Natchez Trace Birding
Warning Alert
Lodge and Restaurant Closed for Rebuild
The Lodge at Natchez Trace (the Pin Oak Lodge) and Restaurant are currently undergoing a rebuild, with an anticipated reopening in spring 2028.
During construction, the pool will be unavailable. Guests are welcome at our cabins, which remain open during construction, and a food truck at the Camp Store serves hot food.
Horse Stall Reservations
Horse stall reservations must be made through the Visitor Center at Natchez Trace at 731-968-3742.
Birding at Natchez Trace
The 9,629-acre Natchez Trace State Park consists primarily of pine and hardwood forest.
Three man-made lakes occur within the park, where great blue herons, pied-billed grebes, American coots and a small number of ducks can be found in winter. Over 23 miles of hiking trails, including a 14-mile overnight trail, are ideal for woodland birding. A wide variety of migrating warblers, vireos, thrushes, and flycatchers pass through the area. Summer birds that can be seen include yellow-billed cuckoo, great crested and Acadian flycatchers, scarlet and summer tanagers, wood thrush, pine, prairie, and Kentucky warblers. In winter, brown creepers, yellow-bellied sapsuckers, and occasionally red-breasted nuthatches can be found.
The park is part of the larger 48,000-acre Natchez Trace State Forest and Wildlife Management Area. Over 153 species of birds have been observed in the park.
Featured Birds
- Songbirds
- Red-headed Woodpecker
- Pied-billed Grebe
- Wood Duck
- Great Blue Heron
- Indigo Bunting
- Common Yellowthroat
- Sparrows
- Waterfowl
- Egrets
- Northern Bobwhite
- Wild Turkey
- Double-crested Cormorant
- American White Pelican
- Bald Eagle
- Shorebirds
- Gull
- Northern Harrier
- Ring-billed Gull
- Horned Lark
- Savannah Sparrow
- Eastern Meadowlark
Birding Locations
A hiking map and checklist of birds are available at the park.
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Red Leaves Trail
Featured birds: Woodpecker, SongbirdsThere are numerous access points to this 23-mile trail. The park office is a good place to start since trail maps and other park information are available here. Also, the park office has a feeder station. This section of the trail winds through forested uplands. The overnight camping along Red Leaves is only permitted in the designated area with a reservation. A portion of the Red Leaves Trail between Parsons Road and Sulfur Fork is temporarily closed due to storm damage. -
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Pin Oak Lodge
Featured birds: Red-headed Woodpecker, Woodpecker, SongbirdsBird along the lakeshore and woodlands surrounding the inn. If you are up for more walking, the trailheads for the 1.5-mile Pin Oak Trail and the 0.8-mile Oak Ridge Trail are nearby.
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Recreation Lodge
Featured birds: Pied-billed Grebe, Wood Duck, Great Blue Heron, Woodpecker, SongbirdsBird around the lodge which includes lakeside views and trailheads for the 4-mile Cub Lake Trail, the 0.2-mile Fern Trail and the 2.5-mile Deer Trail. At approximately 0.5 miles along the Cub Lake Trail you will find marsh and shrub wetlands as well as early successional uplands.
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Fairview Gullies Trail
Featured birds: Woodpecker, SongbirdsThis short loop trail takes you through pine forest, mixed pine-hardwood forest, and hardwood forest. It is a good location to hear singing pine warblers in spring. -
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Camden Wildlife Management Area Main Entrance
Featured birds: Waterfowl, Herons, Egrets, Hawk, WoodpeckerCall before visiting since areas may be closed due to flooding and hunting.
The 3,692-acre area consists of cropland, bottomland hardwood forests, and flooded ponds. Over 135 species of birds have been identified from the area. -
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Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge Duck River Unit: Main Entrance
Featured birds: Waterfowl, Northern Bobwhite, Wild Turkey, Double-crested Cormorant, American White PelicanA diversity of habitats including wetlands, mudflats, shrub/scrub, forest, and agricultural cropland make this unit of the refuge an excellent area for birding. Over 250 species of birds have been identified from the area.
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Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge Busseltown Unit: Entrance
Featured birds: Waterfowl, Shorebirds, Northern Harrier, Ring-billed Gull, Horned LarkThe main attraction at this unit is waterfowl. Shorebirds are possible during spring migration. Over 160 species of birds have been identified.
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Responsible Birding
- Do not endanger the welfare of birds.
- Tread lightly and respect bird habitat.
- Silence is golden.
- Do not use electronic sound devices to attract birds during nesting season, May-July.
- Take extra care when in a nesting area.
- Always respect the law and the rights of others, violators subject to prosecution.
- Do not trespass on private property.
- Avoid pointing your binoculars at other people or their homes.
- Limit group sizes in areas that are not conducive to large crowds.
Discover More at Natchez Trace
No events are scheduled at this time, but there's always more to explore.
