan Picnic Area
• Lewis's monument and grave site
• Footsteps Through History Trail
• access to the Old Trace

Just after entering the Meriwether Lewis Area there is a large parking lot with some restrooms and access to the Footsteps Through History Trail.

Parking

• 3 accessible spaces
• 18 standard spaces
• 6 oversized parking spaces

Footsteps Through History Trail

• Length: 0.1 mile to the Old Natchez Trace trail intersection; 0.2 to the information cabin.
• Surface: Paved with some sections of loose gravel
• Barriers: A few sections of sidewalk leading to the trailhead have changes in level up to 1.5 inches.

Segments intended to be accessible by wheelchair. There are informational signs and benches along the trail. The trail crosses the road at an unmarked crossing.

Meriwether Lewis Campground

All of the 32 sites are free and available first-come, first-served. One site is designated as accessible. There are no hookups, showers, or dump stations. Drinking water and flush toilets are available on site.

The paved accessible campsite is located next to the restroom. It has:

• a picnic table with extended ends
• a fire ring with a grilling surface

Amphitheater

The campground’s amphitheater is located near the restroom and is accessed across uneven turf that slopes downhill. The amphitheater has benches.

Grinder's Stand

Meriwether Lewis arrived at Grinder’s Stand on the evening of October 10, 1809. Lewis stayed in the cabin while Mrs. Grinder and her children stayed in the kitchen separate from the house. In the middle of the night Mrs. Grinder heard two gunshots and found Lewis bleeding from his wounds. By sunrise on October 11th, Lewis was dead.

There is a small cabin with a gravel path leading to it. The door to the left leads to an information desk. The door to the right leads to a small exhibit space.

Parking

An unstriped parking lot serves both the Grinder's Stand and a trailhead for the Footsteps Through History Trail.

Paths

There is no accessible route connecting the parking lot to the information center. Visitors can either follow the paved road or follow a path through a wide fence opening and across the turf to the information center.

Monument and Grave Site

Meriwether Lewis Monument was built in 1848 with funding provided by the Tennessee legislature. The legislation provided $500 “to preserve the place of internment, where the remains of General Meriwether Lewis were deposited.”

The monument and grave site are located a short distance from the Grinder's Stand. There's a curved paved drive that has parking near a trailhead for the Old Trace.

Little Swan Creek Picnic Area and Trailhead

Parking

• 1 accessible space
• 2 spaces (no striping)

Restrooms and Drinking Fountain

Women's

• 1 accessible stall
• 2 standard stalls
• running water

Men's

• 1 accessible stall
• 2 urinals
• running water

Paths

There are no routes to the picnic tables in the sloped grass. There are no curb cuts and no delineated routes connecting the parking area to the picnic sites by the creek.

Picnic Area

• 2 picnic tables placed in the uneven grassy area between the parking area and the road.

• 5 picnic sites located downhill on the creek side of the parking area. Each site has: a table, pedestal grill, and a trash can.

 

Fall Hollow - Milepost 391.9

Fall Hollow is one of two waterfalls along the Natchez Trace Parkway. Almost immediately after leaving your vehicle you can hear the water descending over the twenty-foot drop making Fall Hollow waterfall.

Parking

• 1 accessible space; curb ramp projects into the access aisle
• other spaces (no striping)

Trail

• Surface: Natural ground with rocks, tree roots, steep drop-offs, and trail bridges. Unstable in many areas
• Width: 2-4 feet
• Very steep in areas with changes in level between 2 inches and 1 foot.

 

Sheboss Place - Milepost 400.2

Mrs. Cranfield operated an inn (known as a stand) here with her second husband. Unfortunately there are no remnants of Sheboss Stand visible at the site and exact location of the house is unknown.

Parking

• 8 spaces (no striping)
• Curb ramp on the far-left end of the lot

 

Tobacco Barn and Old Trace Drive - Milepost 401.4

This barn was built for Mr. Leland Greenfield in 1959 from timber grown on this farm. Mr. Greenfield first grew tobacco here in 1932. At this location you can observe the tradition of hanging tobacco in a barn seasonally.

Parking

• 1 accessible space (marked with a symbol, but no striping)
• 9 other spaces (no striping)

Path

The path to the tobacco barn is:

• paved
• 30 inches wide
• ends abruptly within the barn without a place to turn around
• the entry into the barn is low

 

Jackson Falls - Milepost 404.7

A steep, 900-foot long sidewalks leads to a clear pool at the base of the falls.

Parking

• no striping
• a curb ramp leading to the picnic area

Covered Seating Area

There is a covered seating area with benches and a picnic table.

Restrooms

There are no restrooms here.

Picnic Area

• 2 picnic tables
• 2 trash cans
• 2 pedestal grills with adjustable grilling surfaces installed on a wood-framed area filled with compacted gravel.

Trail

• Length: 900 feet
• Width: 4 feet
• Slope: very steep and stairs
• Surface: paved with some boardwalks
• 4 feet wide

 

Gordon House - Milepost 407.7

The Gordon House, one of only two structures left standing on the Parkway from the era of the Old Trace, remains as a sentinel over the Duck River crossing. The house can be viewed from a paved path or by traversing the turf field around the house.

Parking

• 1 accessible space
• 8 other spaces (no striping)

Restrooms and Drinking Fountain

There is a seated-height drinking fountain between the restrooms.

Women's

• 1 larger stall without full length grab bars
• 1 standard stall
• running water
• 0.5 inch lip to get in the entrance

Men's

• 1 larger stall without full length grab bars
• 1 standard stall
• running water

Paths

The paved path to the Gordon House starts off to one side of the picnic shelter.

• Length: approximately 0.1 mile
• Width: 4 feet
• Barriers: steeper slopes as you near the house, some slight changes in level

Picnic Shelter

• 1 accessible picnic table

• 1 standard picnic table

 

War of 1812 Memorial - Milepost 426.3

The War of 1812 Memorial honors the service and sacrifice of all brave volunteers who marched on the Natchez Trace during the War of 1812 especially those that are buried in unmarked graves up and down the Old Natchez Trace.

Parking

• 1 accessible space
• 9 standards spaces

Paths

A 4-foot wide paved path connects the curb ramp by the accessible parking to the memorial. It is gently sloped.

 

Garrison Creek - Milepost 427.6

Named for a nearby 1801-02 U.S. Army post, Garrison Creek is a trailhead for horseback riders and hikers on the Highland Rim Trail of the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail.

Parking

The horse trailer parking is located just down the road past the picnic pavilion area on the same side. The Garrison Creek Trail runs parallel to the road for a short distance connecting the horse trailer parking to the pavilion site and trailhead.

Main Parking

• 2 van-accessible spaces, the curb cut is not in the access aisle but around the side
• 16 standard spaces

Horse Trailer Parking

• 10 oversized pull-in parking spaces

Restrooms and Drinking Fountain

A seated-height drinking fountain is between the restroom entrances.

Women's

• 1 accessible stall
• 2 standard stalls
• running water

Men's

• 1 accessible stall
• 1 standard stall
• 1 urinal
• running water

Paths

Paths from the accessible parking to the pavilion are paved and even. The pavilion is located on a large, flat, concrete pad.

Picnic Area

The sheltered picnic pavilion has 2 standard picnic tables and trash cans.

Trailhead

The trailhead is located behind the pavilion.

• There is a change in level of about 3 inches from the shelter to the grass that leads to the trailhead
• Crushed rock and gravel path with tree roots
• Uneven and deeply rutted from horses
• Width: 1-2.5 feet

 

Double Arch Bridge at Birdsong Hollow - Milepost 438

Constructed in 1994, the 1,572-foot long bridge spans across Birdsong Hollow approximately 155 feet above the valley. The overlook leads to a tree-framed view of the bridge as it gracefully arches across the hollow below.

Parking

• 1 van-accessible space
• 10 standard spaces

Paths

There is a 6-foot wide, paved path that leads down to the overlook. The path is sloped.

Overlook

The overlook of the bridge is a paved, circular space bordered by a low stone wall.