Must Do Sites & Highways
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Must Do Sites & Highways
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Many of the threads listed below have a wide range of discussion.
Example: A thread on Alaska will have comments about stops enroute to Alaska.
A little Hint on how to do this. Get up early and get to US60 head east out of town go through Globe then take I think its 79 0r 71 towards Safford. In Safford you will hook up with 191 follow this into Morenci. As you come up the hill there will be a Conoco on your left a good place to stop and get gas. Continue on there will be a Chevron on your right at a light. This station is not always open so I don't recommend it as a fuel stop. If you go straight up on the left is the Morenci Hotel it has a decent restaurant and would make a good food stop if needed. Otherwise take a right at the light by the Chevron Station this will take you up past the Phelps Dodge Mine and onto the Devils Highway.
Once on the devils highway just follow it all the way to Eager where you can hook up with 260 and head west into ShowLow and eventually Payson. Show Low makes a good place to stop and I can recommend the DAYS INN hotel on the Deuce of Clubs BLVD they have a JB's on Premises along with a BAR and the Hotel Pool is warm with jets like a spa all over the place. This hotel is very biker friendly.
The reason I recommend this way is that it should be getting hot by the time you hit Morenci but you are only minutes away from being at altitude. If you go the other way there is a 3 1/2 hour trip back to the valley in the heat of the afternoon.
It is much better to only make the trip back from Payson in the afternoon than from Morenci.
Be sure to stop and enjoy some of the overlooks on 191. Also in Morenci there is an overlook/rest area at the top of the mine. Interesting to see all the trucks the size of 2 story buildings that look like matchbox toys in the bottom of the mine.
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Link to Natchez Trace Parkway at National Park Service. Russ Dickerson (99REDWINGSE) says "About 20 of the MTF members rode the Trace from Natchez from various starting points and headed north back in 2001?..I think. It is scenic, it is slow, and there are many pull-offs of historic places to read and ponder stuff. The traffic can be bad in the summer months with tourists and weekenders. A small group may be more enjoyable for that trip. Very similar to the Blue Ridge Parkway in the east but without the glory of the mountains. My suggestion would be to ride the Trace if it falls within your route to some destination or you have some free time during the week coming home and just want to slow down the pace a bit. Try the Loveless Cafe at the Nashville end for Breakfast and then ride about 100 miles and go south, and then head back to Knoxville across Hy64 to Chattanooga area." Steve Farson (sfarson) says "I rode the Trace from Tupelo to Natchez in May several years ago. Nice cruising ride. Many places to pull over and read/see history. It was a good time of year to see and experience it. Someday will return and ride the northern half (I hear is better than the southern half). Typical scene... 
Riding the Trace from Tupelo to Natchez in May |
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Definitely a slow and scenic ride... speed limits are usually strictly enforced. Mac (perlrider) says "You won't have to slow down too much since the top speed limit is 50 and it pays to stick pretty close to it. However, if you like lots of peaceful countryside, reading historical markers, seeing Indian mounds, walking nature trails, and possibly seeing more wild turkeys than cars, this is a good ride. (I counted 34 turkeys on my trip last September.) Be sure to check out the huge Indian mound near Natchez, and the historic inn (I forget the name) nearby. Also, French Camp has some interesting history and a few exhibits. There is a very small museum in Kosciusko, MS that some riders use as a meeting point. The road around Ross Barnett Reservoir near Jackson, MS is very nice." Snappa (VROC472) says "I rode it top to bottom on my way west last summer. Ditto on the slow, & scenic (but not scenic in a Blue Ridge way). It is also flat. Check your maps, guides or routing gizmos for gas stations as there is ony one on the trace and no signs for those off the trace. Same for lodging and food." Scalzitti says "I rode the trace down to Stagecoach IX this past December. I thought it was great! The speed limit is 50 and we were sooting along at 55. Rode it from just south of Nashville to just north of Jackson before heading to Stockton. There was no one else on the trace, so it was fast. No Smoky mountains, but the parkway is nicely tree-ed and I like the lazy sweepers and the rolling hills. Well worth a trip. We were on a schedule, so there was no time for flower sniffing. No comments on eateries or points of interest. I intend to ride the trace again as soon as I can!" Sarkri says "I live about 15 miles east of the trace in Lawrence County TN. I ride the trace almost every week. I have ridden from Hwy64 in Lawrence Co to Nashville a lot of times and south to Natchez once. The trace is a lazy laid back ride. Not a real challenge but it is a good ride. Most cities you pass close to have gas stations not far off the trace and it is easy to get on and off. The ride from 64 North to Nashville is my favorite as it has long sweeping curves, hills and very senic areas. Up in the Franklin/Leapers Fork area Hwy 96, 99, 7 area if you get off and ride thru the country side you find many of the homes of Country Stars scattered around and get to see some veerrryyy expensive homesites. It is a worthwhile ride..." |
| The Texas Ranch Roads, especially RR337, in the Hill Country are often described as being among the Top Ten m/c roads in the USA. |  |
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