Blackland Prairie Map
Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail
The Blackland Prairie segment of the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail (NST) runs for approximately six miles. The northern trailhead is located near the Natchez Trace Parkway Visitor Center (Mile Post 266) at the Beech Springs parking area. Look for a road that branches off the Parkway directly across from the Visitor Center. Travel down this road for about .2 mile until you see the parking lot.
Northern trailhead for the Blackland Prairie segment of the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail
The southern trailhead is located on West Jackson Street, which is not on Natchez Trace Parkway property. You must exit the Parkway at Hwy 6 near MP 260 and travel west to Air Park Road. Take a right on Air Park and then another right on West Jackson. The parking lot is on the left. You can also access the trail at the Chickasaw Village Site on the Parkway (MP 261.8) and at the Old Town Overlook (MP 263.9)
I hiked a section of the trail that runs from the Chickasaw Village Site south to West Jackson Street, a one-way hike of 1.5 miles. You can make a loop of it by hiking one way on either the NST or the Horse Trail and then returning on whichever trail you didn’t take to start the hike. While this portion of the trail is well maintained, navigation is very confusing for a number of reasons: no intersections are marked; both trails end up with signage that identifies them as the NST; and there are intersections that are not on the map at all.
My plan was to hike to West Jackson Street on the NST and return on the Horse Trail to form a loop, but I actually ended up doing the exact opposite without even knowing it. I was without a clue and quite shocked when I reached the West Jackson parking area where the two trails are easily distinguished from each other. The Horse Trail comes out left of the NST. At the Chickasaw Village there is no easy way to tell the two apart.
Trailhead for the Horse Trail at the West Jackson Street parking area
From the Chickasaw Village it is easy enough to find the route north to the Natchez Trace Parkway Visitor Center (signs clearly show the way), but the southbound trail to West Jackson is not so easy to spot. If you are facing the Chickasaw Village exhibit, look for a brown trail post beyond the village site and walk across the field to it. Here the trees and other brush meet the open field. Follow the treeline (the field on your left and bushes on your right).
Southbound trailhead for the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail at Chickasaw Village
You will soon come to a four-way intersection without any directional signage. Straight is the Horse Trail, which is the direction I took. Left takes you on the NST. This trail follows a mowed swath through tall grass, and it is very difficult to spot if you are not aware it exists. I have no idea where right will take you, so no matter what you decide to do, don’t go right. Do an Eenie, Meenie, Miney, Moe to choose straight or left. Repeat this strategy at every unmarked intersection (there are four more yet to come if you stay straight). Hopefully you will end up at West Jackson Street. To complete the loop, just hike back on the trail you didn’t take. Round trip is about 3 miles and should take no longer than 1.5 hours.
It is difficult to spot the NST entrance due to the tall grass
NST begins along a swath cut through the tall grass
The entire trail is flat and easy to hike and alternates between forest and fields. Horses are allowed on the trail up to the Chickasaw Village Site, but not farther north. I don’t know who would go through the trouble of bringing a horse to a 1.5-mile trail, but you are welcome to do it. The parking area at West Jackson Street is large enough to hold horse trailers.
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Last updated on December 4, 2021
