Nine miles of this figure-eight loop route are on the Natchez Trace Parkway from milepost 428 (intersection with TN Hwy 46/Pinewood Road) to milepost 438 (intersection with TN Hwy 96) while the other parts of the loop take you thru the Fernvale community and the historic village of Leiper's Fork.
Bicyclists (there are a few steep climbs - see elevation maps below), drivers and motorcyclists will enjoy the 28-mile-long route that takes you over and under the famous Double Arch Bridge, thru the picturesque Fernvale community, up and down Old Highway 96 under a canopy of trees and thru the heart of the historic village of Leiper's Fork where you can enjoy a meal at one of three restaurants and do some casual shopping at the antique shops and art galleries that line the street.
Photo Galleries | Cyclists | Food, Water, Restrooms | Lodging | Ride with GPS Routes
Photo Gallery of the "off Parkway" section of the loop.
Click any photo to view larger photos.
Old Hwy 96 climb
Fox & Locke Restaurant - Leiper's Fork
Double Arch Bridge view from Hwy 96
Highway 96 Bike Lane
Old Highway 96
Hwy 96 heading west
Intersection of Hwy 96 and Old Harding Pike
Leiper's Fork cemetery on Old Hwy 96
Old Hwy 96 ends in Leiper's Fork
Leiper's Fork Market
Old Harding Pike
Old Hwy 96 in the Kingfield community
Old Highway 96 under the Natchez Trace Parkway
Downtown Fernvale
Leiper's Fork shops
Fernvale Springs Historical Market
Old Hwy 96 hill
Old Hwy 96 hill in the fall
Old Hwy 96 heading east goes under the NT Parkway
Old Harding Pike
Leiper's Fork shops
Old Harding Pike
Tunnel of Trees on Old Highway 96
Intersection of Old Hwy 96 and South Harpeth Road
Old Harding Pike
Old Highway 96 in Leiper's Fork
Country Church on Old Hwy 96
Downtown Fernvale - heading east
Photo Gallery of the "on Parkway" section of the loop.
Click any photo to view larger photos.
Parkway / Hwy 46 Leiper's Fork intersection near milepost 428
Parkway / Hwy 96 access/exit ramp intersection at milepost 437.5
Exit onto Hwy 96
Curvy, Treetop Bridge in the spring - milepost 436
Milepost 432 looking north
S-Curve at milepost 430
View of Double Arch Bridge from Birdsong Hollow
Parkway / Hwy 46 Leiper's Fork intersection near milepost 428
View of Double Arch Bridge from Hwy 96 access/exit ramp
View of Parkway from milepost 435.6 - Park here and start biking!
Curvy, Treetop Bridge in the fall - milepost 436
Milepost 433 looking north
S-Curve at milepost 430 in the fall
Butterfly Garden at Timberland Park - milepost 437.2
Bicyclists looking for a challenging hill to climb look no further. Starting in Fernvale, Old Highway 96 climbs 400' feet to the top of the ridge. About 340' of the ascent takes place over one mile of road for an average grade of 6.5%!. If you bike in the opposite direction from Leiper's Fork to Fernvale the elevation gain is only 300'.
Parking options are plentiful on the parkway. On the parkway, there is a parking area at milepost 435.6. Please don't park at the Birdsong Hollow parking area on the north side of the Double Arch Bridge as this parking area is not very large and is a very popular stop - we recommend that everyone take the time to drive or ride across the bridge and view the bridge from the observation area at Birdsong Hollow. You could also park at the Garrison Creek stop (see below) or at the Timberland Park site (milepost 437.2).
There are two restaurants (Fox & Locke and Country Boy) in Leiper's Fork (go north on Old Hillsboro Pike about 150 yards from where Old Hwy 96 intersects with Old Hillsboro Pike) and there is a market (Leiper's Fork Market) that has beverages, snacks, pizza and sandwiches on the south side of Leiper's Fork on your way to/from the Natchez Trace.
There is one comfort stations on the 9 mile-long Natchez Trace section of the loop at the Timberland Park site at milepost 437.2 (Timberland Park closes at 6pm April thru October and at 4pm the remainder of the year). Cyclists could also park at the Garrison Creek comfort station/picnic area on the Trace about 1.4 miles south of the loop and simply add a few miles to the trip).
Hummingbird Haven B&B - in Fernvale is about 1/10th of a mile off the loop.
Lyric at Leiper's Fork - is near Old Hwy 96 north of Leiper's Fork.
Timber Ridge Cabin - near Hwy 96 and the Parkway.
Jackson's Sweet Tea Cottage - south of Leiper's Fork.
Clockwise Route:
Counter Clockwise Route: