{"id":11462,"date":"2026-05-07T11:35:14","date_gmt":"2026-05-07T16:35:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/visitfranklin.com\/your-guide-to-the-natchez-trace-parkway-in-franklin-tn\/"},"modified":"2026-06-09T15:33:41","modified_gmt":"2026-06-09T20:33:41","slug":"your-guide-to-the-natchez-trace-parkway-in-franklin-tn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/visitfranklin.com\/blog\/your-guide-to-the-natchez-trace-parkway-in-franklin-tn\/","title":{"rendered":"Your Guide to the Natchez Trace Parkway in Franklin, TN"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Imagine a national park that\u2019s 450 miles long\u2026 It may sound impossible, but it exists! Starting in Nashville, Tennessee, and ending in Natchez, Mississippi, the Natchez Trace Parkway<\/a> is widely recognized as one of the most beautiful scenic drives in the U.S. Easily accessible from Franklin, the parkway makes for a convenient starting point for your adventure. While you won\u2019t see any strip malls or fast food joints along the way, you will come upon lovely waterfalls, historic structures, rugged hikes, and even a 200-year-old unsolved mystery. Intrigued? Read on!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natchez Trace Parkway History<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n

The Natchez Trace Parkway loosely follows the original Natchez Trace; a path first carved out by prehistoric animals, then nomadic Indians, European explorers, and finally wagon trains \u2014 By the early 1800s, it was a major thoroughfare for goods headed to and from the Mississippi River.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once the steamboat came on the scene, traffic slowed substantially on the Natchez Trace, and eventually, the dirt road returned to nature. The National Park Service made plans to build the parkway in 1938, but it wasn\u2019t until 2005 that the Parkway as we know it was finally completed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, the Natchez Trace Parkway is a winding, two-lane roadway where bicycles are welcome, pulling over to take a look around is encouraged, and speeding is all but impossible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t opt for the Trace if you\u2019re in a hurry to get to your destination- On this road, it\u2019s all about the journey and the hidden treasures you find along the way, and several of those treasures can be found in and around Franklin, Tennessee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our Favorite Spots to Stop at When Venturing out on the Natchez Trace Parkway from Franklin<\/strong><\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Natchez Trace Parkway Bridge\u00a0(Milepost 438)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Stretching majestically across Birdsong Hollow in Franklin, the Natchez Trace Parkway Bridge is a marvel of modern engineering and one of Tennessee\u2019s landmark structures. And if the throngs of young people posing along the bridge\u2019s railings are any indication, it\u2019s also a major Instagram\/TikTok hotspot. The parkway and bridge are must-see attractions for any visitor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you want to see the bridge for yourself, two great vantage points provide for stunning views<\/a>. A parking area on the north side of the bridge includes an overlook of the bridge and valley. Along the walkway, a chain-link safety barrier provides added protection for visitors walking or biking across the bridge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cross the bridge and drive down the exit ramp that leads to State Route 96, and you\u2019ll find parking spots at the bottom of the hill that allows you to view and photograph the entire bridge in all its glory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

History of the Natchez Trace Bridge<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As bridges go, the Natchez Trace Parkway Bridge is a relatively new one. In the early 1990s, the federal government was planning to bulldoze the steep hills on both sides of Birdsong Hollow to complete the parkway\u2019s long-planned terminus in Nashville. Members of the Natchez Trace Parkway Association convinced the park system to leave the hills intact and build a bridge across the hollow instead. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

$15 million in federal funding was secured, and award-winning structural engineer Eugene Figg, Jr. was hired to design the new bridge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Figg was known for creating bridges that were as beautiful and artistic as they were functional. He drew up plans for a concrete double-arch bridge that would be 1,572 feet long and rise 145 feet over State Route 96. It would be the first bridge to be built in the United States using pre-cast concrete segments \u2014 the only other one like it at the time was located in Germany.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although many bridges use spandrel beams to distribute the bridge\u2019s weight along its arch evenly, the Natchez Trace Parkway Bridge deck\u2019s weight is supported at the center of each arch. The lack of spandrel columns gives the bridge its iconic, spare design \u2014 Architecturally, it\u2019s known as a cathedral arch bridge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Timberland Park\u00a0(Milepost 437.2)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Just beyond the Double Arch Bridge, you\u2019ll find Timberland Park<\/a>, a fantastic and still little-known spot for\u00a0 hikes along the Natchez Trace parkway. Stop by the park\u2019s cozy interpretive center before you start your hike to borrow a handmade walking stick and grab a map.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Timberland Park Trails<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

All the trails here are lovely, but we especially recommend the Big East Fork Reserve loop trail, which includes a stunning pond and meadow filled with birds and other wildlife.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Leiper\u2019s Fork\u00a0(Milepost 428)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s a reason so many celebrities live in this Franklin-area outpost. With its quaint antique stores, fantastic southern restaurants, and local art galleries, Leiper\u2019s Fork<\/a> is a favorite destination<\/a> for locals and tourists alike.You can\u2019t go wrong with a meal at Fox & Locke<\/a> and every single shop in the village is absolutely worth checking out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gordon House (Milepost 407.7)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This historic home once belonged to ferry operator John Gordon in the early 1800s. It\u2019s one of the few buildings connected with the Old Trace that\u2019s still standing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The house is locked up, but you can take a 10-minute walk from the site that leads to a section of the original Natchez Trace and the Duck River ferry site, which was in operation until a bridge was finally built at the end of the 1800s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Baker Bluff Overlook to Jackson Falls<\/strong>\u00a0(Milepost 405.1)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This popular stop on the Natchez Trace Parkway Trace includes both a portrait-worthy scenic overlook and a short (but steep) .2-mile paved hike into a small gorge to see Jackson Falls, named for Tennessee President Andrew Jackson. At times, the falls are only a trickle, but after a rain, they\u2019re quite a sight to see.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Old Trace Drive at the Tobacco Barn\u00a0(Milepost 401.4)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The historic tobacco barn here is a visible landmark that will help you find this two-mile, one-way drive along the actual Old Trace trail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ll see some beautiful views of the valley and get a taste of what it felt like to travel the Old Trace on this bumpy dirt road, which makes for a fun and adventurous detour\u2013 Our kids loved it. The Old Trace rejoins the parkway at the end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Fall Hollow (Milepost 391.9)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you can handle a somewhat steep (though not dangerous) descent, the payoff here is definitely worth it. Fall Hollow starts with an easy, paved walk to an observation deck that overlooks a waterfall cascading down a sheer rock face. From here, it\u2019s also a 0.7-mile hike to the base of the waterfall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Continue past the deck and down the dirt trail, and you\u2019ll soon come across even more waterfalls, including one with a crystal-clear pool of water that\u2019s perfect for kids (and adults) to play in beneath the falls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Meriwether Lewis Death and Burial Site\u00a0(Milepost 385.9)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The ruins of the Grinder House, an inn on the Old Trace where famed explorer and statesman Meriwether Lewis lost his life, are at this site, along with Lewis\u2019s grave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make sure and read up on the strange circumstances of Lewis\u2019 death<\/a> before you arrive; it\u2019s a dark mystery historians are still trying to solve. There are also several hiking trails around this site, and they aren\u2019t always well-maintained, so follow a hiking app map if you decide to set out on one.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The drive from Franklin to the Meriwether Lewis site takes about an hour, and at this point, we generally turn around and head back. If you make a few stops, plan on setting aside about half a day for your Natchez Trace Parkway adventure. Have fun!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Imagine a national park that\u2019s 450 miles long\u2026 It may sound impossible, but it exists! Starting in Nashville, Tennessee, and ending in Natchez, Mississippi, the\u00a0Natchez Trace Parkway\u00a0is widely recognized as one of the most beautiful scenic drives in the U.S. While you won\u2019t see any strip malls or fast food joints along the way, you\u00a0will\u00a0come upon lovely waterfalls, historic structures, rugged hikes, and even a 200-year-old unsolved mystery. Intrigued? Read on! The Natchez Trace Parkway loosely follows the original Natchez Trace; a path first carved out by prehistoric animals, then nomadic Indians, European explorers, and finally wagon trains \u2014 By [\u2026]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":104,"featured_media":99956088,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"_tribe_blocks_recurrence_rules":"","_tribe_blocks_recurrence_description":"","_tribe_blocks_recurrence_exclusions":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[45,390,235,239],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11462","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-outdoor-adventures","category-history","category-itineraries","category-things-to-do"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/visitfranklin.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11462","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/visitfranklin.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/visitfranklin.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/visitfranklin.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/104"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/visitfranklin.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11462"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/visitfranklin.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11462\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":99956092,"href":"https:\/\/visitfranklin.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11462\/revisions\/99956092"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/visitfranklin.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/99956088"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/visitfranklin.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11462"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/visitfranklin.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11462"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/visitfranklin.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11462"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}