11/18/2025
Did you see smoke yesterday on the Natchez Trace Parkway? That's because our prescribed burn season has started and will continue through May 2026. Yesterday, we did crucial prescribed burning at 20-Mile Bottom overlook near milepost 278, and today prescribed burns will continue at Chickasaw Village, between mileposts 261.4 and 262.
There are tentative plans for a prescribed burn tomorrow (11/19) across from the Parkway Visitor Center at milepost 266 that would affect our Bicycle Only Campground. If you plan to stay at this campground, please call our visitor center for more information at 662-680-4027.
Safety reminders for drivers:
• Slow to 30 mph and turn on headlights
• Watch for smoke, firefighters, and equipment
• Expect smoke to linger for several days
• Trails and pullouts may be closed during burns
• If visibility drops below 500 feet (150 meters), rangers may temporarily stop traffic
Did you know that these prescribed fires help to reduce wildfire risk and promote healthy forests and prairies by clearing overgrown vegetation? We'll call that a win on the parkway!
For more about these prescribed burns visit https://go.nps.gov/natr2025rxfires
NPS Photo/Johnson, 2025.