Sharing Natchez Trace Parkway with bicyclists, wildlife

Vicksburg exit on Natchez Trace Parkway. (Julianne G. Crane)
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The Natchez Trace Parkway is a designated bicycle route. (Julianne G. Crane)

Driving the scenic and serene Natchez Trace Parkway  was another of our Bucket List items for this autumn’s journey.

Because of time, however, we chose not to drive the full 444 miles from Natchez to Nashville. Instead, we entered the Trace near milepost 87, just north of Interstate 20, a few miles west of Jackson, Miss. We turned our rig south. After driving mostly Interstate highways since Knoxville, Tenn., it was wonderful to set the cruise control at 45 mph and enjoy the scenery.

Bicycling the Trace

“The Natchez Trace Parkway welcomes millions of visitors each year. As a designated bicycling route, thousands of bicyclists travel the Parkway.” Both bicyclists and motorists have a responsibility to share the road. When passing bicyclists vehicles need to change lanes, which sometimes meant slowing down until passing was allowed.

Coyote traveling Natchez Trace (Julianne G. Crane)
Sharing Parkway with wildlife

Whether it is a coyote or a salamander … remember to give wildlife a break.

Each year, between November and April, the Parkway implements a temporary lowered speed zone to 35 mph at night between mileposts 85 and 87, south of I-20 in Hinds County, Miss.

“In this area, there are limestone outcrops and a number of seasonal pools that provide important foraging and breeding habitat for many species of salamanders and frogs.”

Autumn along Natchez Trace Parkway (NPS)

For more information and photos on RVing the Natchez Trace Parkway, click here for an earlier post.

About the National Park Service: “More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 419 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov.”

Julianne G. Crane

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