Hey there: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase. Thanks for supporting my website! -Taryn

Ever want to zoom along a quiet country road, as if you were on the world’s biggest cycle path?  Do you want to explore the history and culture of the deep south? A lone car passing only once every 5 minutes? The Natchez Trace Parkway is a hidden gem that will tick those boxes!  It is a 444-mile (715 km) road run by the US National Park Service that runs diagonally across Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee. It is restricted from commercial vehicles and only has a limited number of entry and exit points.  Although designed originally for tourists in their automobiles, its lack of traffic and stop signs have made it a great easy cycle touring destination. In the spring of 2018 I had an amazing adventure on a self supported biking tour south on the Natchez Trace from Nashville.

If you’re in the mood for a surprisingly remote and natural experience in the heart of the American South, this is the trip for you.

Cycle Touring the Natchez Trace Basics

Description: A quiet well maintained road takes you along the wild yet historical Natchez Trace. It begins relatively flat in the south, and gets hillier in Tennessee. It’s a national scenic parkway maintained by the American National Parks Service that follows a historic route used by Native Americans and later by explorers and traders to get inland to Nashville from the Mississippi River.

Distance: 444 miles (715 km)

Elevation: about 10,000 feet up and 10,500 feet down (3000m up, 3200m down)

Time: 7-10 days

Best time to go: Spring or Fall

Difficulty: Easy to Moderate.

Location: Natchez, Mississippi to Pasquo, Tennessee (near Nashville)

Road: As a scenic parkway it has very light traffic and big trucks are not allowed. There are no designated bike lanes or shoulders. There is lots of signage alerting drivers to the presence of cyclists and they give bikes lots of room when passing.

Cycle Touring the Natchez Trace Difficulty

With the right amount of planning, this is a relatively easy bike tour, especially physically. The hills are generally short and not incredibly steep, at least not in comparison to what I’m used to at home in the Pacific Northwest!

The main difficulty is in planning — unlike many trips, there are not many amenities on the route itself.  You’ll have to go off the Trace for B&Bs and groceries, so some preparation is really important. This is definitely not a candidate for a credit card tour where you can roll into town every night and grab a hotel room.  Bringing along some camping gear will definitely give you a lot of flexibility, but I’ll talk a bunch more about that in “Where to Stay”.

Getting to the Natchez Trace

The official mile zero of the Natchez Trace is near Natchez, MS at the southern terminus, with mile 444 and the northern terminus at Pasquo, TN, just south of Nashville.

Major airports: Nashville, TN and New Orleans, LA

Minor airports: Jackson, MS and Baton Rouge, LA

At only 20 miles away, Nashville is the closest major airport to the Trace and where I started.  Due to a mechanical issue, I took a cab from the airport to my host in Nashville. Sadly, from the car the roads did not look exceptionally bike friendly near the airport.  My ride the next day from East Nashville to Pasquo, however, was quite pleasant.

If you’re shipping your bike, Nashville also offers a host of bike shops, including Trace Bikes which is just a couple miles from the terminus.  Eastside Cycles in East Nashville helped me get my ride in tip top shape after some damage from the flight.

Which Direction Should You Cycle Tour the Natchez Trace?

There’s a number of factors to consider when deciding on a direction for riding the Trace: wind, weather and hills.  You can rule out overall elevation change: the difference in elevation between Natchez and Nashville is only a few hundred feet, so sadly it’s not all downhill from Nashville!  I chose to start in the North at Nashville and go south to Natchez then beyond to New Orleans.

The Gulf of Mexico tends to generate prevailing southerly winds (especially in the afternoon), so you run the risk of a headwinds if going from North to South. That being said, on my trip in that direction I didn’t experience anything I would consider headwinds.  

At any given time it will generally be warmer at the South, so if it’s early in the spring you may want to start in Natchez. Conversely, if it’s late in the fall starting in Nashville may be better for getting the most warm days.  

Terrain is important to consider too, Tennessee is hilly and things flatten out a lot at the Southern end.  So you could get the hills over with first, or you could warm up for those hills with a few days of flat.

And, of course, there’s always just plain old personal preference. Coming from Canada, I have a lot more experience with cold weather and I wanted to gradually expose myself to the heat.  As well, I was planning on extending my journey to New Orleans. No one wants to start a bike tour after a night on Bourbon Street!

Best Time to Cycle Tour the Natchez Trace

The Natchez Trace is a great shoulder season bike tour– for many it’s too hot in the summer and, despite being in the South, too cold in the winter.  With highs from 60-70F (15-20C) and lows of 50-60F (10-15C), April, May, September and October would be premium months to give it a go. I did my trip in early May and found the temperatures perfect. September and October are usually the driest months along the Trace, although only by a little and those who go in mid to late October would be treated with lovely fall colours.  The park keeps an updated fall colour report.  

How Many Days Does it Take to Cycle Tour the Natchez Trace

Everyone’s touring pace is different, and that can really determine how long your trip can be.  That being said, many tourers seem to get about 50-60 miles in a day. At that pace, it would take about 8 days to travel the length of the trace.  I started in Nashville, which added a few miles, and wanted to visit things along the way so I ended up taking about 9 days.

When calculating the total distance you’ll be travelling, make sure you account for side trips for lodging or resupply.  Aside from campgrounds and restrooms, there are very few services on the Trace itself, so you may have to tack on a couple extra miles each day.

Must-See Stops on the Natchez Trace

Here’s some of the things I think are worthwhile and not to miss on the Natchez Trace.  I’ve listed them in the order you’d encounter them when biking from north to south, along with the milepost marker (MP).

Loveless Cafe (just east of the northern terminus): It’s technically not on the Natchez Trace, but you can’t miss it. This historic cafe serves amazing Southern home cooking with breakfast all day. The biscuits are amazeballs.

Natchez Trace Parkway Bridge (MP 438): This is a beautiful piece of engineering, and it’s a joy to soar over the valley below! Best viewed from below on Highway 96.  

Leipers Fork, TN (MP 428): A hip little tourist town that oozes country.  Worth a stop at Puckett’s for some amazing BBQ and music. It’s not been unknown for a big star to drop in and play.

Jackson Falls (MP 404.7): A short walk to some beautiful falls. 

Fall Hollow Falls (MP 391.9): A fun little walk to some scenic waterfalls.  Make sure to go all the way to the bottom!

Meriwether Lewis Monument (MP 385.9): Don’t miss the spot where the intrepid explorer mysteriously died and was buried.

Wichahpi Commemorative Stone Wall (MP 338): A touching memorial to a Native American woman who spent 5 years walking back to Alabama after being exiled on the Trail of Tears.  This is a hidden gem that isn’t on any of the maps. To find it, turn east on County Road 8, about 4 miles south of the Alabama state line. The entrance to the wall is a few hundred feet down the road.

Rock Spring (MP 330.2): Definitely do not miss this pleasant forest walk! There’s some cool rock steps across a stream, a very large beaver dam, and tons of wildlife.

Cave Spring (MP 308.4): Caves? Springs? What’s not to love.  A short little stretch of the legs.

Jamie Whitten Lock and Dam (MP 293.2): Riding the Trace you forget just how much the Army Corps of Engineers have shaped the waterways of America.  They connected the Tennessee to the Tombigbee River, and ultimately the gulf of Mexico in Mobile, Alabama

Tupelo, MS (MP 266): The birthplace of Elvis! It’s no Graceland, but you can check out his 2-room childhood home.  There is also a fantastic auto museum in town, definitely worth a visit. I grabbed a great burger and beer at the Blue Canoe, which was conveniently on the way back to the Parkway Visitor Center where I camped.

French Camp Historic Village (MP 180.7): Grab a sandwich at the Council House cafe and take a walk through the historic village. Directly on the Trace so there’s no excuse! You can also stay in the historic buildings at their B&B. I really enjoyed it.

Cypress Swamp (MP 122): It has always been my dream to walk through a cypress swamp.  A beautiful stroll on a boardwalk over the swamp.

Reservoir Overlook (MP 105.6): The biggest body of water you’ll see along the route. Take a break and enjoy! It’s also the start and end of the separated bike path through Ridgeland (be sure to use it!).

Sunken Trace (MP 41.5): A section of the historic Natchez Trace footpath that was been eroded into a ditch by years of travel.

Mount Locust (MP 15.5): An historic inn and plantation from 1780 that is now a historic site run by the National Park Service. Open Thursday through Sunday.

Where to Stay on the Natchez Trace

Camping on the Natchez Trace

Although it is definitely possible to spend every night in a hotel or B&B, having the option to camp really increases the flexibility of your tour.  Aside from a few exceptions, there are no roofed accommodations directly on the Trace, however there are plenty of camping options. Even better, there are several cyclist specific sites.  Even better than that, most of the on-trace camping options are free! (Although it goes without saying, you get what you pay for– the free options have toilets and water, but lack some amenities like showers!)

The 3 main Parkway campsites are Rocky Springs (mile 54), Jeff Busby (mile 193) and Meriwether Lewis (mile 385).  These are free first come, first serve campgrounds with toilets and water but you’ll have to share with vehicles.

In addition to those, there are 5 free bicycle only campgrounds: Kosciusko Welcome Center (mile 160), Witch Dance (mile 234), the Natchez Trace Parkway Visitor Center in Tupelo (mile 266), Colbert Ferry (mile 327), and Gordon House/Tennessee Highway 50 (milepost 408).  These are also free, have water and restrooms.

At the Collinwood visitor center, they will let you camp across the street in the town park.  They offer free showers from 9-5, and there was a volunteer fire department next door with restrooms.  

Off the trace you can find paid campgrounds at both State park and private facilities.  I had a lovely evening at Tishomingo State Park.

Hotels and B&Bs on the Natchez Trace

For the most part, towns near the Trace are quite small, and the choices for hotels and B&Bs are limited. It is unlikely you’ll be able to roll up to a town and find a room.  This is especially frustrating if you’ve just had to ride 5 miles off route!

That said, if you plan ahead there is lots of extremely cycling friendly establishments that are prepared to take in smelly, wet, and exhausted riders.  Many will, for a fee, also pick you up and drop you off directly on the Trace. Here’s a good guide to bed and breakfasts along the Natchez Trace.

Many of these B&Bs are in beautiful historic homes and come with amazing southern breakfasts.  I highly recommend staying at least one night, if you can. I stayed a night at the historic French Camp in a wonderfully preserved house, where I also met some fellow cyclists (one who opened his home to me when I got to Baton Rouge!).  And, of course, it’s definitely worth it to treat yourself to a stay in a fancy house when you make it to Natchez, which has one of the highest concentration of antebellum homes in the country. I stayed at this historical Linden B&B in Natchez.

Of course, bigger cities like Tupelo, Jackson and Natchez have a much bigger selection of lodgings including chain hotels.

On my adventure when I wasn’t camping, I stayed at:

• French Camp Bed and Breakfast in French Camp: You can really feel the history of the Trace in this rustic yet elegant B&B.  Amazing breakfast!
• Springhill Suites by Marriott in Ridgeland/Jackson: A very new and modern hotel not too far off the Trace in Jackson.
• Linden Bed and Breakfast in Natchez: Wonderful southern hospitality in this antebellum house whose front door was copied and used in the film Gone with the Wind.  The breakfasts were stellar.

Where to Eat and Buy Food on the Natchez Trace

The most difficult aspect of a bike tour on the Natchez Trace is keeping track of where to get food and water.  Thanks to the limited number of access roads, and the laws prohibiting signage, you’ll need to plan ahead a little to ensure you know where to get off the Trace.  This is also not helped by intermittent mobile phone reception. The National Parks Service maintains a list of all the places to eat and buy groceries on the Natchez Trace. It’s the most important document you’ll need on your trip.

Many of the gas stations with convenience stores will have a very limited selection, and most of that selection will be potato chips!  Early on I had purchased a jar of peanut butter, and I must admit that it became a staple part of a number of meals. (I did not bring a stove).  Do not expect to find a place to grab a sandwich at lunch or find a bakery somewhere along the way after you’ve gotten started in the morning.  If I found myself at a store with real food, I definitely stocked up some extra for the next day.  

Water management is also something to consider carefully.  Restrooms on the Natchez Trace will have water, so make sure to stock up whenever you pass one.  I brought two 25oz cycling bottles and a 64oz plastic reservoir, as well as a water filter in case I had to grab some water from a stream in an emergency.  I was very glad for the reservoir on more than one occasion, but I never had to use the water filter.

I stored my snacks and extra water in my rack trunk, so they were always easy to grab. (Mine is discontinued, but this guide has some great suggestions for bike trunk bags.)

7 Day Itinerary for Cycle Touring the Natchez Trace

This is a North to South itinerary for a self supported trip that is not quite exactly what I rode, but having ridden the trace is what I wish I had ridden.  My trip included a start in Nashville (adding 20 miles on Day 1) and I ended up staying at a number of the cycling only camping spots (Gordon House, Collinwood visitor center, Witch Dance).  Not that I wouldn’t recommend these places, but the campsites I have recommended here are both bigger and more scenic.

Make sure you take time to stop and check out the sights along the way.  It is easy to get into the groove, but there is a lot of fun walks and historical sites along the way.  You might even want to consider taking a rest day. I didn’t take one but Tupelo had enough stuff nearby to make it a good place to take a day off from riding.

My ideal 7-day itinerary is below. I’ve only listed the places where I actually stopped for supplies.  The National Park Service has an up to date list. Remember that outside of major towns the selection may be limited to jerky, chips, and other convenience store items.  

Day 1: Pasquo, TN to Meriwether Lewis Campground, TN (60 miles)

Must See: Loveless Cafe, Leipers Fork, TN-96 bridge, Gordon House, Jackson Falls, Tobacco Farm, Fall Hollow Falls

Supplies: Leipers Fork, Centerville.

Sleep: free NPS campground at Meriwether Lewis

Day 2: Meriwether Lewis Campground to Colbert Ferry, AL (60 miles)

Must See: Wichahpi Commemorative Stone Wall, Rock Spring, Tennessee River bridge

Supplies: Collinwood

Sleep: free NPS campground at Colbert Ferry

Day 3: Colbert Ferry to Natchez Trace Parkway Visitor Centre, Tupelo, MS (62 miles)

Must See : Cave Spring, Jamie L Whitten Dam and Lock, Pharr Mounds, Old Trace and Confederate Gravesites, Elvis’ birthplace in Tupelo, Tupelo auto museum

Supplies: Tupelo

Sleep: free NPS campground at the Parkway Visitor Center, or plenty of hotels in town

Day 4: Tupelo to French Camp, MS (85 miles)

Cycle Touring Tips: This is a big day so start early to make sure you have enough time and to miss rush hour getting out of Tupelo.

Must See: View from the top of the hill in Jeff Busby, French Camp

Supplies: By Wy Country Store (Hwy 9), Leonard’s 3-way (French Camp)

Sleep: French Camp B&B

Day 5: French Camp to Ridgeland, MS (60 miles)

Must See: Cypress Swamp, Reservoir Overlook

Supplies: Kosciusko, Ridgeland (part of the greater Jackson, MS area)

Sleep: Plenty of hotels in Ridgeland/Jackson/Clinton area

Day 6: Ridgeland to Rocky Springs Campground, MS (48 miles)

Cycle Touring Tips: Avoid rush hour leaving Ridgeland since you’ll be going through Jackson, MS!

Must See: Rocky Springs

Supplies: nothing near enough to the Trace that I stopped at, but Raymond is 3 miles from the Trace.

Sleep: free NPS campground at Rocky Springs

Day 7: Rocky Springs Campground to Natchez, MS (55 miles)

Must See: Sunken Trace, Mount Locust, Natchez

Supplies: nothing near enough to the Trace that I stopped at, but Port Gibson is 2 miles from the Trace

Sleep: you made it! Treat yourself at one of the many historic B&Bs in antebellum mansions.  I loved my stay at the Linden B&B.

Alternative Itineraries for Cycle Touring the Natchez Trace

8 Day Itinerary for Cycle Touring the Natchez Trace

The 7 day itinerary has rather long days on Day 4 and 5.  If you’d like a slightly more relaxed version, it is easy to convert the above 7 day itinerary into an 8 day itinerary. Spread out the mileage from days 4 and 5 above into three days by following this itinerary:

Day 4: Tupelo -> Jeff Busby (73 miles)

Sleep: free NPS campground at Jeff Busby

Day 5: Jeff Busby -> Kosciusko (34 miles)

Sleep: free camping at the Kosciusko visitor center, many hotel options as well

Day 6: Kosciusko -> Ridgeland (60 miles)

Resume 7 day itinerary schedule

Extending Your Cycle Tour to New Orleans

Like I did, you can also continue onwards to the Big Easy.  It took me 4 days to travel from Natchez to New Orleans. Unfortunately it is not as straightforward and a bit more route planning is needed.  With the help of some local cyclists, some internet research and the American Cycling Association’s “Great Rivers South” maps, I cobbled together a reasonably stress-free journey. If you’re planning a similar trip, check out my trip journal to see what route I took. And of course, leave me comment if you need advice!

Resources and Further Reading for Cycle Touring the Natchez Trace

• Read my trip journal
• Helpful National Park Service links:
  • Cycle touring information including info for requesting printed copies of maps and other cycling related information through the mail.
  • Maps of the Natchez Trace
  • List of places to eat and sleep along the Natchez Trace
  • Info on cyclist-only campgrounds
  • List of all other campsites on or near the Natchez Trace
• Natchez Trace Travel, an amazing resource for everything you ever wanted to know about the Trace! They will even create a customized itinerary for you.
• Scenic Trace, the local tourism board website for the Natchez Trace.
• Adventure Cycling Association maps. I used Great Rivers South maps #2 and #3. They were really helpful. 
• Bicycling the Natchez Trace Parkway Guidebook. I didn’t buy this one since it’s a bit old (published in 2002), but it gets great reviews.

I really enjoyed my cycle tour of the Natchez Trace and I hope this post inspires you to plan cycle tour of your own. See you out on the road! – Greg

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• How to Take an Epic Canadian National Parks Road Trip

The post How to Cycle Tour the Natchez Trace Parkway appeared first on Dawn Outdoors.

Hey there: This is NOT a sponsored post. I visited Summerland on my own time and spent my own money. I just had a really good time and wanted to share it with you. Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase. Thanks for supporting my website! -Taryn

Summerland Winery Basics

The entire Okanagan valley is full of great wineries. There are so many to choose from that it can be hard to know where to start.

I love the Summerland area as it avoids the hype and crowds in favour of a more intimate experience at small family run wineries. Many of the vineyards are organic and produce niche or specialty wines you won’t find anywhere else. In the last few years a few cideries have also opened up, returning the region to its apple orchard roots. Currently there are 19 wineries, 3 cideries and one brewery in Summerland, all easy to find thanks to the city’s Bottleneck Drive signage. The region is easy to explore by car, but I think you’ll enjoy it more on a bike.

You can easily visit Summerland on a day trip if you are staying in Kelowna or Penticton, but it’s much easier base yourself in Summerland. I stayed with friends, but they recommend the Summerland Waterfront Resort if you’re looking for a hotel in the area. There are also tons of cute cabins in vineyards, as well as motels and bed and breakfasts. (Check out my list of the cutest cozy cabins in BC, including a few in the Okanagan.)

Biking in Summerland

In addition to wine, Summerland and the Okanagan region have also become a destination for cycling thanks to the Grand Fondo Alex Merckx. You don’t have to be a spandex-clad semi-pro to enjoy biking here – the quiet backroads are perfect for casual cyclists too. Exploring Summerland’s wineries by bike instead of by car lets you slow down a little bit, hear the bees, smell the flowers and really experience the rural life. Plus you won’t feel as bad about drinking all that alcohol knowing you got a bit of exercise first!

When to Go

The wineries and cideries are open from 11am until 5pm from May until September. They have more limited hours in the winter (and the weather isn’t as nice) so summer afternoons are the best time to visit Summerland’s wineries by bike.

What to bring

The wineries aren’t formal: dress in whatever you find comfortable for biking. It’s very sunny and hot in the Okanagan so don’t forget sunscreen, sunglasses and a bottle of water. Cycling makes you hungry so be sure to pack some snacks or a lunch. Most of the wineries and cideries have shaded patios where you can eat your own food. Lunessence Winery also has snacks for purchase.

Bring some cash or cards to buy wine and cider. A few places charge a tasting fee (usually $2-$5) but they will always waive it if someone in your group buys a bottle or two. You may also want to bring a backpack or pannier so you can carry your purchases with you. We knew we would buying a lot, so we asked each winery or cidery to set aside our purchases, then returned later with our car to pick them up.

Bike Riding Tips

The roads around Summerland are very quiet and safe. They are all paved, although there are a few potholes. The locals are used to cyclists and will usually give you lots of room. There are several signed cycling routes, some of which have separated bike lanes.

Be courteous to drivers by riding single file, using hand signals when turning and taking breaks off the pavement.  By law, you must wear a bike helmet in British Columbia. There’s a $100 fine if you don’t.

Self-Guided Summerland Winery Bike Tour

There are 19 wineries and 3 cideries in Summerland… too many to visit in one day. I’ve put together a loop bike route that hits the highlights: three organic wineries, two cideries and a few photo stops and a ride along the lakeshore. It also avoids unnecessary hills, long detours out of the way and all highway riding. If you’re super ambitious I’ve also included 4 optional side trips to additional wineries.

The route is good for most cyclists who can handle a few hills. (It’s ok if you walk up the steep bits!) If you want a shorter and easier route, I’ve also designed an alternate route. It cuts off 6km of distance and all of the big hills but does miss one of the cideries. Follow the blue loop on the map below for the main route and use the green shortcut line to take the alternate route.

Main Route: 25km/15.5mi loop with 200m/650ft of elevation change. Allow 3.5-5.5 hours including stops. Best for most cyclists. Starts and finishes at Peach Orchard Park.

Alternate Route: 19km/12mi loop with 50m/160ft of elevation change. Allow 3-4.5hours including stops. Best for cyclists who want a shorter route with less hills. Starts and finishes at the intersection of Prairie Valley Road and Rosedale Avenue.

Itinerary

• Peach Orchard Park
• Summergate Winery
• Saxon Estate Winery (closed)
• Dominion Cider Co.
• Bush Art Gardens
• Trout Creek Trestle
• Lunessence Winery
• Summerland Heritage Cider

PARKING: For the MAIN ROUTE, start at Peach Orchard Park on Lakeshore Drive. There is lots of parking here but be sure to arrive early on summer weekends. If you can’t find a spot, try the lots at Gordon Beggs Beach a little further south on Lakeshore Drive. You can also park on the street along Lakeshore drive in front of the Summerland Waterfront Resort. For the ALTERNATE ROUTE, skip ahead to 2.5km.

0KM: RIDE NORTH on Lakeshore Drive from Peach Orchard Park.

0.2km: TURN LEFT on Peach Orchard Road. Ride up the hill. This is the hardest climb of the whole trip but there is a wide shoulder and bike lane for the entire hill.

1.8km: GO UNDER the highway on Peach Orchard.

2.1km: GO LEFT on Rosedale Avenue at the roundabout.

2.5km: GO STRAIGHT at the second roundabout to join Prairie Valley Road. If you are following the shorter alternate route, this is where you start your ride.

3km: Go STRAIGHT on Prairie Valley road as it goes around another roundabout. As you leave the houses and transition into farmland, the road starts to climb uphill. Watch for the plume of the Kettle Valley steam train down below.

5.2km: TURN RIGHT on Morrow Avenue

5.3km: TURN LEFT into Summergate Winery.

Summergate Winery

Summergate Winery is a small estate winery focusing on sweeter white wines. Like a few other small wineries around Summerland, they are an organic winery that doesn’t use chemical pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers. I really enjoyed their 2017 Kerner. It has unique tropical notes that just taste like summer.

5.3km: TURN RIGHT  to leave Summergate and retrace your route on Morrow.

5.4km: TURN RIGHT on Prairie Valley.

5.9km: TURN LEFT onto Rutherford Avenue.

6.3km: TURN LEFT onto Dale Meadows Road.

7.6km: TURN RIGHT onto Lumsden Avenue.

7.8km: TURN LEFT into Saxon Estate Winery.

Saxon Estate Winery (Closed)

Update: Saxon Estate Winery is now closed.

Like Summergate, Saxon Estate Winery is also an organic winery. They are a small family run winery and specialize in the obscure Leon Millot Rouge grape, used in their signature reds. We really enjoyed their Drunken Knight, a strangely sparkling port created through several happy accidents of winemaking.

TURN LEFT onto the path through the grass beside the Winery. Walk your bike 100m to Dominion Cider Co.

Dominion Cider Co.

Historically Summerland was known for their orchards, but many were converted to wineries in the last few decades. Thankfully the trend seems to be reversing a little bit with new cideries like Dominion Cider Co. opening up to brew delicious cider from the local apples and pears. Dominion is housed in the cutest little quonset hut. I really enjoyed their ginger cider, created in collaboration with Dickie’s Ginger Beer of Vancouver.

8km: FOLLOW THE DRIVEWAY out on to Gould Road.

8.1km: TURN LEFT on Gould Road.

8.15km: TURN RIGHT on to Dale Meadows Road.

9.1km: TURN RIGHT on to Victoria Road. Follow Victoria Road down the hill.

11.8km: TURN RIGHT on Monro Street. Ride down on Munro, crossing the railway tracks. (Optional side trip: Stop at Estate Thurn at 12.4km, a craft winery that also makes their own vinegar.)

12.9km: TURN LEFT on Canyon View Road and descend steeply with a couple of sharp corners. There are good views from up here!

13.7km: ARRIVE AT Bush Art Gardens. It’s on your left.

Bush Art Gardens

While Bush Art Gardens is no longer fully operational, it’s still worth a stop. It’s a unique outdoor gallery of art re-purposed from junk and found objects. Be sure to check out the vintage car planters. The owners have retired and aren’t creating new art but they do have a few things for sale on the honour system inside the little shack. (Be sure to check out the inside – it’s actually a really cute 50s travel trailer.)

14.1km TURN RIGHT into the Trout Creek Trestle Parking lot. Walk your bike out along the pathway, on to the Trout Creek Trestle.

Trout Creek Trestle

The Trout Creek trestle stands 240 feet/73 meters above the steep-sided canyon. There are pedestrian walkways on either side of the tracks so be sure to walk across to enjoy the views. It is part of the historical Kettle Valley Railway, built between 1910 and 1915. The KVR originally ran from Hope to Midway in the Kootenays. It fell into disuse in the 1960s and totally closed in the 1980s. Today much of the former KVR rail bed has been converted into a hiking and biking path. However, the short section near Summerland hosts the Kettle Valley Steam Railway, a heritage train for tourists.

14.1km: TURN RIGHT out of the parking lot and continue on Canyon View Road after you visit the trestle. (Optional side trip: Stop at Summerland Sweets at 14.2km. This popular spot is known for their jams and syrups, made from local fruit. They also have ice cream, so plan to stop here on hot days. You can also sample the fruit wines from their sister business, the Sleeping Giant Fruit Winery.)

14.4km: TURN RIGHT on Hillborn Street.

14.7km: STAY LEFT as Hillborn curves and becomes Happy Valley Road.

15.4km: TURN LEFT at Gartrell road and head steeply uphill.

15.5km: TURN RIGHT to arrive at Lunessence Winery.

Lunessence Winery

Lunessence Winery goes a step further than organic: they practice biodynamic viticulture. This means that they see the vineyard as holistic entity and take into account the soil, climate, and lunar cycles, as well as the health of the vines. (That’s why they are called “lunessence”, from “lunar”). They also play classical music for their grapes as they grow and for their wine barrels as they age since they believe it exposes the wine to positive emotions. You might think this all sounds amazing OR that it sounds like hippy BS, but either way, their wine is pretty good. The view from their terrace is also spectacular. You can purchase cheese plates and other snacks to enjoy while you admire the view, or bring your own.

ALTERNATE ROUTE: If you want to take the shorter alternate route, after Lunessence head turn right and go uphill on Gartrell for one block, then turn right on Giant’s Head Road (at 15.8km). Follow Giant’s Head road back to Prairie Valley road. Turn left on Prairie Valley (at 18.7km) and go one block to your starting point.

Directions for the Main Route continue below.

15.5km: TURN LEFT from Lunessence onto Gartrell. Follow Gartrell as it descends steeply, with a few exciting hairpin corners. (Optional side trip: Stop at Silkscarf Winery (16km). You’ll pass it near the top of the hill.)

17.4km: GO STRAIGHT at the bottom of the hill Gartrell becomes Fir Avenue.

17.6km: CURVE LEFT as Fir becomes Johnson street.

17.8km: TURN RIGHT at Summerland Heritage Cider.

Summerland Heritage Cider

Summerland Heritage Cider is a craft cidery surrounded by apple orchards. Most of their ciders are made from specialized cider apples that aren’t great for eating since they have lots of tannins. This gives their ciders a distinct dry flavour. They also have a rotating seasonal cider. This summer they made a Gose-style cider that has hints of lime and salt – I think it’s the margarita of cider. It sounds weird, but trust me it’s fabulous. We loved it so much that we returned in the car to buy a case to take home with us.

17.8km: TURN RIGHT on Johnson.

18.3km: GO STRAIGHT on Johnson across the highway at the traffic light.

18.7km: TURN LEFT on Nixon Road.

19.4km: TURN RIGHT on Kirk Ave.

19.5km: TURN LEFT on Thorber Street.

19.9km: TURN RIGHT on to Landry Crescent.

21km: TURN RIGHT towards the entrance to the RV Park.

21.05km: TURN LEFT on to the separated bike path, next to the highway.

22.2km: GO STRAIGHT on Lakeshore Drive after the bike path ends.

23.3km: TURN RIGHT to stay on Lakeshore Drive. Pass by the Summerland Waterfront Resort (23.5km) and Gordon Beggs Beach (23.9km).

24.5km: TURN RIGHT to go back into the parking lot at Peach Orchard Park.

I hope you enjoyed your exploring Summerland’s wineries by bike as much as I did. Let me know which wines and ciders were your favourite in the comments.

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The post Explore Summerland’s Wineries by Bike appeared first on Dawn Outdoors.