Scenic Buffalo River at the Metal Ford stop on the Natchez Trace Parkway

The Metal Ford stop on the Natchez Trace Parkway is located along the wide and fast flowing Buffalo River. Here you will find a hiking trail, a short segment of the original Natchez Trace, a small picnic area, and a little bit of history to boot. This was the location of a coal fired furnace that produced pig iron starting around 1820. Other than a slag pile (stone waste material separated from metals during smelting) and a man-made channel that provided water for the furnace, there is no trace of the furnace. This is part of the same mining operation that encompassed the Napier Mine site a few miles south of here on the Parkway.

Map of Metal Ford area

The original Natchez Trace crossed the river at Metal Ford. Today you can walk on a short segment of the Trace that leads to the river (but no longer crosses) as part of a .2-mile loop trail that circles the area. To start, simply walk down to the river and look for the trail on your right. This follows the river, and along the way there are benches and information signs that tell about the area’s history.

Short trail circles the Metal Ford area

Trail around the Metal Ford area follows the Buffalo River

When you get to the point where the trail circles back around to the starting point, there are some old stairs that lead down to a mill race: a man-made channel that brought water to the iron furnace. It has not been preserved, which is why no water is flowing through it. If you have walked on the sunken segments of the Natchez Trace farther south, you will notice that the mill race closely resembles the sunken Trace. However, here the gully was dug to carry water, not worn into the ground by years of foot and wagon traffic. Be careful as you walk down the ravine, for the bottom is like a creek bed, and it is easy to twist an ankle walking on all of the small, loose stones. In the fall it is even more dangerous because you can’t see the stones beneath the fallen leaves.

Stairs lead down to the mill race at Metal Ford

Mill race at the Metal Ford stop on the Natchez Trace Parkway

The trail eventually loops back to the start. Other than the rocky bottom of the mill race area, the trail is flat and smooth. The trip takes about 10 minutes.

The Metal Ford stop also has a picnic area located along the river. This is one of the most easily accessible picnic areas on the Natchez Trace Parkway, and with the river and rocky cliffs, one of the more scenic. Four tables and two grills are located right next to the parking area, so it is easy to get your supplies from your car to the tables. Another table and grill is located a short ways down the original Natchez Trace that runs along the river.

Picnic tables along the Buffalo River at Metal Ford

Picnic table at the Metal Ford stop on the Natchez Trace Parkway

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