Ride and find in history at Mississippi’s Trace State Park
Imagine riding trails in woods once roamed by famous pioneer Davy Crockett. Or taking a break from your ride to visit the birthplace of Elvis Presley. You can do both if ride at Trace State Park near Tupelo, Miss.
Trace State Park, 9 miles west of Tupelo on Highway 6 in northeastern Mississippi, offers 25 miles of multi-use trails.
Crockett once lived in the area of the park, trading horses with the Chickasaw tribe after his defeat in Tennessee for re-election to Congress. While in Mississippi, Crockett learned his friend Sam Houston needed help in Texas and headed off to offer his aid, ultimately dying at the Alamo battle.
Elvis Presley was born in Tupelo on Jan. 8, 1935, in a two-room house built by his father and other relatives. He grew up in Tupelo, surrounded by his extended family. Today, you can visit the birthplace house and museum.
For riding, Trace State Park features hilly, steep climbs and steep downhills, as well as easy trails. Most of the park is heavily wooded.
When you arrive at the park, the first thing to do is stop at the park office to sign a waiver and pay an $8-per-person trail use fee. Or you can pay $102 for an annual pass. It’s also a good idea to pick up a trail map and park rules.
Trail heads are day-use only, and no camping is allowed at the trail heads. But there is a variety of options if you do want to stay overnight or longer. Trace State Park offers 76 developed camp sites, 10 shaded tent sites, six primitive camping sites, 10 cabins and three cottages.
The 76 developed sites are available for RV camping and feature picnic tables and grills. They all also have full hookups: electric, water, and sewer. Plus, the park notes that three bathhouses with hot showers, a laundromat and a central sewage dumping station are at the developed camping area. Reservations are recommended and may be made up to 24 months in advance by online reservations or by contacting the park office at (662) 489-2958.
There are 10 tent camping shaded sites along a lake and six sites in the trail area. Trace State Park also has 10 air-conditioned cabins accommodating two to six people, each equipped with bed and bath linens and basic kitchen equipment. The three cottages are two-bedroom units with two queen beds, a combination living, dining, and kitchen area. Reservations are highly encouraged. Reservations can be made online at mississippistateparks.reserveamerica.com/ms/trace/campground/r/campgrounddetails.do?contractcode=ms&parkid=151818 or by calling the park at (662) 489-2958.
More info: Trace State Park, 2139 Faulkner Road, Belden, MS, 38826. Email: tracestatepark@wfp.ms.gov. Website: mdwfp.com/parks-destinations/state-parks/trace.