Alternate to riding Skyline Drive

[daddysbike]

I'm doing my annual Blueridge parkway ride next week. I leave north GA Thursday afternoon and plan to ride/stay the night in Front Royal, VA and ride Skyline drive/BRP Fri,Sat,Sun. I've never been as far as Skyline drive, usually I start the BRP around milepost 200 or so.

My ? is. I've heard the police can be worse around Skyline Drive. I'm up riding at sunrise is this still a concern? I ride about 10-20 over. I read in a previous issue of RoadRunner some good rides around Natural Bridge, VA which is right off I-81. Does anybody suggest an alternative to Skyline Drive?

Maybe around Harrisonburg/Natural Bridge for the day? I'm spending the second night in Galax, VA. I could change reservations for the first night and stay around Harrisonburg/Natural Bridge, ride your route Friday then hop on the BRP down to Galax.

If you could include turn by turn directions from I-81 I could put your ride as a route into my GPS.

Is anybody familiar with the "Shamrock Tour" that I'm talking about from RoadRunner magazine? it has 4 day routes around Natural Bridge, VA.

I prefer twisty/scenic low traffic/LEO rides

Thanks,

Steve

 

[Bounce]

Cherohala Skyway

https://www.cherohala.com/

 

[daddysbike]

Cherohala Skyway
https://www.cherohala.com/

Yeah, the Cherohala is one of my favorites but its closer to my home. I want to ride near Harrisonburg, VA.

Steve

 

[JimLor]

I'm sure Heidi and Splbnk will chime in here, but in the meantime - you can always take Rt33 West off of Skyline Drive (SD). It's a great road close to SD - going downhill and curvy all the way. It's also a beautiful interesting road as you get into WV which isn't too far away. Once in WV there are other trips to take and I'll let the aforementinoned folks elaborate. If you want short, curvy sidetrips (and by short I mean a .5 or 1 hour detour, you can take either 33 or 211 off of SD and run them back and forth over SD! Pretty nice and short diversions from SD. Be aware, I know the police keep a pretty close eye on Rt 211 on the east side of SD. I've been thru there a few times with loads of police and bikes pulled over to the side - other times it's empty! Wish I could join you for part of your trip, but sounds like you'll done my area on Friday. If you'll be running the Harrisonburg part on Sat AM, let me know! Have fun.

 

[spklbuk]

33 west to Senaca Rocks, WV, south on 28 to 250, west on 250 to Waynesboro and then back on the BRP would make a nice loop; or do the loop in the reverse and finish up in Harrisonburg.

Or if you wanted to venture farther south, 219S to Marlinton, WV and then 39 east thru Goshen Pass to Lexington, then 60 Buena Vista to BRP is good.

I'm sure Heidi will direct you to Smokehole Road if you get to Seneca area. Numerous possibilities.

Have fun.

 

[wallypiper]

Another vote for 33 west of Harrisonburg.

Excellent road.

Much much better than Skyline Drive. Skyline IS heavily patrolled, they charge some rediculous fee to get on it and its not that great a road. Some great views but it definitely not a very good place for the sport side of sport touring.

 

[daddysbike]

I think I'll scratch Skyline drive and BRP the first couple days and ride west of 81. It looks like 33 and 250 for sure. Keep the routes coming I'm putting together a few trips in the GPS.

I'll ride BRP from Galax, VA to Asheville, NC Sunday then head home.

Steve

 

[drew231506]

Hey Steve!

Sounds like a fun ride. I live in Winchester, VA and last year I rode Skyline to the BRP all of the way to EOM in Boone, NC. It took forever and I loved every second of it!! As for 33 west...we did that ride Saturday. We rode 300 miles leaving Winchester and headed out on 55 to 220 south all of the way to 33 where the twisties are. It's a blast but its a short run...we did it about 10 times then made our way back the same way. Im sure you can see on the map where those twisty roads are. Fun fun...

Heres a very short video on 33

 

[Charlie Hoss]

In support of the Skyline, I find it to be much better than the northern end of the BRP in that the elevations are higher, the curves tighter and the scenic turnouts much more impressive. The speed limit IS 35, however and I hear that the federal tickets can be very expensive.

The BRP really shines in the southern half (?), south of Roanoke. It seems to get better the further south you go. We got into some serious fog on the BRP heading home from Boone and EOM. Got off onto 221 and the weather and the pace quickly improved. Nice road, too.

I know you'll have a great trip, anyway.

Charlie

 

[spklbuk]

As you head south, consider rt 311 east out of Roanoke/Salem.

From Galax, consider hopping 58 over to Va SR 600 over Mt Rogers to Chilhowie, north on 11 to Marion and then 16 north or south either one.

If you do Rt 16 N over to Tazewell, you might try 61 N about 5-8 miles to Va SR 623 into Burke's Garden, well worth it just for the scenery but the road.......oh my!......well the road will speak for itself; as will all these routes.

 

[sprint_st]

33 west to Senaca Rocks, WV, south on 28 to 250, west on 250 to Waynesboro and then back on the BRP would make a nice loop; or do the loop in the reverse and finish up in Harrisonburg.
Or if you wanted to venture farther south, 219S to Marlinton, WV and then 39 east thru Goshen Pass to Lexington, then 60 Buena Vista to BRP is good.

I'm sure Heidi will direct you to Smokehole Road if you get to Seneca area. Numerous possibilities.

Have fun.

For some reason, 250 has had choppy asphalt for the last couple of years. My vote would definitely be the 219 to 39 route. Ran it last fall and it was great.