Motorcycling the Natchez Trace

DBrentMiller · 04-20-2010, 04:27 AM

Ever want to take a 450-mile ride through the park? Try the Natchez Trace Parkway, a National Park. I recently rode the Trace from Nashville to Natchez, MS.

Brent

dammitdave · 04-20-2010, 07:17 AM

Keep the history lessons coming. If only they had been this good in school. dd

mark444 · 04-20-2010, 09:55 AM

Makes me want to go now..........and I'm only a few hrs away (in B'ham). Thanks for the info.........really enjoyed it!!

mark444

DBrentMiller · 04-20-2010, 12:02 PM

Thanks. If you're going to ride the Trace AND camp, do it before July and August. The campsite hosts told me that the heat becomes pretty unbearable for tent camping during those months.

Brent

aldntn · 04-20-2010, 01:12 PM

450 mi, no stop signs, no traffic lights, very light traffic except around Nashville and Jackson MS. I love it all, but my favorite sections are the TN portion and the section from Jackson MS to Natchez MS. Stay within +5 on speed limits and you'll be OK.

Yes, hot and muggy in the summer.

Uncle Dude · 04-20-2010, 02:41 PM

Good stuff!

MKorn · 04-20-2010, 03:12 PM

Very well done ... thank you for sharing!

LashLarue · 04-20-2010, 07:39 PM

Brent,

Great report and thanks for the map idea. Question for you - at 6:30 you show the old trace and I am betting it is foot traffic only. Any chance those old paths are open to 2 wheels? Also, as a 450 mile park road, what was the posted speed limits?

(none) · 04-20-2010, 07:52 PM

Ah, another ADVer from Cinci! Looks like you had a great trip. Good video work.

GB · 04-21-2010, 03:26 AM

Looks great.. riding the Natchez Trace is highly under rated!

DBrentMiller · 04-21-2010, 05:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LashLarue

Great report and thanks for the map idea. Question for you - at 6:30 you show the old trace and I am betting it is foot traffic only. Any chance those old paths are open to 2 wheels? Also, as a 450 mile park road, what was the posted speed limits?

The posted speed limit for most of the parkway is 50 mph. There are a couple of places where it is reduced to 40 near the larger towns where there are several entrance/exits to the parkway.

My guess about riding the Old Trace is probably not, but I do not recall seeing any signs on the Trace prohibiting anything other than commercial vehicles. I could have overlooked those signs since I was wrapped up in the history. The Trace is a national park and national scenic trail because it is an historical and archeological treasure. The brochure states "All natural, historical, and archeological objects are protected by federal law." If you want a definitive answer to uses on the Old Trace, call the Natchez Trace Parkway in Tupelo, MS, 662-680-4027 or 800-305-7417.

One other item I did not mention: there are no gas stations or motels on the parkway. You have to get off the parkway and find them in the nearby towns.

Enjoy the ride. --Brent

Doubleplay · 04-21-2010, 06:54 AM

Thanks for the report. I would love to ride it but on my bicycle!!!!!

Too slow and too flat for a motorcycle.

Thorne · 04-21-2010, 07:57 AM

iloco · 04-21-2010, 08:14 AM

Great ride report.
After riding the Blue Ridge Pky for many years as it is right in my back door I now prefer the Natchez Trace Pky over the BRP. Much more relaxing ride and the day I rode from Tupelo Ms there was very little traffic. Saw many turkey and deer.
I spent the night with dwj-Donnie and Sheryl who were two on the nicest people a person could want to meet before getting on the Natchez Trace heading back to Nashville.
I am riding to Natchez, Ms before it gets to hot and ride it all the way back to Nashville, Tn as soon as I can get away for 4-5 days. I have some sickness in the family keeping me from going right now.
Anyone who hasn't ridden the Natchez I would say include it in your riding plans.

LashLarue · 04-21-2010, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doubleplay

Thanks for the report. I would love to ride it but on my bicycle!!!!!

Too slow and too flat for a motorcycle.

But it might be an ideal site for a tiddler or vintage bike run.

04-20-2010, 04:27 AM	#1
DBrentMiller ^OP Sojourn Publisher Joined: Feb 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH USA Oddometer: 432	Motorcycling the Natchez Trace Ever want to take a 450-mile ride through the park? Try the Natchez Trace Parkway, a National Park. I recently rode the Trace from Nashville to Natchez, MS. Brent __________________ D. Brent Miller, writer, photographer, producer www.DBrentMiller.com, Publisher of Sojourn Chronicles, Sojourn Chronicles on Facebook Currently riding a 2008 Suzuki V-Strom DL650.

04-20-2010, 07:17 AM	#2
dammitdave Beastly Adventurer Joined: Sep 2006 Location: Port Townsend, WA Oddometer: 1,122	I like it... Keep the history lessons coming. If only they had been this good in school. dd __________________ ...what this really wants is an outgoing, gregarious, driven, type A; an extrovert, Alpha male P.T. Barnum salesman type with little time left to examine his life or to worry about knocking things off the coffee table with his tail....John Burns I got the right gal when gas WAS $19 cents a gallon she's has put up with me for 58 years...AK Bike

04-20-2010, 09:55 AM	#3
mark444 Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Jan 2010 Location: Heart of Dixie........Alabamie Oddometer: 389	Great job Brent............. Makes me want to go now..........and I'm only a few hrs away (in B'ham). Thanks for the info.........really enjoyed it!! mark444

04-20-2010, 12:02 PM	#4
DBrentMiller ^OP Sojourn Publisher Joined: Feb 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH USA Oddometer: 432	Thanks. If you're going to ride the Trace AND camp, do it before July and August. The campsite hosts told me that the heat becomes pretty unbearable for tent camping during those months. Brent __________________ D. Brent Miller, writer, photographer, producer www.DBrentMiller.com, Publisher of Sojourn Chronicles, Sojourn Chronicles on Facebook Currently riding a 2008 Suzuki V-Strom DL650.

04-20-2010, 01:12 PM	#5
aldntn Vgo Joined: Feb 2009 Location: Nashville TN Oddometer: 236	NTP fun and relaxing 450 mi, no stop signs, no traffic lights, very light traffic except around Nashville and Jackson MS. I love it all, but my favorite sections are the TN portion and the section from Jackson MS to Natchez MS. Stay within +5 on speed limits and you'll be OK. Yes, hot and muggy in the summer. __________________ http://www.aldntn.bravejournal.com/ 09 DL650ABS

04-20-2010, 02:41 PM	#6
Uncle Dude Fierce Meerkat Joined: Jun 2009 Location: Elizabethtown, PA Oddometer: 132	Good stuff! __________________ Speed Trippin' Down the coast...http://advrider.com/forums/showthrea...eed+Trippin%27

04-20-2010, 03:12 PM	#7
MKorn 2whl Addict Joined: Aug 2007 Location: Middle of the Mitten Oddometer: 526	Very well done ... thank you for sharing! __________________ Always looking for a place to ride ! 13 F800GS 09 Concours 14 ABS (sold) 02 Nighthawk 750 (sold) 06 DRz 400s

04-20-2010, 07:39 PM	#8
LashLarue Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Jul 2009 Location: Dallas Oddometer: 122	Brent, Great report and thanks for the map idea. Question for you - at 6:30 you show the old trace and I am betting it is foot traffic only. Any chance those old paths are open to 2 wheels? Also, as a 450 mile park road, what was the posted speed limits?

04-20-2010, 07:52 PM	#9
(none) poser Joined: Jan 2007 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Oddometer: 2,481	Ah, another ADVer from Cinci! Looks like you had a great trip. Good video work. __________________ Current: 2001 R1150GS 1981 CB650 Custom 2011 Golf TDI - New tow rig

04-21-2010, 03:26 AM	#10
GB Mod Squad Joined: Aug 2002 Location: Toronto, ON Oddometer: 53,454	Looks great.. riding the Natchez Trace is highly under rated! __________________ ADV decals, patches & flag? Here

04-21-2010, 06:54 AM	#12
Doubleplay Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Dec 2005 Location: Charlotte, NC Oddometer: 313	Thanks for the report. I would love to ride it but on my bicycle!!!!! Too slow and too flat for a motorcycle. __________________ One man's adventure might be another man's daily ride 09 R1200GS LE

04-21-2010, 07:57 AM	#13
Thorne Sherpa-ing around Joined: Oct 2008 Location: Lone Pine, ON, Canada Oddometer: 1,196	__________________ I'd rather die living than live dying.

04-21-2010, 08:14 AM	#14
iloco GL1800 Rider Joined: Oct 2005 Location: Chilhowie, Va Oddometer: 268	Great ride report. After riding the Blue Ridge Pky for many years as it is right in my back door I now prefer the Natchez Trace Pky over the BRP. Much more relaxing ride and the day I rode from Tupelo Ms there was very little traffic. Saw many turkey and deer. I spent the night with dwj-Donnie and Sheryl who were two on the nicest people a person could want to meet before getting on the Natchez Trace heading back to Nashville. I am riding to Natchez, Ms before it gets to hot and ride it all the way back to Nashville, Tn as soon as I can get away for 4-5 days. I have some sickness in the family keeping me from going right now. Anyone who hasn't ridden the Natchez I would say include it in your riding plans. __________________ 2006 Suzuki DL650

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