Discover Sunken Trace on the Natchez Trace Parkway in Mississippi
The Sunken Trace is one of the most fascinating stops along the Natchez Trace Parkway’s section in Mississippi. This quiet, shaded section of the trail reveals a pathway carved deep into the ground by centuries of foot traffic, wagon wheels, and livestock.
Dating back thousands of years, the Natchez Trace was once a vital trade and travel route for Native Americans, European settlers, and traders traveling between the Mississippi River and what is today the middle of Tennessee. Over time, erosion and constant use wore the path down below the surrounding landscape, creating the “sunken” effect you see today.
Exploring the Sunken Trace
Visiting the Sunken Trace is literally stepping back in time and walking through history. We visited on an early spring morning during a road trip through the deep south. We’d been making our way down the parkway on our way to Natchez, Mississippi. The parking lot at milepost 41.5 was empty when we pulled in. My wife and I were very excited. Whenever you look at pictures of the Natchez Trace Parkway, the Sunken Trace is always one of the very first photos you see. It’s an iconic image along the parkway.
A large wooden sign gave a brief history and urged visitors to go for a walk along the trail and let your imagination carry them back to the early 1800s, when people would walk up to 500 miles along the ancient path.
Which is precisely what we did. Walking this short but evocative trail, I easily imagined the footsteps of Native Americans, soldiers, and pioneers who once relied on this route for survival and trade. The surrounding hardwood forests and singing songbirds only made the experience even more peaceful. The entire time we had the place to ourselves. This would be a short stop for us; we spent about 15 minutes taking a few photos and walking the path before heading down the road.
Whether you’re driving the entire 444-mile Natchez Trace Parkway or just exploring a small section, the Sunken Trace is certainly worth a stop.
