joel2old

thinking of riding the natchez parkway this spring and looking for some information. has anyone used the Bus Terminal Charters for transportion along the trail? it says they have a shuttle service for bikers. what have other riders used for getting back from one end of trail to the other? also has anyone tried using part of the Mississippi River Trail for the return trip? i realize it runs west of the Natchez but could part of it be used for a round trip? any help welcomed!

Cyclebum

All I can help you with is that the bridge over the Mississippi at Natchez is nothing I would tackle on a bicycle. No shoulder and very busy. There is a walking ledge but not wide enough for bike and person. You might could hitch a ride across.

The Trace is very smooth tarmac with mild grades. 440 miles of few services, quite forest, and light traffic. Nothing to see much unless you exit. Great road to use for loop rides to either side. Easy stealth camping, tho it may be illegal. Just heard it was. Never saw any signage to the effect and nothing at the official website.

robow

Another question, is the prevailing wind mostly from the south, say in late April or early May? Just wondering if anyone has rented a vehicle one-way to or from Nashville if the charter bus thing isn't available. As always, thanks for your input.

gorshkov

Stealth camping on the parkway is illegal. That being said, it isn't patrolled much at all, and there is almost no traffic after dark, so as long as there is some vegetation between you and the road you are fine. The old trace intersects the road frequently, and provides a good way to get some distance off the parkway without crashing through bushes.

Map tester

I have this book and it might provide some answers to your questions: Bicycling the Natchez Trace: A Guide to the Natchez Trace Parkway and Nearby Scenic Routes (Paperback)

(No connection with author or book publishing--just seemed like a well-written book)

joel2old

their is plenty of information on the Natchez on the internet but no real information on returning to the starting point of your trip.

If anyone is planning on doing the trip from Natchez to Nashiville some time around April please let me know. Maybe we can arrange a car exchange for both are returns? You ride one direction and then drive the car back. Works for me and hopefully you.

Enthusiast

I rode from Nashville to just past Jackson, MS on the Trace as part of a larger tour this fall. Loved it. Stealth camping is really easy as there is essentially no habitation within eyesight of most of the Trace. There are also several free campgrounds along the route, so I never found the need to stealth camp. Pick up one of the great free maps provided by the park service at all the stops. It seemed like there was a little historical stop of some kind every 5 miles. Also, stop to eat in French Camp, MS, the cafe there had excellent food and people.

Sorry I can't really help you with transportation. Have you looked into Greyhound or Amtrak? I had several friends take the bus from Natchez to New Orleans when they were finished.

robow

No Amtrak, but Greyhound will take you from one end to the other for only a 12 1/2 hour ride, ha

bobframe

Pay attention to your food and water. I ran out of water in 90+ degree weather while rising to Natchez and it got pretty testy. I found VERY limited services on the Trace- so my advice is fill the water bottles every chance you get.

BTW, I got to ride my bike across that Mississippi River bridge in Natchez before it was open to vehicles. Had the entire bridge to myself- very cool.

Enthusiast

Faster than cycling back!

Skjellyfetti

I just did the Natchez Trace about a month ago.

Just wanted to add that the bridge over the Mississippi at Natchez is very doable. There are two bridges... the westbound bridge is the old one with no shoulder. The eastbound bridge is new and has a wide shoulder. If you don't mind riding against traffic for a bit it's no problem:

mev

I rode the Natchez Trace from Nashville, TN to Jackson, MS. To get back, I rented an automobile one way.

bobframe

How much of the Trace did you ride?

robow

Joel2,
Natchez Enterprise rental would rent a truck for one way to Nashville for about $335 for the 530 miles. A few people would make it more reasonable.

Gavush

I have it too and have read it from front to back a couple of times... great book. I'm Looking forward to doing Nashville to Natchez when the kids (4) get older and I can get away without the Mrs going insane since I'm an 18 mile bike ride away from mile marker 440.

Gavush

Looks like I might try to do this ride first week in June, south to north, though I need to sort out how I'm to get down there, since it's a bit of a haul for ths Mrs to drop me off...

fdmsiv

+1 to Bicycling the Natchez Trace: A Guide to the Natchez Trace Parkway and Nearby Scenic Routes (Paperback).

I went to the Natchez Trace Park website and submitted my name and address for more information. I received a very nice trail map along with some good information regarding stops and lodging, was very much worth the price, free.

I was planning to ride south to north in 2nd week of march but due to a pothole and a nasty endo I had to have my shoulder surgically repaired (Gr. 4 AC sep.) and don't think I'll be healed enough to go.

Good luck on your ride!

cyccommute 

Glen Wanner's guide is very good. Get it before hand and read about some of the routes off the Trace. Frankly, I found the Trace itself to be a little tedious after a few days...but then I'm a plains boy and have always had problems with too many trees. Too many trees for me. This is a forest where I come from



This is a dense forest



You can see what my problem with trees might be

bullwinkle

+1 again on the Warner book. I've ridden parts of the Trace a number of times, and rode the entire length (south to north) 3 yr ago. Winds are generally from the south. Lots of chip seal pavement these days as the NPS is getting cutbacks just like everyone else. Light traffic for the most part, but watch yourself in the areas around Tupelo and Jackson MS. The Trace is used as a commute route by lots of folks in those areas. I did a credit card tour, staying in motels and B/Bs, so I can't comment on camping.

lphilpot

Well, I'm from Louisiana, where it's either swamp or dense pine forest and I can understand your tedium with the Trace. I've driven parts of it more than once and it's nice for a while, but what I've seen is all very much alike - Little variety.

But, the comment upthread about the little restaurant in French Camp is dead on. It's called the Council House Restaurant, part of French Camp Academy. Recommended.

cyccommute 

The Council House is worth a stop. We stayed the night at the bed and breakfast at French Camp. Nice place.

By the way in the middle of that picture is an American Pronghorn



She's running at about 40 mph.

scroca

I am planning to do the Natchez Trace Parkway with my son in early March. I am trying to find info on elevation. I know it is hilly up around Nashville where it is around 460 ft and that it is 50 -100 ft in Natchez, MS. For this reason I am thinking I'd rather tend downhill by going North to South.

Any ideas about this?

Anyone know of a good reference for elevation or topo maps? Couldn't find it on the official NPS website.

cyccommute 

Try Ride with GPS. Here's a map I made that runs from Natchez to Nashville. We rode from Nashville south

scroca

Thanks, I appreciate it.

scroca

To answer my own question about elevation on the Parkway, I found these sites:

https://www.milebymile.com/main/Unite...Tennessee.html

https://www.milebymile.com/main/Unite...__Alabama.html

https://www.milebymile.com/main/Unite...ssissippi.html

Can't vouch for the accuracy, but I'd think they are at least reasonably close.