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Published: March 2nd 2009
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Natchez Trace
Bridge crossing in Tennessee Biking The Natchez Trace Parkway
Text and Photos last updated: May 2010
Number of times we have biked parts of the Trace: No idea. Maybe 10 times or more
The Basics
Location: Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi
Distance: 715 kilometres (445 miles)
Access and Parking: Lots
Washrooms: Many
Towns on or Near: Tupelo and Jackson are on. Many towns are just off the parkway
Water: At each washroom
Signage: Good (MILE signs at each mile)
Rest Area: Many
Garbage Disposal: Lots
Points of Interest: Many (see below)
Other: This is a Road Trail (see below)
The Natchez Trace Parkway is 715 km or 445 miles from
Natchez Mississippi to just south of Nashville Tennessee. 500 km is located in Mississippi, about 50km through Alabama and the rest in Tennessee. In 2006 it was named by ESPN as one of the country’s
top ten road biking destinations! We discovered this “gem” about 20 years ago on one of our return camping trips from Texas. The first year after retiring I took a solo trip down with my bike and biked portions of Tennessee, Alabama and Northern Mississippi. Since then we have returned MANY times,
camped along the way and biked or hiked portions of the Trace.
Be aware that although this is often referred to as a great biking route, in fact it is a
road, with NO shoulder. On the plus side, traffic is sparse and
commercial vehicles are not allowed. You will not see any private homes or businesses or driveways on the Trace. You
will not encounter buses or transport trucks (forbidden!) You
will not see any large gaudy advertising signs. No signs at all! At certain times of the year
you will meet large campers and trailers as they make their way to or from the south and west. If you are familiar with the Niagara Parkway in Ontario, the Natchez Trace is somewhat similar with lots of green grassy areas on both sides of the road.
Although there are no shoulders, it is easy enough to pull over onto the grass when necessary. It is not a rails to trails path so do expect some grades and hills, although most are “doable.” The Tennessee portion tends to be hillier while the Mississippi portion has fewer grades.
There are
NO SERVICES on
the Trace except for one gas station. Therefore if you need help with your bike or vehicle you must go to one of the towns located off the Trace. A good example is that while camping at Piney Grove, Core of Engineers campground near Tishomingo, our trucks starter gave out. We had to call on a tow truck from Tupelo which towed our vehicle to Corinth. Total distance covered by the tow truck: 250 kilometres! Jackson and Tupelo are the biggest and ONLY towns in which the Trace actually passes through. Even there you will have to leave the Trace for services. Make sure your gas tank is full before you enter the Trace if you don't want to search for fuel at some small town off the Parkway.
NOTE: Since distances on the Parkway are in MILES, the distances below all refer to MILES unless kilometres are specified The Trace is well supplied, however, with washrooms, pull overs, historical sights, hiking trails, campsites and great vistas. Most intersections have bridges but a number of minor roads have level crossing. There are many campsites along the Trace. Bicycle-only campgrounds are found at mileposts 408,
Natchez Trace
Near Tishomingo 327, 266, 234, and 159. There are a number of unserviced sites (water only.)
Restrooms are found at or near the following mile posts: 16, 18, 55, 102, 123, 154, 160, 193, 233, 266, 287, 327, 364, 377, 385, 405, 408, 428
Campgrounds right on the Trace at: -Rocky Springs mile 55
-Jeff Busby 190
-Tishomingo State Park mile 304
-Tom Bigbee National Forest mile 243
-Meriwether Lewis mile 386
The following
campgrounds are a bit off the Trace. We have stayed at each at least twice and would recommend them:
Natchez State Park mile 11
Lefler’s Bluff State Park mile 90 (right in Jackson but in a valley)
Trace State Park mile 265 (west of Tupelo, very nice)
Tom Bigbee State Park mile 265 (just outside of Tupelo)
Kosciusko mile 160 (private campground, forgot the name)
Piney Grove Army Corps of Engineers mile 292 (Bay Springs Lake) and our favourite on the Trace.
JP Coleman State Park mile 302 on the Tennessee River
There are more state and private parks not far from the Trace.
Gas is available on the
trace ONLY at mile 193 at the Jeff Busby Campground.
There are
historical, viewing and hiking trails at almost every few miles. Below are some of our favourite stops:
Mile 10 Emerald Mound
Mile 16 Mount Locust
Mile 41 Sunken Trace
106 Ross Barnett Reservoir overlook (Jackson)
154 Holly Hill
160 Kosciusko- has an information center and supplies available in town
233 Witch Dance
266 Tupelo Visitor Center - definitely worth stopping here
269 Confederate Grave sites
287 Pharr Mounds
308 Cave Springs
317 Freedom Hill Overlook
327 Colbert Ferry
328 John Coffee Memorial Bridge
392 Fall Hollow
401 Tobacco Farm
405 Baker Bluff Overlook
438 Birdsong Hollow - site of the
Double Arch Bridge crossing over Tennessee Highway 96. There is a pullover on the north side of the bridge but for a better view, get off at highway 96 and see the bridge from below. Well worth it!
444 The Trace ends here without fanfare
Bike Shops near the Trace
Natchez - Western Auto Associate Store 601 445-4186
Jackson - The Bike Rack 601 936-2100
Jackson - Indian Cycle Fitness and Outdoor
Natchez Trace
just north of Jackson 601 956-8383
Tupelo - Trail and Treads 662- 690-6620 (say hello to Yvonne, from Saskatchewan!)
Tupelo - Bicycle Pacelines 662-844-8660
Columbia (s of Nashville) The Wheel 931 381-3225
Franklin - Franklin Bicycle Co - (s of Nashville) 615 790-2702
Nashville - Trace Bikes (tracebikes.com) 615 646-2485
Nashville - The Bike Pedlar Cycling 615 329-2453
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Kim
non-member comment
Life is short... go do this!
We biked this about a month ago and it was a great trip. Such an array of plants, wildlife, history, and adventures. Alot of Indian mounds, informative signage, nice weather during September, and not too many cars. If you are sitting on the fence trying to decide if this is a trip you should do or not, I would tell you to go do this and experience a beautiful part of America.