The best road cycling routes in Mississippi

Emerald Mound, tucked just 10 miles northeast of Natchez along the Natchez Trace Parkway, is a jaw-dropping reminder of the Mississippian mound-builders, a sprawling earthen plateau rising about 35 feet and covering nearly eight acres, topped by two smaller mounds and once flanked by a ring of at least six more. Built between 1250 and 1600 C.E. by the Plaquemine culture, ancestors of the Natchez, it served as a major ceremonial and political hub where temples and elite residences once stood. The site was taken over and preserved by the National Park Service in the 1950s and is now a National Historic Landmark. Today visitors can walk the trail to the top and soak in the same commanding views that once overlooked rituals, gatherings, and a whole way of life.

The Witch Dance Picnic Area and Trailhead have a few campsites, vault toilets, and plenty of parking. The trails are sometimes hard to follow once you leave the trailhead, but there is a nice trail information kiosk at the start. Horseback riders are definitely more popular than hikers on these trails, but these horse trails also offer a wilderness feeling that some of the other nearby hiking options can't offer.

A small stretch of the "Old Trace" is preserved here, sunken and well worn over centuries of use. You can take a stroll through time and imagine yourself walking along the trail in times gone by. There is also a picnic area for a touch of modern convenience.

At Rocky Springs, you'll find a trail that leads to the quiet remains of what was once a bustling town along the Natchez Trace. Settled in the late 1790s and named after its natural water source, the town grew into a thriving community by 1860, with over 2,600 people living in the area. It had merchants, doctors, teachers, clergy, and skilled artisans, all supported by the surrounding cotton plantations worked by more than 2,000 enslaved people. But like many Southern towns of the era, Rocky Springs couldn’t withstand the blows of the Civil War, yellow fever outbreaks, crop failures, and loss of forced labor. Today, only traces of the town remain, offering a glimpse into its rise and fall. Rocky Springs also has a 22-site first come first served campground. The campsites are generally private due to the large trees and most have picnic tables and fire pits. There are flush toilets, but no showers.

The Natchez Trace Parkway is dotted with city and county run visitor centers, and this one in Clinton is a great place to stop to learn about the local history. It's built to resemble an authentic 1800s-style farmhouse, that were once common along the Natchez. The museum has displays about the history of the Natchez Trace, and you'll find art and books by locals in the shop. If you are here at the right time you can enjoy “Friday Nights at Milepost 89” where local musicians perform on the 3rd Friday of each month.

Tupelo has a history going back centuries. From the Chickasaw and Choctaw and their ancestors, to Civil War Battles in the 1860s, a famous bank heist by Prohibition Era Outlaw Machine Gun Kelly, and most famously, the birthplace of Elvis Presley. History is everywhere you look around here, even in the name! Tupelo comes from the Creek language and combines the words ito 'tree' and opilwa 'swamp'. With a population of nearly 40,000 Tupelo is a full service town and those passing through on the Natchez Trace Parkway will be able to find anything they need to continue on their journey. Just as travelers have done here for countless generations.

Tupelo, Mississippi sits on land that was once home to a Chickasaw fort and village, a key site for the Chickasaw people up through the 1700s. Today, visitors to the Chickasaw Village Site can explore the area through interpretive signs and artist renderings that bring the village’s past to life. There are a few great hiking options here, including a short half-mile interpretive loop that highlights native plants and their traditional uses, as well as the longer Blackland Prairie Trail, a 6-mile stretch of the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail that connects the site to the Old Town Overlook and the Parkway Visitor Center. Be aware that parts of the route share the road with vehicles for some creek crossings. It’s a peaceful spot to reflect on history while getting in a good walk.

On opposite sides of the Parkway you'll find the bike only campground and the main Natchez Trace Visitor Center. The campground is free and first come first served. At the campground you'll find picnic tables, fire rings with grills, water (April through October), and pit toilets. The Visitor Center is open daily from 9:00-4:30, and is a great resource for anyone traveling along the Parkway.