Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail is a National Scenic Trail in Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and nearby photo locations.
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Natchez Trace the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 61° (ENE) at the June solstice and 118° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 300° (WNW) in June to 242° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 79° in summer but only 32° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:02 AM | 7:39 AM | 4:31 PM | 5:08 PM | 245° | 10h 07m |
| February | 6:41 AM | 7:16 AM | 5:04 PM | 5:39 PM | 255° | 10h 58m |
| March | 7:06 AM | 7:40 AM | 6:30 PM | 7:03 PM | 268° | 11h 57m |
| April | 6:24 AM | 6:58 AM | 6:53 PM | 7:27 PM | 283° | 13h 02m |
| May | 5:54 AM | 6:29 AM | 7:15 PM | 7:51 PM | 294° | 13h 57m |
| June | 5:43 AM | 6:20 AM | 7:32 PM | 8:09 PM | 299° | 14h 26m |
| July | 5:54 AM | 6:31 AM | 7:32 PM | 8:08 PM | 297° | 14h 14m |
| August | 6:17 AM | 6:51 AM | 7:09 PM | 7:44 PM | 288° | 13h 27m |
| September | 6:39 AM | 7:12 AM | 6:30 PM | 7:03 PM | 274° | 12h 24m |
| October | 7:01 AM | 7:35 AM | 5:48 PM | 6:22 PM | 260° | 11h 21m |
| November | 6:29 AM | 7:05 AM | 4:15 PM | 4:52 PM | 248° | 10h 23m |
| December | 6:55 AM | 7:33 AM | 4:09 PM | 4:47 PM | 242° | 9h 53m |
Computed for the park's reference point (34.3303, -88.7100); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Natchez Trace, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.0 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 27° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 4 (rural / suburban transition), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | 4:33 AM – 5:13 AM | 0.7 | 16° |
| March | 3:47 AM – 5:37 AM | 1.8 | 23° |
| April | 1:45 AM – 4:55 AM | 3.2 | 27° |
| May | 11:48 PM – 4:08 AM | 4.3 | 27° |
| June | 9:54 PM – 3:54 AM | 6.0 | 27° |
| July | 9:50 PM – 2:30 AM | 4.7 | 27° |
| August | 9:15 PM – 12:25 AM | 3.2 | 27° |
| September | 8:28 PM – 10:28 PM | 2.0 | 24° |
| October | 7:45 PM – 8:25 PM | 0.7 | 16° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
4 Estimated Bortle 4 — Rural / suburban transition. Light domes are visible in several directions; the Milky Way is clear but lacks detail near the horizon.
Weather & best time to visit
Mississippi, Alabama, and most of Tennessee are classified as humid subtropical climates. The weather ranges from mild winters to hot summers. Average high temperatures reach into the high 80's in summer, and into the high 40's in winter. Thunderstorms are common in Mississippi, especially in the southern part of the state, and from June through November, the state is occasionally affected by hurricanes moving north from the Gulf of Mexico. Check local forecasts to plan your trip.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show October as the clearest month (about 44% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (64%). July is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Getting there
Directions to the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail vary greatly depending on what section you are trying to reach. For specific questions concerning how to get to a certain section or trail head of the National Scenic Trail, please call the Visitor Center at 662-680-4027.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Hiking
- Horse Trekking
- Horseback Riding
Nearby parks
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AL/MS
TN/MS
IL/MS
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