The Natchez Trace Trail
In October 2023, my friend Max asked if I’d like to join him and our friend Mark on a 464 mile cycling trip in the South to ride the Natchez Trace trail. I said, “What’s that? Never heard of it.” After doing some online research, I learned the trail - a beautiful paved road maintained by the National Park Service that attracts seven million visitors a year - would take us from Nashville, Tennessee basically straight south briefly through Alabama and then all the way to Natchez, Mississippi.
Cotton fields of Mississippi.
Riding nearly 500 miles seemed like a crazy thought to me. Which was really kind of the appeal. I like doing things that feel hard and that others might just say “Why would you do that?” or “That’s a lot of work to train!” And having only started riding a bike more seriously in January 2023, this challenge intrigued me.
My cycling journey began in the Fall of 2022 when my friend on a whim tossed out the insane idea if I’d be interested in joining him on the Death Ride in Markleeville, California, the following summer. Despite not knowing really much about the ride, aside from its scary name, I figured what the heck, why not. So for the next six months he coached me and helped me get into shape to tackle a ride that most would not enjoy. But, that beast of an experience got me totally hooked into cycling.
Writing this two weeks after completing our bikepacking journey of the Natchez Trace, which to me felt like a lot of riding in just seven days, I feel a sense of gratitude and elation. Riding the Trace gave me an unreal opportunity to see things from a perspective that I wouldn’t have experienced had we just rented a car and driven the Trace like most others visiting the area. I felt we had a more authentic experience traversing via bike. I loved meeting and talking so many different people along the way, from grizzled dudes on shiny Harleys to the owners of a mom and pop BBQ stand in Clinton, Mississippi.
Day 7 at the very end. Probably mile 497 at this point.
This was pretty much our view for 500 miles. I was so impressed with the excellent road conditions. The NPS should be proud.
A 200 year old one room church.
Some words from Max:
This is what travel is all about - taking you out of your Bay Area bubble and getting to experience places, cultures and history that is very much unlike your own. The small towns of TN, AL and MS did exactly that for the three of us.
People of all colors, shapes, sizes and economic backgrounds have been extremely nice to us and went out of their way to help. Except for the white truck that passed us way too close. Twice.
Raziel, Mark and I rode 500 miles on the Natchez Trace Trail and so grateful my body can do this. Couldn’t ask for better road conditions or better company. You know the trip is a success when we’re already talking about the next one.
Mark crushing the ride.
We visited the site of an old plantation that was destroyed by fire. The state of Mississippi several years ago took possession of the estate to preserve it for the future. Below is part of the original structure.
The morning of day 7. We spent the night at Canemount Plantation Inn, a beautiful family owned bed and breakfast on 40 acres. Most of their guests were typically visiting Alcorn State University, a HBCU about two miles away, so we were the odd cyclists who ventured ten miles off the Trace to check it out. Glad we did as it was neat to talk to the owners.
