Aerial View Of Natchez Trace Bridge At Sunset — The Natchez Trace is a gorgeous route. (Photo by Alexander Wark Feeney on Pexels.com)

CNN just released its list of America’s 25 most beautiful spots, and the states-spanning Natchez Trace made the list.

A 444-mile winding route starting in Mississippi and ending in Tennessee, the trail extends through the northwest corner of Alabama and offers picturesque, winding roads.

CNN formulated the list with breathtaking destinations in mind, all across the US:

“While beauty is often subjective, there are certain places in the United States that leave even the most jaded travelers at a loss for words. So from sea to shining sea, here are 25 of the nation’s most beautiful places.”

_CNN

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What is the Natchez Trace?

Aerial Photography Of Empty Road Surrounded By Trees — The history of the route is fascinating. (Photo by K on Pexels.com)

The Natchez Trace Parkway is a famous thoroughfare, lauded for its beauty and variety of wildlife, recreational activities and camping at its National Park.

The current route follows the same path as the Old Natchez Trace, a 19th-century corridor that was used for travel by Native Americans and early American settlers for both travel and importing goods. It runs through primarily Mississippi and Tennessee, with a small portion in Alabama.

Where to visit the Natchez Trace Parkway + what to do

The Natchez Trace extends into North AL. (National Park Service)

The AL section of the Parkway sits about 20 minutes away from Florence, Muscle Shoals and Tuscumbia, and runs directly over the Tennessee River.

Since the Parkway is classified as a National Park, there are no commercial establishments on the route itself. However, you can find a plethora of activities within the 400 mile stretch, and camping grounds aplenty.

Here are some recommendations for how to spend time in the AL portion of the Natchez Trace: