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Natchez Trace Parkway Bike Tour: Highlights

A Bucket List Ride Through 10,000 Years of History

The Natchez Trace Parkway is one of North America’s best hidden gems. With vast stretches of twisty roadway with little vehicle traffic, tremendous scenery over ridges and through isolated hollows, undulating terrain with no big climbing, and with many small friendly towns steeped in history, it is no wonder that the Natchez Trace (also known simply as the “Trace”) is a destination for many cyclists looking to reconnect with nature while pursuing their love of cycling.

The Natchez Trace, also known as the “Old Natchez Trace”, was a historical footpath that extended roughly 440 miles from Natchez, Mississippi, to Nashville, Tennessee. Estimated to be more than 10,000 years old, the Old Natchez Trace was first created by migrating animals and then used for centuries by the regional tribes including the Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, and Natchez, for trade and travel. After the Americas were formed, the Trace was then used by early European and American explorers, traders, and emigrants in the late 18th and early 19th centuries as a route to the “wild frontier”, which at the time was along the eastern banks of the Mississippi River. In the 1800s boatmen known as the Kaintucks would float barges of goods down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to Vicksburg, Natchez, Baton Rouge, and other points south. After they sold their goods and the timber from their barges, the Kaintucks would travel by foot on the Trace to return north to Nashville, Tennessee to repeat the journey. Today, the trail is commemorated by the 440-mile Natchez Trace Parkway, which is a modern highway that follows the approximate path of the Old Natchez Trace.

The riding experience on the Trace is similar to a 440+ mile “bike path” with no stop signs, no large cities, very low traffic, a wonderfully smooth surface, beautiful scenery, and tons of history… you just ride without a worry!

This is one of our most popular tours and tour dates fill up quickly, so make your reservations NOW to secure your spot!

Why Ride the Natchez Trace from South to North?

That is a great question and we are glad that you asked! Unlike many other outfits offering multi-day cycling tours along the Natchez Trace Parkway, we did our research and discovered that a South to North tour is just a better overall experience. Here are a few reasons why:

1. Mile Markers: On the 440+ mile Natchez Trace Parkway, Mile Marker 0 starts in Natchez, Mississippi. Plus, it is more fun to add up miles rather than count down!
2. The Sun: When riding from South to North, the sun is primarily behind the riders for the duration of the tour allowing one to enjoy the scenery along the way and not be blinded by the sun in the rider’s view, as it does from North to South.
3. Wind: The prevailing winds in this region come from the Southwest to West and traveling the Natchez Trace from South to North is primarily in a Northeasterly direction, thus the likelihood of a tailwind is greater… although not guaranteed, of course!
4. History: The previously mentioned Kaintucks would travel by foot or horseback back North along the Natchez Trace to Nashville. As one rides North they retrace the historical route that the Kaintucks (who were now loaded with cash!) took as they faced a daunting and sometimes dangerous trek as they battled the environment, the natives, and sometimes, an ambush from robbers!
5. Seasons: Riding from South to North along the Natchez Trace in early autumn is a metaphorical transition from the summer into the autumn season as one enjoys cooler temps and autumn-like foliage entering into Tennessee at the end of the week. Also, when riding from South to North in the spring, riders enjoy increasing spring-like conditions and wildflowers as they travel from the warmer summer-like climate of the deep South.
6. Fitness: Riding from North to South is just as “hilly” as it is riding from South to North. However, with the flatter terrain in Mississippi and the hillier terrain in Tennessee, going from South to North allows a rider to “acclimate” along those flatter miles during the first five days of the tour, making the hills of Tennessee seem easier to ride at the end of the week after gaining better fitness.
7. Logistics: Riding from South to North makes the end of tour logistics easier for riders, since they end up back at their car in Nashville, take a plane back home, or stay a few days in Nashville to enjoy the music scene. The closest airport to Natchez is in Jackson, Mississippi, 2.5 hours to the northeast, or shuttling back to Nashville from Natchez by car, which is an entire day’s drive. Taking care of these travel logistics pre-tour makes for a much more enjoyable post-tour experience.

Lizard Head Cycling Guides is the originator of the South to North cycling tour experience along the Natchez Trace Parkway. If you see another cycling tour company offering this version, they copied us!

We have run this tour over 45 times since we first introduced it back in 2016 and over that time we have gained nearly 40,000 miles of guiding experience along the Natchez Trace Parkway. Come ride the Natchez Trace Parkway with Lizard Head Cycling Guides to have the best experience possible along this amazing ribbon of road.

☛ Read about this tour by author Stephen Foehr in his book “8 U.S. Bike Tours Historical Routes” available in paperback or on Kindle via Amazon.

Natchez Trace Parkway Bike Tour: Testimonials

Read what previous guests on our Natchez Trace Parkway bike tour have been saying…

Thanks so much to Peter and David for a wonderful tour. It was a week to remember and for myself, a personal challenge met with so many consistent days of riding long miles. But the road was smooth and the scenery pleasant and company wonderful! – Sherri

Thank you for a wonderful tour. Here’s feedback on my experience:

• The tour was well thought out, planned and executed. I could tell that many years have gone into making it all work perfectly.
• Peter and Greg are awesome guides. Peter knows the Trace and its history like the back of his hand. Greg is mellow but also super fun. He always had fun stories to share. Both made absolutely sure that we were always safe, hydrated, well fed and having a great time.
• The food was excellent. Peter is an superb cook. Plus we always received good restaurant recommendations for the on-your-own meals.
• I enjoyed the mix of unique old B&Bs and modern hotels.
• Overall, it was a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Can’t think of anything I would change.

Based on riding the Natchez Trace with Lizard Head, I hope to join you for many more tours. – Gina

I had a great time on the Natchez Trace tour. Just what I needed to get out of the winter cold and wind and rain here in Pennsylvania with a good long ride with lots of miles in warm weather. Peter and Greg did an outstanding job as guides. They shared a lot about the history and the route and the stops we made. I had never experienced these places and knew nothing about the history. It was my first time to Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee. We also had a good group of cyclists on the tour that were fun to ride with, and we were all kind of together. I had a great time. – Curtis

It was a great trip! Peter and Greg did a great job keeping us organized and were good company, and the food and cultural side trips exceeded expectations! Communication was thorough and timely, lodging was eclectic and comfortable, and the route was as expected – pleasant, rolling and mostly low traffic. – Doug

Thank you Peter and Greg for your strong leadership of our journey along the Trace. 450 miles of cycling in a week was an ambitious undertaking for us, but your clear guidance, optimistic outlook, wonderful snacks, lunches (especially salads) and dinner in French Camp, and final-day meteorological magic, were each important contributors to us achieving our goal. We also greatly enjoyed learning about the sights and history along the way. – Charles and Sheila

The tour was great! The mix of accommodations was fun and the food was hearty and tasty. The route was beautiful! I want to give a special shout out to our guides, Rick and Peter. Very knowledgeable about the Natchez Trace and its history and always going beyond expectations to make sure all of us riders had everything we needed for a spectacular tour. – Wayne

This was all in all a great ride. It is my second with Lizard Head and won’t be my last. I enjoyed the choice of hotels and restaurants, not just the run of the mill accommodations. The support team, Peter and MJ, did a great job – always good food, including variety, at stops. The communication prior to the ride was complete and there were no surprises. Thanks for putting together a great tour and I will look forward to my next. – Craig

My friends and I just got back home from our Natchez Trace trip, and wanted to let you know we had a fabulous experience, largely due to our guides, Heidi and Peter. Peter is so knowledgeable about the area and its history, and has a deft touch with food. But, for me, the trip was made by Heidi, who has a real gift for interacting with customers, and made each of us feel so welcomed and cared for. Trust me, thanks to Peter and, particularly, Heidi, this will not be my last Lizard Head tour. Thanks! – Kevin

I want to tell you how much I enjoyed the (Natchez Trace Tour)! Our guides Wylie and Matt were super guides. Both are multi talented, doing whatever they could to make our trip enjoyable. The trip was very enjoyable, and I look forward to another tour with Lizard Head in the near future. I will definitely recommend your company to my fellow cyclists whenever I have an opportunity. – Allen B.

Absolutely no complaints about the trip. Both Peter and Roy were fantastic. We had a few special requests and everything was done with enthusiasm and a smile. These two are professionals and you are lucky to have them. – Anthony

Just a short note to tell you how much I enjoyed the Natchez Trace tour. First and foremost, the tour leaders Peter and Rick were fantastic. You could not ask for better people to lead this tour.

I thought the accommodations were great. I really liked the mix of Southern Charm, local and historic and more modern hotels.

The food on the trail was fantastic. The breakfasts were great and hearty. The dinners were good and liked that you did not place limits on what could be ordered.

I really enjoyed the mix of people with whom we rode. From some folks that had never ridden a road bike before, to a guy who was one of the best cyclist I have ever ridden with, everyone had fun.

I hope to save up my pennies and do another tour with your company soon. But until then, I will sing your praises. – Perry

The Natchez Trace tour was my first tour. I will say Peter and Rick set a very high bar… it was a wonderful experience. The route, the support and the group were all awesome. I can’t say enough about Peter and Rick – they worked super hard, went above and beyond with things like cooking meals on two evenings and making the overall experience truly memorable. I will definitely be back on another tour in 2022!! – Jeremy

Thanks again for another fantastic tour! We enjoyed our perfect tour very much and certainly plan to come back to Lizard Head for more tours. – Joanna

Peter and Rick were great, one of the best bike tours I have done (this was #37). They were relaxed and in control the whole way, and pulled off some amazing “home” cooked meals along the way. A great zen like ride, loved it! – Scott

I have just completed the Natchez Trace Tour with Peter and Rick as my guides. They did an outstanding job managing my food allergies! Thank you and your company for helping it to be a fantastic week tour. – Jane

Never having been on a Lizard Head trip before, this trip was a great new experience for me. The real adventure is seeing a new part of the country, and meeting new friends that share a passion to be active, outside, and sharing ideas. I think I came up with a new life principal on this trip, “It’s never too late to have a happy childhood!” – Paul

I had an absolutely wonderful week on the Natchez Trace. We were fortunate to have participants who had common values in addition to cycling. We could roll, eat and sleep trouble free. I look forward to my next trip with LHCG. – Paula

I was highly impressed with Peter and Rick on the recent Natchez Trace ride. Punctual, efficient, knowledgable, always offering above and beyond service. They set the tone for your company. The accommodations were varied and terrific. The miles per day were perfect, not the ho-hum 20-40 mils per day. I ride a Scott CR Pro so was pleased that you use Scott bikes. I recommend the trip to my friends. – Stephen

Click here for a wonderful narrative of the our Natchez Trace Parkway bike tour by Stephen.

I was able to have a(n) enjoyable trip. The credit definitely goes to Peter and Roy … (t)hey are consummate professionals and a credit to your company. I would definitely love to take another trip with either or both of them. – Deb

The Natchez Trace Parkway Tour was my first tour with the Lizard Head Cycling Guides, but it won’t be my last. I have cycled with another company Coast to Coast and they couldn’t light a candle compared to your company! Roy and Peter, our guides, were consummate professionals. They handled our luggage, made delicious lunches, maintained our bikes, took turns cycling with us, provided side excursions to Elvis’s home in Tupelo, Sonics, Waterfalls, etc., as well as van transportation to our lodging. Wow! They truly made the cycling experience a special one.

The lodging was a mix of unique B&B’s, hotels, cabins, and even a mansion! Sweet! The restaurants were great as well. I enjoyed ordering anything from the menu including dessert. The route and directions were easy, albeit back to back 85+ mile days were a challenge. But I was there to cycle and meet the challenge of cycling the Natchez Trace Parkway.

Thank you again for a memorable cycling tour! – Jenny

This trip exceeded my expectations in many ways:

1. Manicured wilderness for 450 miles — like being on a Yellow Brick Road through an Appalachian Spring. Quite exhilarating and mostly NO TRAFFIC! I swear there was only one car on day one (OK, there was a threat of tornado, but more on that later)

2. The spring foliage and flowers were mesmerizing. Fields of red clover (never seen before), delightful azaleas, brilliant dogwoods, and lots of other flowers.

3. The route leant itself extremely well to perfectly spaced and safe break locations.

4. I really loved the small towns for their charm, authenticity and one-of-a-kind uniqueness. And of course supremely friendly hospitable people. Completely unpretentious. The manor in Vicksburg blew me away. The caretaker casually and graciously made us old fashioneds with well-muddled cherries as tornadoes were passing overhead (touched down only 4 miles away!). Talk about keeping cool in the eye of the storm. That evening added some exciting adventurous spice to the tour.

5. Guides also kept their cool while they kept their eye on the radar, etc. The guides were a good blend of personalities (one more free-spirited, the other more grounded).

Dave

(The Natchez Trace) has been on my bucket list for years, but I’ve been unable to do it. I can’t begin to tell you how WONDERFUL it was, how GREAT the food and lodging were, and how AMAZING Peter and Roy are! I am not a fast rider, and they still made me feel as if I was … ‘Lance’ … lol. – Lori

Kent and I had a fun time on the ride from Natchez to Nashville. Peter, Peter and Anna did a great job handling all the logistics which many times were quite tricky. – Linda

I just wanted you know that Candice and I really appreciated your energy, consideration, and organization this past week of cycling. Although some days were tough we felt a sense of accomplishment at the end of the tour. – Cathy

I am back from the Trace and just wanted to let you know that I had a really good time. History element was a big part of it. I especially want to let you know how good a job Matt and Peter did. They were professional, calm and super guides. – Lucy

I just completed the Natchez Trace Bicycle Tour. It was a great tour. The route was outstanding. Limited auto traffic and very courteous drivers that went out of their way to be polite. Peter and Anna are the best tour guides I have ever ridden with. They made road details clear and easy to understand. They were very supportive for all the riders regardless of a rider’s pace. They kept us all properly supplied with water and nutrients during the ride. Their professionalism is definitely 5 star! Thank you for the tour. I am glad I choose this tour from the Lizard Head list. – Jeff D.

Natchez Trace Parkway Bike Tour: Dates

This is one of our most popular tours and tour dates fill up quickly, so make your reservations NOW to secure your spot!

Potential tour dates are listed below and not all tour dates will run. Lock in your preferred tour date early as unopened tour dates will be closed. Please see the Spring/Autumn Tour Calendar and the Summer Tour Calendar for confirmed departures. Any unopened date can be a Custom Week (9 riders required). Please contact us via email or call 970.728.5891

This tour is well suited for custom groups with the standard 7-Day tour itinerary, or custom tour itineraries between 5 to 10 days in length depending on how many miles your group wishes to ride per day and how many points of interest we visit along the way. Please contact us to learn more about custom tours along the Natchez Trace Parkway.

4-Day and 5-Day Tours: The standard tour is 7 days in length. If you want the 4-Day or 5-Day tour, please select either “Natchez Trace 4-Day” or “Natchez Trace 5-Day” on the registration form. The 4-Day or 5-Day tours can run concurrently with the 7-Day tour.

2026 Spring Tour Dates

These dates are ideal to experience the beauty of spring flowers along the parkway!

• March 28 to April 3, 2026 Saturday to Friday (Book Now!)

• April 6 to 12, 2026 Monday to Sunday (Book Now!)
• April 16 to 22, 2026 Thursday to Wednesday (Book Now!) – TOUR A GO!
• April 25 to May 1, 2026 Saturday to Friday (Book Now!) – TOUR A GO!

2026 Special 10-Day Tour!

• September 26 to October 5, 2026 Special 10-Day Tour (Book Now!) – TOUR A GO!
  A lower mileage, more casual tour along the Natchez Trace Parkway with two layover days in Vicksburg, Mississippi and Florence, Alabama to explore the local history. Additional details are coming soon…

2026 Autumn Tour Dates

Enjoy the cooler early autumn weather and fall foliage along the Trace on these dates!

• October 10 to 16, 2026 Saturday to Friday – PRIVATE TOUR
• October 19 to 25, 2026 Monday to Sunday (Book Now!)
• October 28 to November 3, 2026 Wednesday to Tuesday (Book Now!) – TOUR OPENED

Tour Status Notes: NO STATUS = Date Set, no riders have signed up. TOUR OPENED = Tour Opened, rider minimums not met. TOUR A GO! = Tour is Go, rider minimums met. SOLD OUT = Tour Full, rider maximums met.

Why Should You Sign Up Now And OPEN A Tour Date?
This is the proverbial chicken and the egg conundrum! We need our cyclists to first commit to the date that works for them so we can commit to that date.

When you OPEN a date, you get to pick your preferred departure and there is no penalty if the tour does not run. Once you pick your tour date, Lizard Head closes nearby dates and funnels all additional riders to your chosen date until the tour meets the rider minimum. Don't wait. Just do it!

BONUS: As an added bonus, we can also hold a spot for you on another tour date of your choosing. There is no fee to switch to another tour date.

NOTE: In anticipation and encouragement of future tour sign-ups prior to reaching the tour minimum, the Lizard Head Cycling website may be updated to show TOUR A GO prior to actual tour confirmation. Even if the website says that the tour is a GO, please wait for your official Email Confirmation before booking non-refundable travel reservations.

Natchez Trace Parkway Bike Tour: Overview

This tour is well suited for custom groups with the standard 7-Day tour itinerary, or custom tour itineraries between 5 to 10 days in length depending on how many miles your group wishes to ride per day and how many points of interest we visit along the way. Please contact us to learn more about custom tours along the Natchez Trace Parkway.

Tour Length: 7-Days Cycling/6-Nights Lodging is the standard tour length

Tour Length Variations: Please note that the 4-Day or 5-Day tours can run concurrently with the 7-Day tour. The 10-Day tour is a standalone tour.

• 4-Days Cycling/4-Nights Lodging: Natchez to Tupelo with 280 miles of cycling.
• 5-Days Cycling/5-Nights Lodging: Ridgeland to Nashville with 350 miles of cycling.
• 10-Days Total/8-Days Cycling/9-Nights Lodging: Natchez to Nashville with 300-350 miles of cycling.

Tour Length Details: Please click on the tabs below below to see more details and information, including pricing, for each Natchez Trace tour variation. Please contact us if you need additional information.

Holiday Discount - Register for a 6-Day or longer 2026 road bike tour before January 1, 2026 and take $150 off. Applies to road bike tours and new registrations only. Please make sure to mention this offer when you register.
Excludes Self-Guided tours. Tour discounts cannot be combined nor are they stackable with any other discounts or promotions.

 

Ability Level: Intermediate (2/3)  to Upper Intermediate (3) 
There are moderate climbs on the last two days of this tour, but overall there are very few big climbs along most of the Trace, which makes even the longer mileage days relatively easy. Please do not be intimidated by the overall mileage for this tour, as our guides can advise you on the best part to ride for any given day so that you can “bump” ahead. This is a very leisurely tour along a magnificent ribbon of extremely well-maintained pavement.

Non-Riding Spouses & Partners on Tour: If a non-riding spouse or partner would like to join you on tour, and they have their own transportation, they can stay in your room for the cost of the tour's single room supplement. Drivers of personal vehicles are responsible for their own park entrance passes when needed. We cover park entrance fees for cyclists. Please note that non-riders cannot check into hotels prior to guide arrival as the guides need to manage the check-in process. Checking in a large group can be challenging and take longer than normal, so non-riders need to hang back and be patient. Non-riding spouses and partners are welcome to join the Lizard Head meal plan, which includes breakfasts and dinners for $75 per day. Note: Lunches are not included for non-riders driving their own vehicles due to the inherent variability of both lunch timing and locations. Non-riders should plan to explore each day.

7-Day Tour Lodging Includes 6 Nights: (subject to change based on availability) The 5-Day lodging is 5 nights (Nights 2-6 below) and the 4-Day lodging is 4 nights (Nights 1-4 below).

Please note that due to the historic nature of some of the accommodations, those choosing the single room supplement may have a shared bathroom with one other person on some nights. Otherwise, the rooms are private.

• Night 1: Anchuca (outdoor pool) or The Duff Green Mansion (outdoor pool), Vicksburg, MS
• Night 2: TownePlace Suites (compact kitchen, on-site laundry), Ridgeland, MS
• Night 3: French Camp Bed & Breakfast, French Camp, MS
• Night 4: Hotel Tupelo, Tupelo, MS
• Night 5: Hampton Inn (indoor pool, on-site laundry), Florence, AL
• Night 6: Commodore Hotel & Cafe, Linden, TN

10-Day Tour Lodging Includes 9 Nights: (subject to change based on availability)

• Nights 1 & 2: Anchuca (outdoor pool) or The Duff Green Mansion (outdoor pool), Vicksburg, MS
• Night 3: TownePlace Suites (compact kitchen, on-site laundry), Ridgeland, MS
• Night 4: French Camp Bed & Breakfast, French Camp, MS
• Night 5: Daisy’s On the Square Hotel or Trailhead Bike & Bed (hot tub, outdoor kitchen, on-site laundry), Houston MS
• Night 6: Hotel Tupelo, Tupelo, MS
• Nights 7 & 8: Hampton Inn (indoor pool, on-site laundry), Florence, AL
• Night 9: Commodore Hotel & Cafe, Linden, TN

Meeting Hotel and Ending Hotel reservations and costs are NOT included unless specified otherwise. Guests are on their own to make reservations at the Meeting Hotel or Ending Hotel, or other nearby hotels.

Road Bike Rentals

The make, model, and specifications of rental bikes may differ from what is described below. Please contact us if you have any specific needs or have any questions about our rental bikes.

Lizard Head Cycling Guides is proud to rent Scott Bikes. The Scott Addict 10 Disc was designed from the ground up with those longer days in mind. With geometry that is less focused on racing and more on enduring, the Addict 10 will be your go-to when you’re looking to put the miles in.

The Scott Addict 10 Disc features: Carbon Frame and Fork, Shimano Ultegra 2x11 Drivetrain, 34x32 Compact Gearing, 30mm Tires, and Hydraulic Disc Brakes. Approx. Weight: 16.89 lbs / 7.66 kg (without pedals)

Road E-Bike Rentals

Click Here for more information on our Road E-Bike Rentals, including pricing. E-Bike rental availability is limited, so please reserve early. Although E-Bikes are great, our tours were originally designed to be ridden without motorized assistance. We keep our cyclists together with a variety of techniques, including staggered starts and "bumps" along the road.

If you have any further questions, please read more on our Rental Bikes FAQ page. You can also email us at info@lizardheadcyclingguides.com or call us at 970.728.5891

☛ Learn more about our Rental Bikes and Equipment

Meals On Tour

Lizard Head Cycling Guides provides most meals on all tours (unless otherwise noted), including breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Guides will prepare a daily lunch en route for nearly every tour, both road and off-road, as well as provide nutritious snacks at periodic aid stations during the day.

Most of our road tours utilize local restaurants for all meals and, occasionally, guides may prepare a dinner or two during a tour. Due to the nature of being "off the grid", most of our off-road tours feature guides preparing meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. FUN NOTE: When guides prepare a meal in camp and the guests sit around and watch, this is called "Guide TV".

We also pride ourselves on being able to cater to specific dietary requests and needs, so rest assured that you will be able to get the nutrition that works best for you during your tour. Gluten free, Dairy free, Vegan, or someone who loves it all – we will keep you well-fed during the tour!

Lunches: Lizard Head Cycling Guides prepare healthy lunches to keep you going. We will serve you fresh organic fruits and veggies, salads, hummus, sandwich fixings, nuts, gourmet cheeses and, of course, plenty of salty/sweet snacks such as chips and cookies.

Dinners: On our road tours, Lizard Head Cycling sources our favorite restaurants in each town that we visit. Our guides focus on establishments that offer fresh and local ingredients and guests choose whatever they desire to eat off the menu, including: appetizer, salad, entrée, and of course, dessert... yum! Also, while on tour, if a guest wants to dine early before the group and go to bed, this is fine. We understand that on some days, sleep is the most important post-ride element.

Ability Level: Can I Ride This Tour?

Definition of Ability Levels

= Intermediate (2/3) Rides and/or takes spin classes 1 to 3 times a week for a total of 50 or more miles.
= Upper Intermediate (3) Rides and/or takes spin classes 2 to 4 times a week for a total of 75 or more miles.
= Advanced (3/4) Rides and/or takes spin classes 3 to 5 times a week for a total of 100 or more miles. Has ridden multi-day tours and done a century ride.
= Expert (4) Rides 4 or more times per week totaling 150 or more miles. Rides E.F.I. with regularity. Has done numerous multi-day tours, century rides and races.

How Fit do I Have to Be? If one month prior to the tour, you can ride 2 to 3 times a week, equaling a total of 75 or more miles a week, you'll do just fine. We like to jokingly say that "one is ready for a Lizard Head Cycling Tour when they are finished with the tour" and this is true! The only way to simulate a week-long bike tour is to go on a week-long bike tour.

Our average rider age is 55 years. These are bike tours, not races, so we take our time to stop, take pictures and see the sights. We have all day to reach our destination and most riders take "bumps" at some point. We offer reduced mileage options for each day. Of course, if someone wants to ride E.F.I. (Every Freaking Inch), we love to show them all the extra climbs, loops and hidden canyons that can be included!

Do the Bump! Daily mileage options allow cyclists of varying abilities to enjoy this tour. One of our favorite options is to give cyclists a "bump" via the support vehicle, or a 10 to 20-mile lift down the road representing an hour of pedal time. After the bump, the rider is "off the front" and riding at his or her own pace without feeling they are being left behind the group. They'll then have time to linger and take in the spectacular scenery. All cyclists come together in time for lunch. Afterward, cyclists can take another bump and/or continue riding.

Seamless Mileage Options. Lizard Head Cycling Guides designs multiple mileage options for each tour – something we're well known for in our business. This technique is similar to heliskiing in that one does not ski everything, they ski the best. 🙂

Slow or Fast? Many cyclists who sign up for our tours have worried themselves silly about not being able to keep up, but then they're surprised to find that all the worrying was about nothing. They do just fine! Slow and Fast only exist relative to other cyclists. Speed does not matter as long as one is moving on the bike. As long as one is moving, they are truly going fast enough.

Questions? If you have questions about your ability to ride this tour, please contact our office via email or call us at 970.728.5891, we will be more than happy to guide you!

Please also see this blog post for more information.

Overall Route Map

Below is an example of the daily routes for this tour, which are subject to change based on season, available accommodations, road closures, and other factors. The actual routes will be made available to registered participants before their tour, so please view these routes as a general outline of what to expect.

Natchez Trace Parkway Bike Tour: Itinerary*

*PLEASE NOTE: Tour itineraries are subject to change and modification based on the group, available accommodations, road construction, road closures, and other unforeseen circumstances including weather, wildfires, flooding, hurricanes, landslides and/or other acts of nature. Also, the distances and elevation profiles shown below may not reflect the actual distances and elevations while on tour as these are provided here to give an idea as to the anticipated mileage and terrain. Please view this itinerary, the distances, and elevation profiles as a general outline of what to expect while on this tour.

Day 0: Pre-Tour Travel Logistics

For the 7-Day and 4-Day Tours – Day 0 is the day before the tour starts. The below information is for planning purposes only. Complete and detailed logistics information will be included in your tour confirmation documents.

PRE-TOUR SHUTTLE FROM NASHVILLE, TN ON DAY 0 – A 6:30 AM pre-tour shuttle from Nashville, TN to Natchez, MS on Day 0 is available with Lizard Head Cycling Guides when reserved in advance. The cost is $105 per person which includes transport of you, your gear, and your bicycle. Please let us know in advance if you are bringing a tandem, a recumbent, a trike, an e-bike, a bicycle case, or any other cycling equipment so that we can accommodate them. We stop several times while en route for restroom breaks and food, but meals during the shuttle are not included. If you are driving to Nashville, we recommend that you leave your vehicle for long-term parking at the designated meeting/ending hotel.

• You must have stayed at the designated meeting/ending hotel in Nashville, TN to park long-term there, otherwise you will need to find other nearby long-term parking options.

PRE-TOUR SHUTTLE FROM JACKSON, MS ON DAY 0 – Guests fly into Jackson, MS (Jackson–Evers International Airport – JAN) on or before Day 0. A pre-tour shuttle from Jackson, MS to Natchez, MS on Day 0 is available with Lizard Head Cycling Guides when reserved in advance. The cost is $45 per person which includes transport of you, your gear, and your bicycle. Please let us know in advance if you are bringing a tandem, a recumbent, a trike, an e-bike, a bicycle case, or any other cycling equipment so that we can accommodate them. The shuttle arrives at the Jackson–Evers International Airport between 2:00-2:30 PM, departs no later than 2:30 PM, and arrives between 4:00-4:30 PM in Natchez, MS.

• Flight delays and cancellations are common when flying into Jackson–Evers International Airport. If possible, we highly recommend flying in a day early to help avoid this, but if you must fly in on Day 0, please make your flight arrival into Jackson, MS no later than 11:00 AM local time to help offset any possible delay.
• Oscar Davis at First Class Limo provides chauffeur service from Jackson to Natchez. The price will vary based on the vehicle and the number of passengers. Please contact him for details at 601-445-8034
• Natchez Grand (our meeting hotel) can send a 15-passenger shuttle van to the Jackson airport for transport to Natchez. Contact Judy (jgreen@natchez.com, or 601-446-9994) with a minimum of 48 hours advance notice. Credit card payment is accepted, and the base price is $400.
• Enterprise Rent-A-Car also offers one-way car rentals from Jackson, MS to Natchez, MS. However, please check with the Enterprise Rent-A-Car office in Natchez to ensure drop-off as their operational hours vary or they may not be open, especially on weekends.
• Guests are on-their-own for reservations at the designated meeting hotel in Natchez, or at other nearby hotels or inns this evening.

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5-Day Tour – Day 0 is the day before the tour starts. The information below is for planning purposes only. Complete and detailed logistics information will be included in your tour confirmation documents.

RIDE-SHARE SERVICE FROM JACKSON, MS AIRPORT TO RIDGELAND, MS ON DAY 0 – Guests fly into Jackson, MS (Jackson–Evers International Airport – JAN) on or before Day 0. Guests then hire a ride-share service from Jackson–Evers International Airport to the Night 0 accommodations in Ridgeland, MS. The distance from Jackson–Evers International Airport to Ridgeland is approximately 17 miles.

• While you could drive to the Night 0 lodging in Ridgeland, you will need to find your own transportation back to Ridgeland to retrieve your vehicle after the tour ends in Nashville.

Meeting Hotel and Ending Hotel reservations and costs are NOT included unless specified otherwise. Guests are on their own to make reservations at the Meeting Hotel or Ending Hotel, or other nearby hotels.

The 4-Day Itinerary runs from Day 1 to Day 4.
The 5-Day Itinerary runs from Day 3 to Day 7.

Day 1: Natchez to Port Gibson
47 miles with up to 1,940 feet of climbing

Our first day of the tour begins with a meet and greet of guests and guides, followed by a short presentation of the week ahead plus a brief history of the Natchez Trace. We will fit bikes, load gear into the support vehicle, and then saddle up to ride to the start of the Natchez Trace Parkway’s southern terminus to begin our week-long journey north.

Today’s route is low mileage so that riders can stretch their legs and get warmed up for the longer days ahead. At mile marker 10, riders make a short diversion from the Trace to view the Emerald Mound Site – an ancient ceremonial mound built by the ancestral Natchez that dates from the period between 1200 and 1730 A.D.

After Emerald Mound and back on route, riders will soon reach the Mount Locust Historic House, the last remaining stand (aka: inn) along the Trace and one of the oldest surviving structures in Mississippi. While riders take a tour of this house, guides will prepare a gourmet lunch in the parking area. After lunch, we finish the day by meandering our way along the Trace just past the small town of Port Gibson, MS (the town General Ulysses S. Grant proclaimed was “too beautiful to burn”) and end the ride at Sunken Trace – a beautifully preserved portion of the centuries-old deeply eroded Old Natchez Trace foot path.

From Sunken Trace we shuttle a short distance to Vicksburg, MS to check into the Anchuca Historic Mansion and Inn. Guests will have time before dinner to stroll this small town or to relax at the inn after the adventures of the day.

 

Day 2: Port Gibson to Ridgeland
64 miles with up to 2,140 feet of climbing

This day begins with a hearty Southern-style breakfast at Anchuca and then a shuttle back to the Natchez Trace Parkway to start at the Sunken Trace where we ended the previous day. During the morning’s ride we make a stop at Rocky Springs for a quick tour of the old Rocky Springs ghost town site.

After Rocky Springs, the route continues to thread its way through the dense ancient hardwood forests, past open pastures and fields with lunch held at Dean Stand. After lunch there is a stop at the Clinton Visitor Center for an aid station. The Center is constructed with period materials and period architectural details, including a porch and “dogtrot“, and has the look and authentic charm of one of the 19th century farmhouses once located along the Natchez Trace.

After departing the Center, we finish the last miles of our journey along the Chisha Foka Multi-Use Trail and leave the Trace to check into our lodging for the night in Ridgeland, MS.

 

Day 3: Ridgeland to French Camp
83 miles with up to 1,485 feet of climbing

On this third day of the tour, the mileage increases yet again, but since this is one of the flatter portions of the Trace, the miles you pedal today will pass by quickly. Departing the hotel, we make our way back onto the Chisha Foka Multi-Use Trail for the first five miles to the reservoir overlook. After departing the overlook, riders are back on the parkway and one of the highlights of this morning’s portion is the ride along the Barnett Reservoir for about 8 miles where wildlife such as egrets, herons, and even eagles can often be seen.

At mile marker 122, make a stop at the Cypress Swamp where a boardwalk trail leads over the murky waters through a tupelo and bald cypress swamp… make sure to watch for alligators! The lunch stop is held at the Kosciusko Information Center in Kosciusko, Mississippi – the town is named after General Tadeusz Kosciuszko, a Polish military genius and engineer who played a pivotal role in the American Revolutionary War.

By the end of the day, we arrive at the French Camp Historic District, a period reconstructed log-cabin village where riders can relax and a delectable southern dinner in this most remote area in all of Mississippi.

 

Day 4: French Camp to Tupelo
88 miles with up 2,350 feet of climbing

Today presents the longest day along the Trace. However, we will start early and riders will have plenty of time to casually pedal along, enjoying the scenery of the Red Clay Hills before settling into the bottom lands near the headwaters of the Big Black River. The miles will seem to zip by along this quiet section of the Trace, with only a few minor hills and minor changes in the uniform surroundings. Just past Houston, Mississippi are the Bynum Mounds – six burial mounds and an associated habitation area built between 100 B.C. and 100 A.D.

The ride ends at the Parkway Visitor Center and our destination for the evening is Tupelo, Mississippi – birthplace of Elvis Presley – where our lodging, dinner, and post-ride relaxation await.

 

Day 5: Tupelo to Florence
55 miles with up to 2,500 feet of climbing

This day offers lots of regional music history! Since we are in Tupelo, we visit the grounds of the Elvis Presley Birthplace for a walking tour of the park before our ride. We then shuttle a short distance back to the Trace to depart from the Parkway Visitor Center to continue our northward journey. Partway through our ride we make a stop at the Pharr Mounds – a complex of eight dome-shaped Tumulus burial mounds built between 100 and 200 A.D.

Departing Pharr Mounds, we soon cross the Tennessee–Tombigbee Waterway, a 234-mile waterway system from the Tennessee River to the junction of the Black Warrior-Tombigbee River, hence it’s nickname: the Tenn-Tom. Continuing northward along a recently paved and beautifully meandering section of the Trace, we enter Alabama by crossing over Bear Creek and begin a gentle ascent to the Freedom Hills Overlook. From here it is a fast descent to where we end the ride near Cherokee, Alabama.

And now for the best part! After lunch at the end of the ride, we shuttle towards our lodging in Florence, but not before stopping for a guided tour of the Muscle Shoals Sound Studio! This is an absolute top destination during our week-long tour. After the studio tour, we end at our lodging and walk a short distance to perhaps one of our finest meals of the week in downtown Florence, Alabama.

 

Day 6: Florence to Meriwether Lewis National Monument
68 miles with up to 2,375 feet of climbing

Shuttling from Florence, we return to the Trace to begin today’s ride and the scenery remains world-class – from the wooded ridges to the steep hollows carved by brooks cascading over rocky stream beds. On this day we also reach the highest point along the entire Trace at 1,100 feet above sea level.

Soon after getting onto the Trace, we will take a short diversion to view the Wichahpi Commemorative Stone Wall (a.k.a.: Te-lah-nay’s Wall) – a stone wall hand built by Tom Hendrix to commemorate his great-great-grandmother’s, Te-lah-nay, journey of being forced from her native lands in northwest Alabama and then returning during the Trail of Tears period of early American history. This is a must-see and a very humbling place to visit.

We end the ride at the Meriwether Lewis National Monument and then shuttle to accommodations in Linden, Tennessee.

 

Day 7: Meriwether Lewis National Monument to Nashville
57 miles with up to 3,775 feet of climbing

The final day of the tour has arrived and we have saved what we think is the best of the Trace for last! Following breakfast, we will shuttle from Linden back to the Meriwether Lewis National Monument. Here, while riders check out the monument to a great American explorer, guides will get the bikes ready for the final leg of the Trace.

Riders roll away and soon enjoy the magnificent scenery along the twisty turns and rolling hills on this final section of the Trace. At mile marker 438, you will ride across the gracefully designed Double Arch Bridge and then, soon after the bridge, enjoy one last twisty descent to end at the Northern Terminus and finish the riding for the week. The tour concludes with a shuttle back to metropolitan Nashville.

What a week… well done!

 

Natchez Trace Parkway Bike Tour: Logistics & FAQs

Bike Shipping

Lizard Head Cycling recommends shipping with BikeFlights.com. Bikes can be shipped either to our partner bike shop in each meeting town for professional assembly or directly to the meeting hotel for self-assembly. Bike boxes can generally be left at the meeting hotel during the tour. Bikes shipped across the continental US should be shipped 8 days prior to your tour.

Ride Difficulty: This custom tour is designed for ADVANCED to INTERMEDIATE cyclists with various levels of fitness. Each day there are additional mileage options for advanced riders.

Tour Support: A 15-passenger van and trailer that carries luggage, food and equipment will support this tour.

General Tour & Cancellation Policies

Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with all of our tour and cancellation policies, which can be found by clicking here.

Travel Insurance

If you have not already, now would be a great time to consider adding travel insurance to your tour. You are welcome to use any travel insurance company you would like. We recommend Generali/Trip Mate.

American Guests - use this link: http://www.generalitravelinsurance.com/get-a-quote.html?partner=LIZA0855

• The Premium Plan is the only plan which offers Pre-Existing coverage so long as the plan is purchased prior to Final Payment.
• The Premium Plan is the only plan that offers an optional Cancel For Any Reason - the policy must be purchased within 24 hours of initial trip deposit, the full trip cost must be insured, and if they cancel for Any Reason, it must be 48 hours prior to departure, and the reimbursement for an Any Reason claim is 60% of pre-paid, insured, non-refundable trip cost.
• Customer Service can be reached at 1-800-874-2442 for coverage questions and policy modifications or to purchase by phone. Agency Code: LIZA0855

Canadian Guests - use this link: https://tripmate.catravelins.ca/?utm_source=lizardhead