Natchez Trace State Forest Loop

Henderson County, TN, US

Route Overview

31 mi.
1,960 ft.

This loop route begins and ends at Natchez Trace State Forest grocery store and encircles the preserved woodlands of nearby Natchez Trace State Park. These tree-covered roads are a rare treat in a largely agricultural region, offering cool shade during Tennessee's humid summer afternoons. The route explores some farmland roadways in the middle of the ride to balance out the scenery. There are several opportunities to venture off route to soak up the views at Pinoak, Red Bud and Cub Lake within the State Park. There are ample camping and lodging options within the park for those seeking a multi-day riding experience.

Route Details

Notes / Potential Route Modifications:

  • We recommend riding the loop counterclockwise, as it has been mapped it. The route is just as beautiful in both directions, but riding it counterclockwise makes the short section on Corinth Road a downhill, which is a much safer option than tackling it as an uphill on a curve.
  • While it may appear that there are a number of ways to shorten this route due to the number of roads that cut through the park, those crossroads are actually gravel and unsuitable for road tires. The other options for shortening the route are to use Corinth Road and Hwy 114, both of which we would not recommend due to traffic concerns, especially Hwy 114.
  • We don’t recommend using the Natchez Trace State Park Visitor Center as a starting point due to the traffic on Hwy 114.

Getting Started:

We’ve mapped this route from Park Grocery Store on the outskirts of Natchez Trace State Forest in Lexington, Tenn. The store has restrooms and plenty of snacks and drinks for pre- and post-ride fueling. If you’re riding in the winter the store may be closed, so you’ll want to stock up on snacks and use a restroom before you arrive.

From the store, head north on Hwy 114 for about a 10th of a mile and then turn left onto Wildersville Road. Wildersville makes a nice easy warm-up as the tree-covered road is mostly a gentle downhill for almost five miles. It dips down a little sharper around Mile 4.7, which is your cue to look for Scarce Creek Road on your left.

After turning left onto Scarce Creek at Mile 4.9, you’ll have a little more topography to deal with, but it will still be a pleasant ride as you pedal through the woods of the state forest for close to three miles before the landscape changes to rural residential and agrarian. A couple of miles later, Scarce Creek ends at Hwy 114. Continue straight across Hwy 114 onto Alberton Road, which will have a similar mix of rural residences and agricultural land, along with a similar mix of fun short downhills and tedious short uphills.

After three-and-a-half miles winding around on Alberton, you’ll take a left on McCall Road, which will feel a little more rural and a bit bumpier as you leave the middle yellow line of Alberton behind for a proper backroad with no paint. A little over a mile later you’ll turn left onto Central Grove Cemetery Road, followed by a hard left onto Bible Grove Road less than a mile later. The turn onto Bible Grove marks a turning point in the ride, as you’ll start to notice less residences and a lot more nature, both forests and farmland, for the remainder of the route.

After a little over a mile – consisting of a dip and a rise – turn right onto Redbud Lake Road and do another dip and rise over the course of another mile before reaching Corinth Road. Corinth Road is the most significant road you’ll be on all day and it has the potential to have fast-moving traffic, so use caution as you turn right onto it, especially since the intersection is at a bit of curve in the road. Fortunately, you’re only on Corinth for less than half-a-mile, and it starts to roll downhill after you get on it. Don’t pick up too much speed though, as you’ll need to make a hard left onto Midway Road.

Midway is a beautiful road and you’ll get to continue the descent you started on Corinth after making the turn. Be advised, though, the pavement is not the best, so watch your lines carefully and be prepared for some vibrations. Once you bottom out from the short but fast descent, Midway bends hard to the right, which is your cue to look for Ray Carrington Road on your left.

Like Midway, Ray Carrington is a beautiful road in need of new asphalt. It's totally worth the rattle, though, as you pedal along this peaceful road, first through farmland and then through forest. (You’ll be riding in the woods pretty much the rest of the route from this point.) While beautiful, Ray Carrington gradually heads uphill. The grades are not steep, but over close to two-and-a-half miles, it’s certainly noticeable.

Ray Carrington ends at a weird intersection (kind of a Y) with Darden Christian Chapel Road, where you’ll go straight/left. Once on Darden Christian Chapel, you’ll continue the uphill trend for less than half-a-mile before dropping down a proper descent to an open field. After crossing the field, you’ll start climbing again and the road will bend hard to the left. As with the Ray Carrington climb, the grades are not terrible, but you will definitely be aware that you’re going uphill for about a mile.

As you crest the climb, the road bends to the right and drops you down another steep descent to another open field in what will feel like a replay of what you just did a couple of miles ago. As before, once you cross the field you’ll go uphill, except this time it will be a little steeper. It’s only half-a-mile, though, and the grades are single-digit. After the climb, Darden Christian Chapel bends to the left and takes you through some easy pedaling before finally ending at an intersection with Parsons Road.

After turning left onto Parsons Road, you’ll be on the home stretch, and this beautiful, rolling road will take you all the way back to the park store where you started. Be advised that about a quarter mile before you reach the end, you’ll have one last climb to conquer. It’s short, but it has a kick, making the accomplishment of finishing the ride that much sweeter.

Important Reminders

Bike TN routes often include roads with car and truck traffic. Although the Bikeways are routed on low-traffic and low-speed roads whenever possible, most are designated for cyclists who are comfortable riding in some amount of traffic.

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