Month: April 2023

This trip is from the northern terminus of Natchez Trace National Road and off it at the southern terminus into Mississippi and Louisiana.

We got an early start the next morning and drove back to the visitor center. We were going to check on storm damage on the Trace, but we were too early and it wasn’t open yet. But the Trace wasn’t closed, so we figured the damage couldn’t bee too bad. We were wrong. There were trees down all over, and a lot of standing water (but nowhere was the road flooded). We saw a lot of trees and limbs along the side of the road. Apparently, crews had already gotten to work clearing the road. But there was one big tree down across the road they hadn’t gotten to yet, totally blocking it. Luckily, there was just enough space to drive around it, without getting stuck in the sodden ground. Good thing we hadn’t gotten started any earlier.

We were concerned about the road conditions, so we did not make many stops. Our first one was to hike to Black Belt Overlook (app. MM253).

We didn’t stop again until we reached Bynum Mounds (app. MM232), more Native American burial mounds.

We stopped to hike another section of the Old Trace (app. MM222).

We stopped at the next free campground on the Trace, Jeff Busby (app. MM193).

Although it was a muddy mess, we had stopped so early in the day I was too restless. I had energy I needed to burn off. So I slopped through the mud on their hiking trail.

Next Location – Natchez Trace Parkway south-central segment

This trip is from the northern terminus of Natchez Trace National Road and off it at the southern terminus into Mississippi and Louisiana.

Leaving Tishamongo State Park, we got back onto the Natchez Trace and continued south. Our first stop of the day was after crossing the Tom Bigbee Waterway (app. MM298).

We next stopped to see the Phar Mounds (app. MM287), more Native American burial mounds. There are a few along the Trace. As you can see, the farmers work around them.

Just a little way further we stopped to hike to Donivan Slough (app. MM285).

We pulled into a Parkway Visitor Center (app. MM265). A ranger there warned us that tornado warnings were out for the rest of the day and that night. So we cut our touring short to get off the Trace early and drive into nearby Tupelo, where we found a private campground that was down in a hole. The storms were bad that night, the motor home rocked all night long. We were glad we stopped at the visitor center, otherwise we would never have learned about the storms. And the chance to see a bit of Elvis Presley’s hometown.

Next Location – Natchez Trace Parkway north-central segment 3

This trip is from the northern terminus of Natchez Trace National Road and off it at the southern terminus into Mississippi and Louisiana.

We set up in the pines by the lake.

It was a nice view as dusk set in.

We stayed for 2 nights. The next day we hiked a long trail. We found this suspension bridge.

It crossed the Tishomingo River.

The trail took us by this old log house.

We took a look inside.

The trail continued to a spillway.

And around a pond that was dammed up.

The trail led to a spring.

And past some interesting rock formations.

Up to a small waterfall.

We made a new friend along the way.

At the end we crossed back over the river and back to our site.

After this nice break in driving, we were ready to set off again south down the Natchez Trace.

Next Location – Natchez Trace Parkway north-central segment 2

This trip is from the northern terminus of Natchez Trace National Road and off it at the southern terminus into Mississippi and Louisiana.

We started the day by exploring the campground. We were too tired to do much of that when we arrived. There was an inn on the Trace here. Merriwether Lewis, of Lewis and Clark fame, stayed here on one of his treks. Sadly, he committed suicide here for unknown reasons. This cabin is a replica of the one that was here at the time.

There is also a memorial.

We soon left the campground and continued south on the Trace. We stopped at another ford (app. MM384). This one had steps so you could cross without getting your feet wet.

Somewhere along the Trace we found a beaver dam.

After driving out of Tennessee into Alabama, our first stop in this state was at Colbert Ferry (app. MM324). This was the site of a ferry across the Tennessee River, which we had just crossed, before a bridge was constructed.

We stopped for a short hike to see Buzzard Roost Spring (app. MM320).

Also for a scenic overlook at Freedom Hills (app. MM317). We had a close encounter with a large hive of bees here. Needless to say, we fled.

We weren’t in Alabama for long. Shortly after crossing into Mississippi (app. MM310), we came to the first of several Native American burial mounds, Bear Creek Mound (app. MM309).

Just beyond this was Cave Spring (MM309).

We exited the Trace (app. 307) to camp at Tishomingo State Park.

Next Location – Tishomingo State Park, Mississippi

This trip is from the northern terminus of Natchez Trace National Road and off it at the southern terminus into Mississippi and Louisiana.

This is the kind of rolling hills the northern end of the Parkway begins in at MM444.

Our first stop was at the Double Arch Bridge (app. MM438). This is such an unusual design.

There are many historical markers. This one (app. MM437) is for the soldiers in the War of 1812 who died along the road. Jackson’s army of Kentucky and Tennessee backwoods men marched this road to Natchez, then went on down the Mississippi River to defend New Orleans, where they defeated a much larger invading British force.

Our next stop was to take a short hike to see Jackson Falls (app. MM 405). Being early spring, it was running good.

There are many places to stop and get out of your vehicle to stretch your legs. We stopped at one just beyond Jackson Falls for a nice stroll in the woods.

There were creeks…

…and small falls along the way, I’m not sure about their exact locations.

There are also places along the Parkway you can exit to see. The first one we left the Trace for was Davey Crocket State Park.

There was a small collection of owls.

Along the Trace there is plenty of uncaged wildlife to see, such as turkey vultures.

The paved road follows the original trail, but is not built directly on it. There are many places where you can get out of your car and walk on the actual Trace (app. MM398). You can tell when you are on the original Trace by the way the path is sunken. So many years of foot, horse, and wagon travel have caused this.

We next stopped to hike down to a ford (app. MM390).

You can see the actual location of the old ford by where the creek runs across rocks.

The path led to the site of an old phosphate mine.

Our final stop of the day was at Merriwether Lewis Campground (app. MM387). There are 3 campgrounds on the Parkway. There are no hookups, but they do have bathrooms with running water. And they are free. So we took advantage of all 3.

Next Location – Natchez Trace Parkway north-central segment