Ever wonder what it's like to bike the Trace?

Here are some of the best videos which show bicyclists riding along the Natchez Trace Parkway -- either as part of an organized ride, or on their own.

Enjoy!

Pete asked a lot of good questions about what to expect when you're biking from one end of the Natchez Trace Parkway to the other.

Thanks to WeathermanTim for answering the wind & weather questions. Now, I'll try my hand at the rest...

I figure lots of long-distance cyclists will have the same questions about biking from end to end on the Trace, so I've decided to make it an article.

What follows is a growing collection of quotes from bicyclists who have pedaled their bikes along the Natchez Trace Parkway.

Hear firsthand from other who've been there, done that...

REI (one of my favorite places to buy outdoor gear here in Nashville) is hosting a 4-day bike ride which includes portions of the Natchez Trace Parkway.

The Natchez Trace Parkway has been ranked among the Top 10 rides in the U.S., and we have selected some of the northern stretch's best accommodations, activities and dining for this unique cultural, historic, and scenic weekend tour. This getaway will showcase the contrasting urban and natural environments of middle Tennessee, from the bright lights of Nashville - its streets lined with history and honkey-tonks, to the quiet horse farms of the surrounding counties." Source

Got a question from a bicyclist today...

I'm from Indiana and have found a wealth of information about the parkway and bicycling it with schedules, campgrounds, etc. The one critical piece of information I am missing is where do you leave your car? I'd be leaving from the North end and traveling to Tupelo. Any suggestions?" -- Noah

Good question!

I'm often asked questions like, "How much bike traffic is there on the Trace?"

And when it comes to motorcycles, cars, trucks & RV's... "How many people drive on the Natchez Trace Parkway anyway?"

The Natchez Trace Parkway map is nice, but it doesn't show all of the stops along the way. It only shows the largest and most pertinent ones -- in the eyes of the National Park Service.

I thought I'd share with you some of the "hidden gems" that can be found along the Trace, most of which are not included on the official map.

The following Natchez Trace Parkway sightseeing locations are numbered in order, as if you're entering the Trace at Highway 100 (Nashville/Bellevue, TN), then heading north and exiting at Highway 96 (Franklin, TN). This route spans just over 5 miles (one way).

Shannon Bowers, from Loxley Alabama, lost her only brother, Braden Bowers, in a February 2006 car crash on Interstate 10 in the Florida panhandle.

He swerved to avoid a car, slid across the median into oncoming traffic and was hit by another car. He died instantly.

To draw attention to the need for barriers in medians of four-lane and interstate highways, Shannon Bowers is bicycling the entire length of the Natchez Trace Parkway.

Every highway patrolman has said if there had been a median barrier ... my brother would have probably survived," said Bowers. Source

Motorcycles... and bicycles... and cars... oh my!

Truth is, those are only some of the vehicles you'll find sharing the road on the Natchez Trace Parkway...

The Natchez Trace has been designated as one of the Top 10 U.S. Biking Routes.

In fact, the entire length of the Natchez Trace Parkway is designated as a bicycle tour route. However, there are no shoulders or designated bike lanes.

Here are some tips for bicycling on the Natchez Trace Parkway...