The Natchez Trace is an ancient trail, first created by animals, then people. Today a beautifully landscaped parkway follows the original route, cutting a diagonal path through parts of what are today Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee. In the late 1700s and early 1800s this footpath became a heavily traveled thoroughfare on the American frontier.
The Natchez Trace Parkway, a 444-mile-long National Park highway, connects Natchez, Mississippi with Nashville, Tennessee. Amazingly, several stretches of the old trace, some which have been worn many feet into the ground, can still be seen at spots beside the newer Parkway. One of the best places to see - and walk - a portion of the old trace is just north of the town of Port Gibson, as shown in these photographs. The spot is at milepost #41.5, where you will find a parking area and an interpretative exhibit.
The hike here is short in distance, but with imagination it can carry you back in time for centuries - even millennia. Karen and I thoroughly enjoyed our walk here on a cool but pleasant late December morning. Along this sunken trace it seems we sensed the lingering spirits of those who had trod this way before.
Love the picture of the Sunken Trace. I am working on a website about the Natchez Trace (should go live in a few weeks). Would it be okay if I use your picture of the Sunken Trace?
ReplyDeleteSure, you can use the photo, but I would appreciate your giving credit to J. Stephen Conn, or even better, a link back to my blog.
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