Romantic vacations do not need to be candlelit suppers and long-stemmed roses. For couples who grow on adventure and connection through shared experiences, couple of things are as intimate– or invigorating– as checking out a new put on 2 wheels.
Ridgeland, Mississippi, tucked simply north of Jackson, provides the ideal mix of Southern beauty, elegant conveniences, and cycling-centric experiences. It’s where smooth tracks, lakeside appeal, and curated hospitality come together to produce a romantic escape designed for couples who like to keep moving.
We’ve cycled hundreds of miles around Ridgeland and relished a few of its tastiest deals with along the way. We welcome you to join us in finding out how to prepare a biking experience to Mississippi’s a lot of bicycle-friendly community, as designated by the League of American Bicyclists.
Why Ridgeland for a Romantic Cycling Trip?
Picture Credit: Ed Coleman. Envision a vibrant, modern city with gleaming clean hotels and diverse cooking options next to a 10,000-year-old path and a 33,000-acre reservoir. That’s not a dream. It’s Ridgeland, Mississippi. This high end neighborhood has actually invested heavily in making biking a part of its identity, with picturesque courses, protected tracks, and an inviting biking culture. Casual riders will take pleasure in the paved Chisha Foka Multi-Use Trail, which forms a biking passage, connecting high end shopping, dining, and lodging with the enormous Ross Barnett Tank. Experienced bicyclists can start stimulating rides to a petrified forest, a cypress overload, around the tank, or along the 444-mile Natchez Trace Scenic Parkway.
Chisha Foka Multi-Use Path
Photo Credit: Ed Coleman. The Chisa Foka Path is the heart of riding in Ridgeland. It runs about 10 miles from Colony Park to the Barnett Reservoir, roughly paralleling the Natchez Trace. In 2025, the popular 20-year-old trail went through much-needed improvements, making it smooth and ready for the winter season riding season heading into 2026. Colony Park has two distinct areas, Renaissance at Nest Park and Township at Colony Park. The Explore Ridgeland website states,”Renaissance at Colony Park has an elegant, old-world design that sets architectural artistry versus luxuriant landscaping.” The exact same might be said for Town also. If you’re a casual cyclist, you can spend the day pedaling around the quiet rural streets and metropolitan lakes on a picturesque loop in between your hotel and tasty dining. This is likewise where you’ll discover the Ridgeland Visitor Center, which is packed with valuable details (consisting of a complete trail map!) and features a large bike share station.
On the way to “The Res”, you’ll pass The Bike Crossing, a premier bike store staffed with devoted cyclists who can help you with detailed details about the area’s world-class road trips. Likewise, make sure to stop by the Waller Craft Center to explore the art and craft setups and acquire a truly unique souvenir from local artists.
The trail reaches the Reservoir at Old Trace Park and continues to the Reservoir Overlook at milepost 105.6 on the Natchez Trace. The panoramas don’t stop at the ignore. Within Old Trace Park, you can delight in waterside dining at three restaurants: Pelican Cove Grill, Crabs Seafood Shack, and Cock of the Walk. You can likewise take pleasure in the views from the park’s 18-hole disc golf course.
Natchez Trace North
Image Credit: Ed Coleman. No cycling trip to Ridgeland would be total without time on the Natchez Trace Parkway. This 444-mile historical path as soon as brought Native Americans, explorers, and traders across the Southeast. Today, it’s a National Scenic Byway where commercial traffic is banned, speed limitations are low, and the roadway almost begs for bicyclists. The Trace is mainly flat from the Reservoir Overloop (MP 105.6) to the River Bend Picnic Area (MP 122.6), making it a best place for an out-and-back ride.
The very first 8 miles of riding take you along the shores of the tank (think excellent views with lots of sun and an opportunity of afternoon winds) before getting in a tunnel of trees. Make certain to take a look at the natural charm of the boardwalks through the cypress swamp (MP 122) right before you reach the River Bend Picnic Location.
There are limited washrooms and water stops between Old Trace Park (MP 104.5) and River Bend Picnic Area (MP 122), without any more water stops available on the Trace up until Holly Hill (MP 154.3). This makes River Bend an excellent rest stop that you might even use twice if you keep cycling up the Trace.
The Natchez Trace Century Ride attracts around a thousand riders to Ridgeland each year. It happens on the first weekend in Might and loops through back road north of town before signing up with the Trace and heading back to the start at Old Trace Park. It’s an excellent method for riders to check out the Trace with extra assistance, including food and water stops, as well as regional cops directing traffic.
Natchez Trace South
Photo Credit: Jenn Coleman Natchez Trace continues south of Ridgeland in a tunnel of trees. Unlike heading north, you reach civilization in the town of Clinton, with a large variety of dining establishments if you wish to separate your trip with a good meal.
Explore Ridgeland uses a 30-mile route to Clinton, however you’ll have to compete with the I-20 interchange if you ride much further. From Ridgeland, you can hop directly onto the Trace going either direction, pedaling past quiet forests, meadows, and historical markers that inform the story of America’s early frontier. Couples can ride devoid of the tension of traffic, letting discussion and laughter circulation as naturally as the miles roll by. Whether you’re a casual rider who wants a brief beautiful loop or a serious cyclist seeking to push range, the Natchez Trace offers both challenge and peacefulness.
Other Great Roadway Rides in Ridgeland
Image Credit: Check Out Ridgeland. Explore Ridgeland promotes terrific roadway rides beyond Chisa Foka and Natchez Trace.
They have a progressive series of rides to Pocahontas and beyond, including 40-mile and 65-mile routes to the Scared Forest. Here you’ll find charming country roads and flowing pastoral surroundings. The visitor center also promotes a number of routes that let you” Poke Around the Rez.”The 25-mile choice takes you along the beautiful coastline part of Natchez Trace and on a fun loop of the Chisa Foka Trails, including a rest stop at the Waller Craft Center. The 45-mile option permits you to circumnavigate the reservoir, including a waterside dining rest stop at Shaggy’s. Word to the wise, follow the path’s counter-clockwise flow. This direction not just lets you ride closer to the water and facilitate best turns, however it also gets you through the exposed coastline section during the still of the early morning and brings you back waterside for a well-earned lunch.
Logistic Quick Hitters
Picture Credit: Ed Coleman. Below is a list of links we used to prepare our
bicycle adventures to Ridgeland: Ridgeland Bikeshare: Mississippi’s oldest bikeshare program Ridgeland Weatherspark: More weather details than you can shake a weathervane at. Spoiler alert- spring and fall are lovely. Summertime is hot and clammy. Winter season is cool but really rideable with an average high temperature of 63 degrees.
Advised Hotels:
Included Restaurants:
Beyond the Bike: Your Curated Couple’s Adventures
Image Credit: Check Out Ridgeland. While biking may be the heart of your vacation, Ridgeland Ms. uses lots of ways to round out the love. Spend an afternoon exploring the city’s art galleries, which display regional talent and Southern imagination. Stroll hand in hand through the Renaissance at Colony Park, a high end shopping and home entertainment district that blends European architecture with Mississippi warmth.
Here, you do not have to pick in between adventure and extravagance– you get both, woven effortlessly into a destination that commemorates the cycling lifestyle while providing elevated experiences. For adventurous, experience-driven tourists, Ridgeland is more than a trip. It’s a possibility to pedal into romance, one ride at a time.
Disclosure: A huge thank you to Check out Ridgeland for hosting us and setting up a great schedule! For more Ridgeland Mississippi travel inspiration, take a look at their Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube accounts.
As always, the views and opinions expressed are totally our own, and we only recommend brand names and destinations that we 100% support.
Like it? Pin it for in the future Pinterest!
Hi! We are Jenn and Ed Coleman aka Coleman Concierge. In a nutshell, we are a Huntsville-based Gen X couple sharing our stories of incredible adventures through activity-driven transformational and experiential travel.