Cyclist Comments - Reviews about the Natchez Trace

I fulfilled one of my bucket list items at age 69 by bicycling the whole Trace solo (my wife drove) in mid April 2012 - 8 days comfortably. We used the Natchez Trace B&B Reservation Service for seven B&B's, and we went off the Trace to the historic Hotel Chester in Starkville, MS for a couple of nights. The B&B's were super overall - interesting folks, interesting towns, good accommodations (we were always the only folks there), two memorable breakfasts (French Camp and Mamie's Cottage). However, some of them were only B's rather than B&B's since they didn't provide breakfast - but that is clear when you sign up for them.

The Trace is a bicycler's dream: 98% smooth, continuous (no stop signs or traffic lights), lightly traveled (80% of the time I was alone for miles; rode out in the middle of the road). Most of the time you ride in a tunnel of trees. You see no buildings - only some far off farm houses very infrequently. At picnic sites we came upon a few other cyclists who were happy to relate their Natchez Trace stories, and only 11 miles out of the Nashville end I met a 68 year old chap who was in his 17th (and last) day of running the Trace from Natchez to Nashville (a marathon a day for 17 days).

My 7th day of cycling was in a heavy rain storm during which time I did the section near Jackson/Clinton, MS that is closed to traffic. CAUTION ABOUT THE DETOUR SECTION: If you are bicycling southward, get off of the bike path and onto the Trace at the point where there is a barricade for cars. Otherwise, you will end up at the end of the bike path with no access to the Trace (unless you climb up through the bushes and possibly mud and creeks).

The southern half of the Trace is primarily 1-4% up then 1-4% down - with a very infrequently 5-8% grade. That translates into cranking essentially all of the time - little coasting. I stayed in my front big chain ring for that 220 miles. There are some honest hills up in the northernmost 100 miles. Be sure to utilize all of the information on the Natchez Trace B&B Reservation Service web site. You never know when you will need to know the next cross road or the nearest gas and food. Most of the information about the historical sites along the Trace seems to be on this web site as well (much of it seems to be quite similar to the plaques and markers at the sites themselves)

DON'T MISS: The Loveless Cafe (next to the Trace Bicycle Shop, the shop to which I mailed my bike) at the north end of the Trace, The Old Country Store (serves lunch) in Lorman, MS (a bit off the Trace near MilePost 30), the new pie shop on the town square in Columbia, TN (about 25 miles off of the Trace), OBY's oyster poboys in Starkville, MS (about 30 miles off of the Trace), the light and airy blueberry pancakes at Mamie's B&B in Raymond, MS, the wonderful breakfast at the French Camp B&B, Tom Hendrix and his mortarless longest stone wall east of the Trace on County Road 8 near Mile Post 338, the church in Port Gibson, MS with the steeple consisting of a finger pointing to the sky, and the well-marked military park in Vicksburg, MS (of the siege and battle during the American Civil War) where you can get some real hills!

April saw some severe weather along the Trace in 2010 and 2011, but during this mid-April 2012 trip I encountered (heavy) rain only one day. You will surely see some rain. There were no bugs out, but the second day I did encounter a lot of pollen (and hacked and gagged most of the day). Other than birds, I saw little wildlife - two armadillos (one dead), a fox (?), and two snakes (one dead). When the wind didn't blot out sounds I heard many birds, and I could usually hear motor vehicle tires a half mile away (even a Preis makes tire noise!). I saw quite a few RVs and 5th wheel vehicles heading north (opposite of my direction), but very few heading south (in my direction). I did have a bit of wind against me often, but it wasn't very intrusive. I hope to do this trip again!

Brooks Reid, San Marcos, CA
April 2012

Three of us cycled the entire trace October 2011 logging 490 miles (considering miles off/onto the trace for lunch, lodging, cycling shops) over six days. There are a number of GREAT places for lunch just off the parkway. Smalll mom/pops unique and worth the side trip. Randy was a huge help in trip planning especially the three B&Bs we stayed in, maps and "inside" info regarding the trace. Hats off to him for the superb service he provides. The innkeepers treated us like royalty and like the only ones at the establishment. Overall great ride / trip getting away from the daily grind of a big city to a rural area loaded with beautiful scenery, friendly people, good food and miles of safe cycling. Although The Trace is nothing like the Blue Ridge or Skyline Parkways (you must do them as well but BE PREPARED), it is a MUST do for any cyclist. Put it on your bucket list then call or email Randy to make it happen!

Randall Price, Atlanta, Georgia
October 2011

The Trace was all that it was advertised to be, an outstanding bike trail with smooth surfaces, limited traffic, courteous drivers, beautiful scenery, a gained sense of awe, respect and appreciation for the travails of those early sojourners, lovely vistas, grinding headwinds, flying tailwinds, rolling hills, marvelously long stretches of flat interspersed with challenging climbs, a menagerie of animals, oodles of Southern Hospitality, glances of a long gone era, wonderful downhill glides, an abundance of sunny days, a plethora of super friendly "Faux bikers", delicious food, and endless number of interesting sights. All told, in 10 days of glorious riding, we covered over 600 miles.

Barrie Bentley
March 2010