Dogwood Valley stop on the Natchez Trace Parkway

The main feature of the Dogwood Valley stop on the Natchez Trace Parkway is the .25-mile Dogwood Valley Loop Trail that traverses a short section of the original Natchez Trace as it passes through a grove of dogwood trees. This is a typical nature trail with information signs along the path. Being from Georgia, I’ve seen dogwoods my entire life but knew nothing about them until hiking this trail.

Example of the information signs along the Dogwood Valley Trail

The Dogwood Valley Loop Trail is comprised of the original Natchez Trace and a more modern logging road. You can tell you are on the original Trace when you find yourself walking in what appears to be a gully. This is the result of thousands of men, animals, and wagons passing over the soft soil that makes up much of the Trace. Over the years a gully was worn into the ground.

Original Natchez Trace segment at Dogwood Valley

The trail starts off to the right of the main sign and works its way in and out of a small valley, but the hills are so gradual that they are of no consequence. I’d still rate this as an easy hike, and I mention this only to warn those who have trouble walking on sloped ground. The trip takes about 10 minutes, which includes time to read the signs. If you don’t want to learn something, then there isn’t much point in hiking the trail.