The Natchez Trace Trail is a National Scenic Trail, designated in 1983, which route generally follows sections of the 444-mile Natchez Trace Parkway through the states of Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi, connection Natchez, Mississippi to Nashville, Tennesse. The Natchez Trace Trail is not a long, continuous footpath, as is the case with other national scenic trails (such as the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, Continental Divide Trail and others); rather, only a limited number of trail segments along the route of the national parkway. The current total distance of the footpath that has been developed for hiking and horseback riding is just over 60 miles (97 km) of trail and to walk any more than these designated footpaths would amount to a very long road walk with few locations to set up a campsite.

To walk more of the current sixty miles of footpath, many follow along the Natchez Trace Parkway road shoulder, and along both county and state roads. It was originally intended to be longer and follow most of the Natchez Trace Parkway, but only a small portion of the national scenic trail was built. Unlike many other trails that rely heavily on volunteers for trail construction and maintenance, the Natchez Trace Trail is managed and maintained by the National Park Service.

The Natchez Trace Parkway and the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail both commemorate the original path that has been used for countless centuries on which walked many indigenous people, as well as early European explorers and settlers, Kaintuck boatmen, post riders, Meriwether Lewis and military troops.

The National Parkway has milepost beginning at the southern terminus which is is near Natchez, Mississippi and marked as Milepost 0. The northern terminus is near Nashville, Tennessee and is marked as Milepost 444. The current status of the national scenic trail is that there are only five and somewhat short sections, which are accessed from the Natchez Trace Parkway, and listed below in order from the southern terminus northward by the national parkway milepost.

Potkopinu, Milepost 17 to 20

Rocky Springs, Milepose 52.4 to 59

Yockanookany, Milepost 107.9 to 130

Blackland Praire, Milepost 260 to 266

Highland Rim, Milepost 407.9 to 427.4

Actual footpath is about 64 miles in five segment.

alternately, the trail is marked with brown and white signs

The old Natchez Trace traveled through the lands of the Chickasaw, Choctaw, Natchez and other indigenous people, all of which are part of the Muskoge nation of native Americans.

Rocky Springs, Milepost 54, (RV, tent, bicycle)

Kosciusko, Milepost 160 (bicycle-only)

Jeff Busby, Milepost 193.1, (RV, tent, bicycle)

Witch Dance, Milepost 234 (bicycle-only)

Natchez Trace Parkway Visitor Center, Milepost 266 (bicycle-only)

Colbert Ferry, Milepost 327 (bicycle-only)

Meriwether Lewis, Milepost 385.9, (RV, tent, bicycle)

Tennessee Highway 50, Milepost 408, (bicycle-only)

Each Parkway campground provides tent sites, picnic tables, and fire grates throughout the year. Water is available throughout the year inside Parkway restrooms. There are no showers or electricity at any of the campgrounds.

There is no dispersed camping allowed.