Parking
Use the signed Old Trace access on the Parkway at milepost 269.4; parking capacity and nearby facilities are not documented.
Overview
About Confederate Gravesites/
Why go
- A preserved stretch of Old Trace sits beside the graves.
Heads up
- The short paved approach is somewhat steep.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Natchez Trace map
Full mapElevation329–348 ft
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
4 active Natchez Trace alerts
- ClosureParkway sections closed for bridge and road constructionTwo Natchez Trace Parkway sections are closed to through traffic; follow the signed detours.Official details
- ClosureMount Locust historic stand closedThe historic stand at Mount Locust Inn & Plantation (MP 15.5) is closed because of structural concerns.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Natchez Trace Tour Guide
Your drive to Confederate Gravesites/
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Natchez Trace Parkway. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
Recorded for this trailhead
Old Trace and Confederate Gravesites0:00 / 0:27
“Up ahead is the Old Trace and Confederate Gravesites, where a short walk takes you onto a surviving stretch of the historic route. Thirteen replacement markers stand beside the sunken roadbed.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Natchez Trace Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- The Railroad Behind the Battle
- One Bird, Several Songs
- Natchez Trace Parkway Visitor Center
- The Sea Beneath the Prairie
- 272 audio storiesacross Natchez Trace’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor American Alligator, White-tailed Deer, Wild Turkey, and 9 more
- Works offlinemaps, 26 trails, 62 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Confederate Gravesites/
A short walk through historyAt milepost 269.4, the Confederate Gravesites/Old Trace Trail is a 0.
At milepost 269.4, the Confederate Gravesites/Old Trace Trail is a 0.27-mile out-and-back to a surviving piece of the original Natchez Trace and the graves of 13 unidentified Confederate soldiers. It is a short history stop: walk part of the old road and see the markers beside it. Expect a somewhat steep approach.
The trace and the gravesFrom the signed Parkway access, a 700-foot paved walkway leads to the old road and graves; the…
From the signed Parkway access, a 700-foot paved walkway leads to the old road and graves; the full visit is 1,400 feet up and back. The preserved Trace sits slightly below ground, worn into a hollow by generations of travelers, horses and wagons. Thirteen modern markers stand beside it. Walk along the old road to see the stones at eye level. The soldiers' names were lost and their deaths remain unexplained; tradition connects them with Confederate troops who traveled the Trace. For a photo, frame the sunken path with its wooded banks.
Making the stopStart at the signed Old Trace site on the Parkway at milepost 269.4.
Start at the signed Old Trace site on the Parkway at milepost 269.4. Allow 15–30 minutes to walk, read the interpretation and return. The 700-foot approach is paved, while the preserved Trace has a natural surface. The route is somewhat steep. Dogs are allowed on a leash no longer than six feet. Parking capacity and nearby facilities were not documented.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Natchez Trace
39 sightingsAmerican AlligatorMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
35 sightingsWhite-tailed DeerMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
53 sightingsWild TurkeyMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
28 sightingsGreat Blue HeronMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
29 sightingsRed-headed WoodpeckerMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
32 sightingsTurkey VultureMost seen around noonSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Natchez Trace. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
