Ok, so the Natchez Trace Parkway has probably been discussed to death elsewhere on the web, but no "road" review around Nashville would be complete without it. If you're new to motorcycle riding, Nashville, or both, you may not have heard about "the Trace".The Natchez Trace runs 444 miles from Hwy 100 all the way down to Natchez, Mississippi. Depending on how many miles you plan on covering, the Trace can make a great road for one day or multi-day trips.

In this first look at the Trace (they'll be more) I'm just going to talk about the first 15 miles of the parkway from the main terminus where hwy 100 and McCrory Lane meet, to the Garrison Creek comfort stop on the parkway. Right from the start, the large sweeping entrance ramp invites a spirited twist of the throttle as you complete a 270 degree (maybe a touch more) turn. This puts you on the bridge crossing over Hwy 100 and takes you right to the main entrance of the Trace.

From there you begin a smooth ride on pavement that is in beautiful shape. This is one of the best aspects of riding on the Trace, the road is very well maintained. Smooth tarmac winds it's way through rolling hills and over understated bridges. You are surrounded by grass and trees as you navigate large, consistent radii turns. Maintaining the 40 mph speed limit on a sportbike in these turns may seem very tame however, cruisers and touring bikes will be right at home as you have plenty of time to enjoy the scenery of hills and the well groomed roadside.

The reason the road and surrounding are in such good shape is that the Natchez Trace Parkway is maintained by the National Parks Service. The downside though, is that the Trace is patrolled by federal officers and if you are cited for speeding you can receive a heavy fine. It's a shame that the speed limit is so low through the first 15 miles as the curves of the road beg your wrist to twist just a bit more as you approach them.

The Trace is an easy road to ride and indeed enjoy even when keeping close to the speed limit. The turns themselves are very consistent and visibility through them is excellent. I think the Trace makes a wonderful place for new riders to acquire good habits. The visibility through the curves let's one look deep into each turn and often you can be looking at the entrance to the next turn before reaching the apex of current turn. This is good practice for riders of any level who want to improve their line in turns.

The pavement is typically far from stationary objects (trees) so in the event one does leave the road by accident, grass is all you most likely encounter. Speaking of encounters, one should be mindful of morning and evening riding on the Trace as deer are plentiful during those times. This is mitigated by the good visibility and the typical expanse of open ground between the road and trees, but you should be on the lookout just in case.

Along these first 15 miles there are several stops where you can pull over including one next to the Natchez Trace Bridge. These typically only offer parking and a place for trash but when you reach the Garrison Creek comfort stop you get a bit more. You will find covered shelter, restrooms, a water fountain (not during the winter), and maps. If you press on past this stop you'll find the road straightens out considerably and the parkway becomes more suited for cruising and touring.

This 15 mile stretch of the Trace is also easy to include as part of a longer ride. There is an exit just before Garrison Creek that takes you to Leiper's Fork and from there great riding in almost any direction, but we'll get to that area in future writings. Do note that if you look at the Google Maps links (click the map picture above) you won't see the Garrison Creek stop but it is where I have put the destination. Switching to satellite view when looking at it will reveal the parking area.

So there we have it, our first road review. This is just the start and I want to hear from other riders out there about great places to ride around Nashville and Tennessee in general. You can always email me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you would like to contribute a road review or any type of content you feel fits in here at the site.

Keep the rubber side down,

-ed