The day before, we drove part of the route to check out trail heads and parking. We travel in a Class B Roadtrek RV and wanted to be certain of space and safety. The parking at the Gateway at Southern Miss was great, we felt like Jackson Road Station was a bit too remote and finally settled on Sumrall since we were staying at Okatoma Resort RV Park near-by. We rode from Sumrall to Lott Circle and back (14 miles) and then Sumrall to Epley Station and back (8 miles). We chose to do "uphill" sections on the way out and hoped for a coast on the return. The trail is pretty flat, but we did experience what another review called "long inclines". We are in our late 60s/early 70s and don't get to ride very often but we handled the trip well and loved the well tended and accurate signage along the way. The February day was wet and cloudy but even that didn't dampen our ride on this terrific trail.

Biked 22 miles of this trail from the Jackson Road Depot to Sumrall and back. The day was one of those gorgeous mid-January spring Saturdays you can only find in the South. Quite a few runners out and very few cyclists. The pathway is very smooth with few cross streets to cause you to stop. Had a good number of rest stops (every 4 - 5 miles) with water/facilities and even an occasional rain shelter. The outbound trip north was very scenic and relaxing. Even better, on the way back you can really hammer it since it is 80% ever so slightly downhill. You can flat out fly. I'm 52 and could pretend my had my 30-something legs were back. I have been on the Silver Comet / Chief Ladiga and other trails and this one compares very nicely with them. Can't wait to try the rest of it.

I am a student at the University of Southern Mississippi, I love riding the trace any chance I get. I am originally from Hattiesburg and I actually have about 3 or 4 family members whos property lies directly next to the trace. We all love to hunt so its no surprise that there are a few good ole boys walkin around wielding rifles. I havent gotten a chance to ride the trace in its entirety but I can tell you the ride from USM to sumrall is very nice, very little grade in the pavement which makes pedaling simple. I took a 8 mile ride today for fun and I cant wait to do it again maybe tomorrow.

Started at prentiss. Found bathrooms were locked down on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. About a mile into ride met a dude out of deliverance shooting a pistol off the trail at an unkonwn object in the creek He just gave us a funny grin and wouldn't say a word. The sheriff responded immediately to the call we made The guy disappeared. A few miles later we ran into what looked like a grandfather and grandson on leisurely stroll with a rifle. At Least he wasn't shooting. Other than this. Nice trail and day.

I rode the Lonleaf Trace April 5 & 6. Of all the rail-trails I've ridden, this is one of my favorites. It's very scenic and very well maintained. The 41-mile-long trail starts on the campus of the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg. This gateway, as well as all of the other trailheads are very easy to find by following the brown signs from I-59, US-98, US-49 and SR-42. Parking is available on the Southern Mississippi campus in spaces reserved for trail users. Look for the tow-away zone. I was assurred that only cars belonging to University students would be towed from these spaces. From Hattiesburg, the trail goes through quiet forest, small towns and past farms to the end in Pretiss. There are several trailheads along the way with restrooms and vending machines. There are also several covered rain shelters, which were not needed on my visit. The weather was beautiful with not a cloud in the sky. Also, there are numerous scenic rest areas along the trail. The pavement is very smooth the entire length and the trail is very clean and well maintained. Be sure to stop at the Clyde Depot and sign the visitor's notebook. It was interesting to see where other visitors had come from. All in all, this is one of the nicest rail-trails I've ever ridden.

For the past year, I have been riding rail/trails all across the eastern portion of the US on my recumbent trike. Each new trail discovery continues to amaze me. The Longleaf Trace is a wonderful trail. I rode this trail on 1/31/11 and I was impressed with the quality of this well maintained trail. Riding out of the USM campus parking at the beginning of the trail, the first encounter is the beautiful Welcome Center for the trail. This center is part bike shop, part bike/recumbent rental, and, part snack shop. There are maps of the trail as well.

Riding the first 12 or so miles, there is an impressive Tree Identification Project where dozens of tree species are named. I have never encountered so many varieties of trees. Even in the dead of winter, the trail is very well covered by trees. This trail would also be a great treat for those bird watchers out there. This trail is asphalt and can be used for inline skating and skateboards however, there are some bumps along the first ten or so miles.

There are plenty of very clean, well maintained rest stops. There are also covered rain shelters along the trail. The Trace as it is called locally has a very nice mile marker system as well.

One must take heed to the parking situation at the USM campus. There is a designated parking row for trail users only, however, it is filled to capacity with students using those spaces. I was lucky to find one open parking spot. The guide at the Welcome Center acknowleged the parking issue and said that a new parking lot is set to be constructed soon for trail users only. At the present time, trail users would best be served by parking at the Jackson Road Station trailhead which is at about mile 4 northwest of USM.

I would highly recommend the Longleaf Trace to anyone visiting the region as a must see/experience event.

I have ridden several of the rail-trails in the last few years: Longleaf Trace was my first one and still the best in terms of ride-ability I think. I rode the entire length from Hattiesburg out to Prentiss, and back, in about 7.5 hours last Friday, 11/12/10. The parking lot was very crowded as students are obviously using the lot even though the signs state that the parking is only for trail users. The trail itself is asphalt the entire length. The trial begins on the USM campus at mile marker 3.4. They have not been able to complete the downtown portion of the trail. It ends in Prentiss at about mile marker 44. I saw MM 43 but never actually saw a 44 mm in the little park where the trail ends in Prentiss. For the first 10 to 15 miles out from Hattiesburg there are restrooms and a couple of stops with drink machines. Farther out there are rest-stops with restrooms and water fountains. The trail goes through a couple of small towns Sumrall and Bassfield. These are great places to run in for a drink or snack if you're going all the way. There isn't much in Prentiss. There is a convenience store just across the street from the park. It was gorgeous this time of year. The weather was perfect and not many people on the trail once I got out 10 miles or so from Hattiesburg. There are even lights on the trail a little ways out from Hattiesburg. By the way it's getting dark about 5:00 pm these days. It was fun riding the last few miles by the light of my Blackberry. I'm 49 years old and should have known better. There is a small county/state campground just outside Prentiss called Jefferson Davis campground. It's great access to the trail from there, 2.8 miles directly to the trail.

This deserves a top award for being well kept, plenty of rest stops, restrooms, cold water and beautiful.
Trees are marked as to origin, wide asphalt, plenty of shade in this hot weather. It is obvious the
residents are very proud of the trail and want to keep it that way. I plan to go back and it is over 500 miles from my home.

MW

This is one of the nicest trails I have ever ridden. Wide paved, plenty of cold water available, clean well kept facilities. My wife and I have been down here three times from Chicago to ride the trail in the spring. There is nothing like warm weather, sunshine and flowers to get one out of the winter doldrums. We have ridden the length of the trail most years. Prentiss is the only bad spot for us. For whatever reason the facilities there are always locked. That is the western trail head. It is a fairly long climb from Prentiss, so save yourself some work and start in Bassfield or someplace further east.

This is a great trail, best in Mississippi, probably best in the South, maybe even world. 10' wide, 12' in places, paved and almost level. The equestrain trail is great for horseback riding and wagons, and also great for trail runners, hikers, and mountain bikers. Lots of connecting trails for more variety. Has an award winning web site with lots of information. Extensions planned in Hattiesburg and Jeff Davis County.

Grreat trail!

My wife and I have ridden on the Longleaf Trace a number of times. We are here on the coast and do some riding down here, but when we want to make a good ride better, we take it to the Trace. There are places to take breaks, there are refreshment stops, and there are places where one can be picked up if there are emergencies or malfuntions. I see this as an assette to the community and a good place to prove ones ability on the cycles as well. There is no competition between automobiles and the Trace travelers. It is a fantastic situation. A situation that cannot be improved upon! You have the beautiful canopy of trees to help along the way.

Vr,
Wil

"Excellent trail, nice rest areas along the way,if you don't have a bike rent one in Hattisburg,friendly helpful staff."

"The Longleaf Trace is by far the best bike trail in Mississippi and one of the best in the southeast. Their web site is first class, too. Highly recommended!"

"This is an awesome awesome oportunity for locals to take advantage. Mississippi falls short in comparisons to other states in many areas, but this is one area that can set a welcoming example of where this state can be innovative. I was out there yesterday and as a Mississippi resident am proud to say that the trail was well used and very clean. Bob was very helpful in providing information and had a warm attitude. I would highly recommend this to the outdoor adventurist or beginner. "

"Received great welcome from Bill at the Hattiesburg trailhead. Super information stop. Last paragraph of directions in thecdiscription is misleading - not exactly correct. VC is West on 4th - 4th runs E & W. VC 1 block from 49. We started at Jackson St Station and rode past Canyon a couple of miles and back. Highlight of ride was the American flag hanging across the trail! Beautiful! Note: The VC rents bikes, tandems & recumbant bikes. "

"A very nice tree lined trail. We rode from the USM parking trailhead where there is adequate and safe parking. We appreciated the signs identifying the trees. We wanted to ride from Prentiss or Bassfield, but were concerned because there were no other cars in the parking areas and no other riders in sight. We considered the parking in these areas less then desirable were concerned about security."

This is one of the best maintained and layed out trails we have ridden. There are many rest stops built on platforms with benches and some with tables. Some benches convert to tables. Many of the major road crossings have clean restrooms with coke machines. The trail edges are trimmed and the asphalt surface is blown clear of trash. We have ridden half of it and plan to come back to ride the rest.

"We rode the trail a couple of weeks ago and thought it was wonderful! On the first day, we rode from Sumrall to Hattiesburg. We spoke with two very nice and helpful gentlemen in the trailhead office who recommended restaurants, etc. for us while we were there. We had lunch at one of the places they recommended, Strick's BBQ. It was easy to get to and the food was really good. After lunch, we rode to Lott's Circle and then returned to Sumrall. We then went by car to Prentiss, which is a lovely town, and stayed at the Bayliss B&B. That night, we had dinner at Cowboy Jim's which has great atmosphere and wonderful food. The next day, we rode from Prentiss to Lott's Circle and back. We were trying to beat the weather that day. Anyway, the trail is great. The scenery is really nice and the rest areas along the way were nice. Although I live in Louisiana now, I grew up in Mississippi and and think the Longleaf is something that Mississippians should be proud of and take advantage of."

This trail has the best overall rest areas of any trail I have been on and I have done over a hundred rail trails from Washington to Florida. Very quiet place to ride on a weekday. The trees do a good job of blocking the wind and providing shade. I was able to go from Hattiesberg to Prentiess and back in the same day.

"I have ridden many, many trails and have decided that my weekend ride of the Longleaf Trace was the best by far. The facilities were excellent with rest rooms and drink machines all along the way.

There were also small towns with restaurants convenient to the trail. My only complaint was that each rest stop ended up with so much conversation with other bike riders that we got behind schedule."

"We have ridden several trails in the south and were very impressed with the Longleaf Trace. Rider considerations, like the covered rain shelters and rest depots, are very conveniently located and well-planned.

We felt safe and comfortable in the quiet wilderness. Trail etiquette is lax with riders meandering on both sides of the trail. We rate this trail an 8/10 and will definitely visit again."

"We have been biking for several years in several states. This by far is the best kept secret in the south. It's quiet, peaceful, has rest stops, shelter and bathroom stops, and is well maintained. Why this biking trail has not been discovered is beyond my understanding. Congratulations Mississippi: You are in a league of your own this time."

"I've vacationed on bike trails in Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana. The Longleaf Trace is the very best trail that I have been to. There is great scenery, an easy grade, the trail is well marked and just lots of variety."

"With rainy weather, we only rode from the Hattiesburg trailhead to Sumrall and back but the trail and supporting facilities sure were great. We hope to get back next winter and ride the whole trail.

We stayed nearby at the Sunny Grove B&B, which was very nice."

"My husband and I just biked part of this trail last weekend (25 miles of it) from Hattiesburg to north of Sumerall. We had a wonderful time. This is truly one of the best trails we have EVER been on.

The trail is mostly flat with a few LONG inclines. The trail is very well maintained with plenty of places to stop, catch your breath, get a drink and enjoy the surroundings. The trail has emergency first aid kits spaced along the way (we thought this was an excellent idea).

We stopped in Sumerall to eat lunch at a good place right across from the Trent Lott Memorial Park. We had the pleasure of spending the night at the Cabin Bed and Breakfast, which is only 100 yards off the trail (north of Hattiesburg). It was an excellent choice -- very affordable and a gracious host.

This trail is a MUST DO!"

"It was February and we were driving north to home and snow. What a treat to discover this forest trail and enjoy one last warm ride. To those people I met who wondered if I was cold, there was a good reason for wearing only a t-shirt. First class trailhead facilities....have never seen anything quite up to that standard. Perhaps this Feburary we will escape the winter cold and return to ride the entire trail."

"My wife and I rode this trail this weekend starting in Hattiesburg and spending the night at a motel in Prentiss.

The trail was an absolute pleasure to ride; we saw a lot of wildlife including numerous squirrels, rabbits and deer. We also saw a few small snakes. The outlook over the Beaver pond was a great rest stop along with the unique Cedar sided depot in Chipley.

The only thing we would do different would be to start in Prentiss and end in Hattiesburg where we would more choices for lodging and dinner."

"I drove up to Hattiesburg from New Orleans on a Saturday. From Jackson Station I rode my bike to Prentiss. It took me roughly 3.5 hours. I stayed in a lovely motel in Prentiss called the Jeffersonian. The owner was very cordial and a single with tax was $34 and change. I grabbed a sandwich at the Tri-Corner Grill. (Right, on the main drag, as you leave the trail's end. Go in the opposite direction for motel accomodations.) People waved to say hello and at every opportunity I engaged them in conversation. They helped bring an ambiance to the experience that was priceless. I met a couple of kids on horseback and what appeared to be their granddad driving a horse drawn wagon. Amazingly enough I had a Mississippi Belle wave at me with the brightest smile I have seen in quite a while. Her boyfriend looked like he played football for ""Old Miss"" so I waved and pedaled on.

The trail is beautifully surfaced and gently rolling. It is lined with pine trees for the most part. There is plenty of game. I saw quail, rabbits, and plenty of birds. I got a chance to acquaint myself with my morning dove call that I spent most of one summer learning as a child. I stopped on the way back at Bassfield. Believe it or not I had collared greens and hamhocks and the best scalloped potatoes of my life at a gas station there. (Please note, I am neither a picky eater or a gourmand.)

I was greeted by all the other users on the trail. What a pleasure to find such remarkably friendly people. I am going to bring back some friends. This rails to trails ride deserves four stars, but make sure you stop and meet some people along the way. I almost forgot. Lookout for pecans on the trail. You thin tired riders might experience a nasty fall. Try it, you will like it. "

"As an engineer who has been running trains for some 23 years, I truly believe that I have one of the best jobs in the world. Aside from the thrill I get from actually running trains, I also feel that I am carrying on an American tradition that help to build this great country of ours. I see it everyday in the towns that I pass through. So when I'm riding my bike though this old railroad corridor, my perspective may be a bit unique than others who pass through. I can almost hear the whistle blow and the bell ring as the giant steam engine made its' way though the country side, bellowing out a loud thunder of black smoke, with wheels squealing under the heavy weight of it's cargo being delivered down the road. This route to me is not just another trail that was design for recreational use, but came with a history, one that served it's community well back then as well as it does today. See, by use and support of this rail-to-trail converstion, we can also keep our history alive. This past week was my second trip through Longleaf Trace. I find camping at Paul B. Johnson State Park in Hattiesburg a convenience considering it's so close to the trail. This trail is well kept up, but if you bring food along, you'll have to tote it out because of the lack of trash cans. Enjoy!!!

Raildog "

"Just heard about the trail from someone who works at the Tammany Trace Trail in Louisiana and decided to take a side trip to ride the Longleaf. Parked at Jackson Station (approximately mile marker 7) and rode to mile marker 20 and back on my road bike. Nice long straight stretches of gentle grades and curves. A little cold today, but minimal traffic on this trail and nice scenery through the woods. Several nice way stations with restrooms and water available. Well worth the time to go ride this trail. "