Author Topic: Cycling The Natchez Trace  (Read 40062 times)

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Offline Augie Dog

Cycling The Natchez Trace
« on: October 06, 2011, 10:40:57 am »
Has any one here done the Trace from end to end? I am thinking of doing this ride in the near future and trying to decide if I want to do it fully self contained or have a sag follow. What time of year would be a good time also. Also advise on camping facilities and what to expect as far as elevation changes. I will most likely start at the Nashville end and go south. If I do fully supported I need to figure out how to get back to N'ville or return back to my home in North Carolina.
Thanks
Augie dog

FredHiltz

  • Guest
Re: Cycling The Natchez Trace
« Reply #1 on: October 06, 2011, 12:16:08 pm »
See http://www.adventurecycling.org/forums/index.php?topic=9902.0 for references to ACA maps, which contain elevation profiles and list campgrounds, plus other maps and many cycling-specific directions.

Fred

Offline rfought

Re: Cycling The Natchez Trace
« Reply #2 on: October 12, 2011, 09:17:21 am »
Check out the cycling the Trace info at NatchezTraceTravel.com:
http://www.natcheztracetravel.com/biking-the-trace.html

Offline Vitornis

Re: Cycling The Natchez Trace
« Reply #3 on: February 05, 2012, 12:36:48 am »
Hey i am from near the Florence area in AL. I have also been wanting to ride the Natchez Trace from end to end. Have you done this yet? I new to touring, I have only been riding around the local counties here.

Offline DoubleD

Re: Cycling The Natchez Trace
« Reply #4 on: February 19, 2012, 02:28:26 pm »
Oldie but newbie tourer also wants to ride the Natchez Trace from Nashville to Natchez in spring 2012.  Very inexperienced, I've only done a couple of overnighters.   Maybe Natchez to Nashville. 

Offline pmac

Re: Cycling The Natchez Trace
« Reply #5 on: March 20, 2012, 01:13:52 pm »
A couple of years ago a group of friends rode the Trace from Nashville to Natchez with support.  I also live in Ridgeland, MS and ride sections of the Trace on a regular basis.  I think the best months for a Trace trip are April into May and October.  You are likely to catch some rain in April and May, but things are blooming along the whole Trace.  October is much drier (unless a hurricane come through) and heat of the summer is off.  I would avoid a trip in July, August and September unless you really like the heat and humidity.  Riding in the middle of day in those months can be difficult.

While the TN section has few hills, there are no mountains or really big hills anywhere on Trace and large sections of it are really pretty flat.  There are several bike specific campgrounds on the Trace.  There are also B&Bs and easy access to motels in Tupelo, Jackson area, Florence and some other locations.  You do have to watch out for commuter traffic around Tupelo and Jackson, which can be very heavy between 7 and 9 and 4 and 6.  But the vast majority of the Trace gets very little automobile traffic.   In the Jackson area between I-55 and I-20 generally gets alot of traffic, but from I-55 south for about 8 miles is closed until at least the fall of 2012 to repair a section of roadbed.  That has really cut down the local commuter traffic.  While that section is closed to vehicles, it is still open for bikes, which is really great for the local biking community. 

To catch a plane from Natchez, you would need to get to either Jackson or Baton Rouge.  You could probably catch a bus to either location. 

Hope you have a blast.  Its a fun and peaceful ride.

Offline Cliff369

Re: Cycling The Natchez Trace
« Reply #6 on: April 26, 2012, 09:30:42 pm »
Myself along with four buddies just got done with the Trace. We did a North bound starting in Natchez on April 11, 2012 and completing at the Loveless Cafe at 10:30am April 15, 2012. We had a 6th guy that drove a truck with our food and gear. Although I enjoyed the trip we rode 106 miles each day for the first 4 days and a very light day on the fifth day, I will do it again unsupported doing 40 to 50 miles a day next year. What a wonderful place to ride. Dont put it off if your thinking about just do it.

Offline natchezhills

Re: Cycling The Natchez Trace
« Reply #7 on: April 24, 2013, 01:42:27 pm »
We own a bed and breakfast along the Natchez Trace and leave a car for our cylist to use when they are done with the trace.  They are able to get dinner and provisions along with driving up to the bed and breakfast.  We are Natchez Hills Bed and Breakfast

Offline cajunpedaler

Re: Cycling The Natchez Trace
« Reply #8 on: June 25, 2013, 09:59:40 am »
I am between Baton Rouge and Natchez.  I host a lot of cyclists through Warmshowers.org.  If you are flying into BTR, I can pick you up at the airport or you can ride the fairly easy 29 miles to our place to get started. You can ship your bike via FedEx or UPS to a BTR bike shop, one in particular is Dave's Bike Shop, he will receive your bike, assemble it and meet you at the airport.  Lots of riders do just that.  From our place is a good day ride to the Southern Terminus of the Trace.  In the past few years, the Trace has gotten to be pretty popular with touring cyclists. 
BTW, the Natchez Trace is on my "to-do" list.
Perry
Jackson, LA (Jackson, LOUISIANA not Jackson, MS)

Offline Bikinchris

Re: Cycling The Natchez Trace
« Reply #9 on: January 14, 2015, 11:03:14 pm »
Has any one here done the Trace from end to end? I am thinking of doing this ride in the near future and trying to decide if I want to do it fully self contained or have a sag follow. What time of year would be a good time also. Also advise on camping facilities and what to expect as far as elevation changes. I will most likely start at the Nashville end and go south. If I do fully supported I need to figure out how to get back to N'ville or return back to my home in North Carolina.
Thanks
Augie dog

Support is not far off the trail all along the way. But none on the trail itself. Spring is better than fall. The wind will be harder from the south as the summer comes on. Summer time is VERY hot and makes camping brutal. The north end has a lot more hills than the south, but none of them are very hard. The Natchez trace was a path of least resistance back to Nashville after floating barges down to Natchez from the North.

Offline BikePacker

Re: Cycling The Natchez Trace
« Reply #10 on: November 07, 2015, 03:18:10 pm »
I am looking at cycling the N.T. next year and am wondering if anyone knows of any shuttle services anywhere along the route such that one can park a car at one point, cycle north or south, and after a few days of travel be shuttled back to his/her car???
- Many thanks.
« Last Edit: November 07, 2015, 07:41:42 pm by BikePacker »

Offline DanE

Re: Cycling The Natchez Trace
« Reply #11 on: November 08, 2015, 07:24:14 am »
I have no knowledge of this person but I would contact Downtown Karla Brown in Natchez.

http://www.downtownkarlabrown.com

Offline BikePacker

Re: Cycling The Natchez Trace
« Reply #12 on: November 08, 2015, 03:03:33 pm »
I have no knowledge of this person but I would contact Downtown Karla Brown in Natchez.
http://www.downtownkarlabrown.com
Thank you for your time & thought posting the above.
This looks to be very promising.

Offline hon_cho

Re: Cycling The Natchez Trace
« Reply #13 on: December 08, 2015, 07:14:35 pm »
My son and I rode and camped from Northern terminus to just shy of Tupelo during March of 2004.   The weather was cooperative and we had a good time. 

Fast forward to the present.  My tandem partner and I are planning to ride from from Tupelo to Natchez the week before Christmas.  My tandem partner is not the camping type and, by not camping, we lose lots of flexibility.  I'm looking forward to the ride but I really prefer the flexibility that camping allows. However,  on a tandem you learn to compromise and we'll make the most of the situation. 

If the trip happens as planned (we leave in 10 days) look for an update here.