Mississippi River - Road Bike Trail

Anyone who has ever ridden on the Mississippi River Trail will agree—it’s an amazing bicycle adventure. With a length of 22 miles, this popular trail is located largely on road shoulders but also includes several segments of the scenic state, regional, and even local trails.

Before you go:

Drinking water

Restrooms

Fee required

Lift service

Fat bike grooming

Family Friendly

Night riding

E-bikes allowed

Dogs Allowed

Obstacles

Shuttles

Detailed Trail Description

The Mississippi River Trail is a network of disconnected, paved pathways in southern Louisiana that is popular with both tourists and residents. This well-liked route, also known as the New Orleans Levee Top Trail, is an attempt to build a bicycling and walking path over the whole length of the Mississippi River. This will eventually span from Louisiana to Minnesota for nearly 3,000 miles.

With this in mind, it’s no surprise then that new cycling paths are emerging along most parts of the lower river. This means biking tours are on the increase—excellent news for cyclists who like to explore trails in groups!

Furthermore, there are also a bunch of trails along the Mississippi River that cyclists will find both interesting and fun. Some are listed below.

Additional Trail Features

The trail is smooth with a few easy driveway crossings. Furthermore, the trail is well maintained and patrolled by Rangers which is reassuring for parents who are letting kids onto the trail for the first time.

Sights of Interest, Landscapes, Views

Another good reason to venture out onto the Mississippi River Trail is that there are so many other fun things to do. This is great for people who want to explore the trail but have their families doing other things.

Some of the fun things to do along the trail are highlighted below.

• Visit museums: It’s no secret that the Mississippi River has a long and interesting history. There are several museums to visit along the river that will teach you everything you ever wanted to know about the river’s history.
• State parks: If your family would rather spend the day outdoors, then one of the parks along the river is ideal. With shady places to picnic, several parks also provide opportunities for hiking, birdwatching, fishing, and horseback riding.
• Visit the military park: One of the most interesting spots to visit is the Grand Gulf Military Park which is situated alongside the Mississippi River Trail. Visitors can explore everything related to the Civil War.

Recommendations/Precautions

It’s worth noting that some parts of the trail don’t have any shade, which means hats are a must, especially for kids. Water and restrooms are also limited, so prepare for this by taking enough bottled water of your own. On the positive side, there’s plenty of parking on both sides of the trail!