Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
catfish are common). Near the reservoir's north end lies Cypress Swamp, an abandoned
riverchannelthataboundswithtwotypesofwater-lovingtrees,tupelosandbaldcypresses.
A 20-minute nature trail begins on an elevated boardwalk, which leads through a wetland
fullofnaturalwonders.Turtlessunningthemselvesonlogsplopintothestillwateraswalk-
ersapproach,lazyalligatorsdriftbylikefloatinglogs,andgreatblueheronsspearfishwith
remarkable skill. About 40 miles ahead, just north of Kosciusko, you'll find a visitor in-
formation center with exhibits on the colorful history of the parkway.
9.
French Camp
Louis LeFleur, a French Canadian married to a Choctaw woman, established a stand
serving Natchez Trace travelers here in 1812. Today visitors can browse over French and
Indian artifacts in a restored 1840 log cabin and inspect a sorghum mill, where a favorite
Southern treat, molasses, is made on weekends from late September through October.
10.
Jeff Busby Site
Winding its way northeastward, the drive soon arrives at Jeff Busby Site, named for a con-
gressman who played a key role in the preservation of the trace. This recreation area offers
camping, picnicking, and the only fuel station located directly on the parkway. A nature
trail, identifying native plants and the ways pioneers used them, leads to Little Mountain,
which, despite its name, is one of the highest points found in the state of Mississippi. From
its 603-foot summit, you can see as far as 20 miles on a clear day.
In the pine and hardwood forest near milepost 203 is a reminder of a tragic chapter in
the natural history of America. The Pigeon Roost roadside exhibit marks the spot where
millionsofmigratingpassengerpigeonsoncerested.Thoughttohavebeenthemostabund-
antbirdspeciesintheworldinColonialtimes,thepassengerpigeon,flocksofwhichwould
blacken the sky for hours at a time, was wantonly slaughtered for food and sport. Its num-
bers declined precipitously toward the end of the late 19th century, and the last known
member of the species died in the Cincinnati Zoo in 1914.
11.
Tombigbee National Forest
Curving gently through rolling countryside, the parkway traverses 66,000-acre Tombigbee
NationalForest,whichoffersadifferenttreatineveryseason.Inspring,asjack-in-the-pul-
pits hide beneath their hoods, redbuds burst forth with pink blossoms, and flowering dog-
woods dot the forest with clouds of white. Come late autumn, the colors of the forest are
even more vibrant, as oaks, hickories, maples, and sweetgums go out in glory. Thanks to
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