Question about a couple WV roads

[Goodman4]

I am finishing up some last minute work on our ride through WV starting Wed night. I had preplanned a lot of the trip to include some of the recommendations in a couple posts here. I plan on coming in to Beckley for the start on Friday morning, loop around New River Gorge with most of the route from the Virginia Mad Maps "West Virgina Twister" then end up in Summersville before headed east on 39, 150 and up 219 all the way up to MD and back across 50 to ride some in Ohio before headed home.

My question is about problems I have with figuring out whether their road route is a paved road. Usually Mad Maps has decent quality roads. Right by the gorge, the map is as follows:

From Beckley go 9.1 miles on SR41 [i think this crosses the bridge]

Turn left on CR25 / Thurmond-McDendree Rd (north in Royal) for 18.8 miles

I tried to map that in Google and then in MapSource to load in my GPS. There are three different CR25's but one does say Thurmond that then becomes McDendree Rd. MapSource has that as a dotted line instead of a road. It looks like a washed out gravel road from what I can tell. I'm ok with some gravel, but my wife HATES it and I am not fond of it on a mountain on the FJR. Anybody know that road? Did Mad Maps slip an off-road route in there by accident?

I searched for info on the Internet and found McDendree Road in one post in a forum discussing the most dangerous roads in West Virgina because it was washed out gravel. Surely not, right? I'm avoiding it anyway, but am still curious. Also now I'm suspicious of some other routes that don't have street views on this loop. CR13 (Old Nicholas Road) from Nt Nebo to Hwy 20 is also on this route, but I can't prove it is paved.

Let me know if you have any experience with these roads. Thanks!

Paul

 

[luvtoride]

The person to speak with would be member Spklbuk (Jim), although he rarely frequents this board, anymore. If you're a member over on the other FJR board (FJRiders), you may try to get in touch with him there. He does keep up with that board... & uses the same handle.

Have fun & be careful on your trip.

 

[lonerider]

Around 5-6 years ago, I rode CR 25 south out of Thurmond and it turned into gravel right around where it crossed the New River. I also tried it from the other end at Prince, and found it was gravel there, too. Both times, I chickened out and turned around. It looked like it would be fun on a dual sport, but not the Madura I was riding at the time. I rather doubt they've paved it since I was there. 25 is a paved single lane from Glen Jean to Thurmond (several narrow bridges); the last bridge crossing the New River into Thurmond is pretty unique. BTW, if you're going to Thurmond, the Park Service's visitor center there is a worthwhile stop, IMHO (in the train station), if the shutdown has ended and the Park Service has it open. In 1987, John Sayles filmed a lot of the outdoor scenes of his movie "Matewan" in Thurmond. Hope you have a safe and enjoyable trip.

 

[extrememarine]

I will email Jim and ask for you - he doesn't hang out around here much since moving to a Super Tenere.

 

[spklbuk]

Heads up received Wayne.

19N goes across the bridge. 41 will take you down into the Gorge on a two lane paved road and crosses a bridge over New River, but not THE bridge. And since you will not be running McKendree Road anyway, it does not matter. McKendree road is NOT REPEAT NOT doable on an FJR. It would be a series of small lakes after this mornings rain. It is not washed out gravel, it is dirt.


CR82 from the Canyon Rim Visitor's Center (now closed of course, the visitor's center, not the road) is a paved one lane road that will take you down thru the Gorge and under the bridge a couple of times. A main tourist attraction that is a paved one way one laner through drop dead gorgeous scenery and doable 2-up. You will emerge back on the south side of the Gorge and then can make your way to Mt. Nebo on 19N about another 10 miles or so.

To get to the New River Gorge Bridge from Beckley...Go north out of Beckley on 4-lane 19N a few miles (say 10 or so) to Fayetteville, cross to the north side of the bridge, turn right at the sign toward the visitors center and instead of turning in, continue straight thru (a slight left at the driveway to the visitor center) and take the first two rights down the hill and you will be on CR82. It rocks, just don't be timid on the switchbacks..attack them, and be cautious on the slick when wet wooden surfaced Fayette Station bridge.

Old Nicholas Road is a lane and a half paved road (no dividing line), portions are one lane paved. It is a good connector but winding one to WV 20. But if I were running 2-up, I would be more likely to stay 19N to Summersville (watch your speed here) and pick up WV 39 East there. That will make your wife more happy than Old Nicholas Road and you would avoid WV 20N heavy coal truck traffic.

Have fun!

 

[Goodman4]

Great help! Thanks! The wife likes the twisties and does fine on small paved roads, but doesn't feel comfortable on gravel. I haven't tried washed out dirt on the FJR, so I'll certainly cut out CR25 and add in CR82.

I just mapped it out and that looks great.

From the Mad Maps route I would then take 19N to 60W instead of Mt Nebo, then 16N to 11 and then 82 to 20 to 55 to get just north of Summersville where we will stay that night. That should make a good loop but ends up about 80 less miles than we had originally planned.

Do you think that's a good loop? Or after the bridge should we take 60E all the way down to Covington to ride up 220 to Warm Springs then take 39W all the way back to Summersville? Or something else? Twisty roads, mountains, and scenery are our favorite things. I'm hoping the leaves will be in their prime in some of the areas.

 

[spklbuk]

60W (watch speed in Gauley Bridge !!!!) to 16 to 11 and 82 to 20 to 55 is a great loop.

60E to 220 to 39 to 219N to 150 to 39 to 55 is also excellent and likely the best leaf peeper.

20N is a worthy consideration to get to 50 when you head out the next day.