Colbert Stand’s information sign (click to enlarge)

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Colbert Ferry Park Main Page

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Colbert Stand

When turning off of the Natchez Trace Parkway into Colbert Ferry Park, take a right when you come to the T-intersection at the Ranger Station and be on the lookout for a Colbert’s Stand sign (photo above). From here you can hike a short trail to a field where George Colbert, a Chickasaw Indian chief, once ran a stand (aka inn) along the Natchez Trace back in the early 1800s. Nothing remains of the stand, so unless you are a true history buff, there’s not much point in hiking to it. There are three information signs along the way.

Short trail leads to the site of George Colbert’s Stand from the early 1800s

Field where Colbert’s Stand once stood

According to the Colbert’s Stand sign, you can hike another 20 minutes along the Old Trace to what is referred to as the “bluff overlook station.” The only trail I could find starts at the far, left corner (nearest to the park road) of the field where the stand was located. A post marks the start. I began this hike but did not finish (with well over 200 trails under my belt, this is only the third trail that I recall giving up on). It appears to do nothing more than follow the road back to the Ranger Station area and has no appearance of being the original Natchez Trace. It is nothing more than a narrow footpath, whereas the Trace is a much wider, road-like trail. On top of all this, the trail is barely visible, so you need your trail sleuth skills to even follow it. I suggest skipping this hike. You’ll get more out of simply walking to the empty field where the stand once stood.

Possible original Natchez Trace segment at the Colbert’s Stand site

There is also a round information panel labeled Old Natchez Trace that you pass on the way to the Colbert’s Stand site. This faces the park road, and directly across the road there appears to be a trail. Voilà. The Natchez Trace segment mentioned on the Colbert’s Stand sign. Turns out that’s not it either. The trail on the other side of the road almost immediately comes right back out onto the park road. Thus, I have no idea what the Colbert’s Stand sign is referring to.

Another possible original Natchez Trace segment at the Colbert’s Stand site

Colbert Ferry

Continue down the road past the stand site, and at the very end is where George Colbert once ran his ferry. As with the stand, there remains no trace of any sort of ferry operation. There is an information panel and a narrow window of view across the Tennessee River, but everywhere else the view is blocked by trees and other vegetation.

View of the Tennessee River from the Colbert’s Ferry site

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