Parking
Park at the Old Trace Walk area at milepost 403.7 on Natchez Trace Parkway. The trail sign is on the right side of the lot; the signed main path enters the woods.
Overview
About Old Trace Walk (Milepost 403.7)
Why go
- Preserved tread of the original Natchez Trace
- A 10–15-minute historic walk
Heads up
- Loose stones and a narrowing, partly overgrown far stretch
- No confirmed Duck River view
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Natchez Trace map
Full mapElevation823–856 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 Old Trace Walk (Milepost 403.7), narrated.
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 Walk at Milepost 403.70:00 / 0:23
“You're approaching Old Trace Walk at milepost 403.7, a short walk on the original road under the trees.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Natchez Trace Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Jackson Falls and Baker Bluff
- The Bobcat's White Signals
- Tobacco Barn and Old Trace Drive
- The House Dolly Shaped
- 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 Old Trace Walk (Milepost 403.7)
A short look at the old roadOld Trace Walk is an easy out-and-back along a preserved stretch of the original Natchez Trace…
Old Trace Walk is an easy out-and-back along a preserved stretch of the original Natchez Trace at milepost 403.7. Follow the old tread about 0.3 mile to its end, then retrace it for about 0.6 mile total; NPS allows 10–15 minutes. The route stays on a wooded ridge about 300 feet above Duck River, so this is a walk on the historic road, not a path down to the water.
Watch the treadThe path is mostly level, with two small rises.
The path is mostly level, with two small rises. Loose stones cover some sections, and the old track narrows and gets a little overgrown farther in before ending at the woods. Its shallow sunken shape reflects heavy passage by people, pack animals, and wagons. Early 19th-century travelers were expected to cover 20 to 30 miles a day on foot or horseback; this short segment offers a close look at one part of their route. The worn sides of the track are the detail to notice; there is no confirmed river view.
Starting from the ParkwayPark at the Old Trace Walk area at milepost 403.7 on Natchez Trace Parkway.
Park at the Old Trace Walk area at milepost 403.7 on Natchez Trace Parkway. The trail sign is on the right side of the lot; follow the signed main path into the woods and turn around at its end. NPS lists auto parking and interpretive information. Lot capacity, toilets, and drinking water were not confirmed. Dogs are allowed on Parkway trails on a leash six feet or shorter. Loose rock and narrowing vegetation are the main footing issues.
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.
