Tupelo's walking and biking trails with distances: the 6-mile Natchez Trace Scenic Trail section, Ballard Park's 2.75-mile loop, Music Bend Trail and city park loops.

Last checked Oct. 16, 2026. Distances and rules come from the National Park Service, Tupelo Parks and Recreation’s 2026 Leisure Service Guide (PDF) and Visit Tupelo’s trail guide.

Tupelo’s best long walk is a national scenic trail: a six-mile section of the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail runs through the city’s edge. Closer in, most city parks have a paved loop, from a quarter mile to the 2.75 miles around Ballard Park’s lake, and a dirt nature trail follows Mud Creek from the dog park.

Trailheads at a glance

  • Longest: Natchez Trace Scenic Trail, Blackland Prairie section, about 6 miles one way (milepost 260.8 to 266)
  • Best loop: Ballard Park, 2.75 miles around the lake, 655 Rutherford Road
  • Nature trail: Music Bend Trail, 2.5 miles, from Tupelo Bark Park, 99 N. Veterans Blvd.
  • Maps and advice: Parkway Visitor Center, milepost 266, 662-680-4027
  • City parks: Tupelo Parks and Recreation, 662-841-6440

Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail

The Blackland Prairie section, milepost 260.8 to milepost 266, is “a popular 6 mile hiking trail in and around Tupelo,” the National Park Service says. It is out and back, so 12 miles round trip if you do it all, and you can walk as little as you like.

Trailhead Where Notes
Parkway Visitor Center Across the Parkway from the visitor center, milepost 266, 2680 Natchez Trace Parkway Hikers only; head south along Tupelo’s outskirts
Chickasaw Village Site Milepost 261.8 Hikers and horses; a half-mile interpretive trail and a 3.5-mile horse loop

Things to know:

  • The scenic trail section is hikers only (horses on the Chickasaw Village loop), and you must walk on the Parkway itself at some road and creek crossings, Visit Tupelo notes.
  • Dogs are allowed on a leash 6 feet or shorter.
  • Pick up a map at the Parkway Visitor Center, open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily except Thanksgiving, Dec. 25 and Jan. 1.

City park trails

From the Parks and Recreation guide and Visit Tupelo:

Trail Distance Surface and notes Address
Ballard Park 2.75-mile loop, plus a cross-country trail Around the 3-acre lake, past the skate park and Oren Dunn City Museum 655 Rutherford Road
BankPlus Sportsplex at Ballard Park 1-mile trail around the baseball complex; 1.2-mile cross-country course Shared with tournament traffic on game days 3611 Westgate Drive
Music Bend Nature Trail 2.5 miles Dirt, tree-lined, along Mud Creek Starts at Tupelo Bark Park, 99 N. Veterans Blvd.
Gumtree Park 1 mile Curving paths around the playground and fields 683 N. Front St.
Gun Club Park 1 mile 9-acre park
Gateway Park 1,780 feet 3.3-acre park with two water features
Veterans Memorial Park Half mile Past the memorials and lake 800 N. Veterans Memorial Blvd.
Rob Leake City Park Half mile 1107 Joyner Ave.
Thomas Street Park Half-mile walking track
Robins Field Quarter mile The track at a retired 1920s football field, with a Civil Rights trail marker
Theron Nichols Park Quarter mile, paved 35-acre park with playground and splash pad 1743 Mitchell Road
Hancock Park Quarter mile, paved Painted hopscotch tiles and murals 310 Monument Drive

Ballard Park is open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, according to Visit Tupelo. For the other parks the city does not post hours online; call 662-841-6440.

Biking

  • Natchez Trace Parkway: cyclists ride the two-lane Parkway road itself, sharing it with cars. The scenic trail sections in Tupelo are not open to bikes.
  • Elvis’ Tupelo Self-Guided Bicycle Tour: a free route that starts at Johnnie’s Drive-In, 908 E. Main St., and visits Elvis sites around town. Pick up a map at the Tupelo Visitors Center, 399 E. Main St., or see Visit Tupelo’s route.
  • Kaleido-Spoke Glow Bike Ride: a family ride through the Ballard Park Christmas lights, 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, 2026. See holiday lights and Christmas events.
  • Bike Your Park Day: Tombigbee and Trace state parks held it on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026.

State park trails nearby

  • Tombigbee State Park, 264 Cabin Drive, about six miles south: the wooded Dollywood Trail, and the Tree Trunk Trail of dirt, boardwalk and paved sections along the lake. $2 a person; children under 5 free.
  • Trace State Park, 2139 Faulkner Road, Belden: hiking trails including the Moroney and Baker trails.

Safety

  • Carry water in summer, and start early on hot days.
  • Tell someone your plan on the scenic trail, and watch for traffic at Parkway crossings.
  • Several city parks have storm shelters; once a storm watch is issued for the area, all of them open, the Parks and Recreation guide says.

Related: parks and trails, dog-friendly Tupelo and free things to do.

Frequently asked questions

What is the longest walking trail in Tupelo?

The Blackland Prairie section of the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail runs about six miles along Tupelo’s outskirts, 12 miles out and back, from milepost 260.8 to milepost 266, according to the National Park Service. It is open to hikers only.

How long is the Ballard Park walking trail?

Ballard Park’s walking trail loops 2.75 miles around the park’s lake, and the park also has a cross-country trail. It is at 655 Rutherford Road off West Main Street.

Where is the Music Bend Trail in Tupelo?

The 2.5-mile Music Bend Nature Trail starts at Tupelo Bark Park, 99 N. Veterans Blvd. It is a dirt path along Mud Creek.

Can you bike on the Natchez Trace in Tupelo?

Cyclists ride the Natchez Trace Parkway road itself. The Blackland Prairie section of the scenic trail in Tupelo is for hikers only, with a separate horse loop at the Chickasaw Village Site.