Blue Ridge & Skyline Dr.

[03sprint]

Getting ready to head up the Blue Ridge pkwy and Skyline Dr. any input on sites to see would be helpful such as caves, caverns and waterfalls etc. I've checked some online sites but you know, they all sounds good and when you get there you're disappointed. Thanks in advance for your input.

[eersfanpilot]

I dont have any suggestions but report back when you are done. I am headed up that way on a ride around the middle of the month. We are going from GA to WV then across to VA and down the BRP and Skyline Drive back to GA. 4 total days riding the Appalachians.

[BlueLghtning]

Sarah and I just got back from doing the entire BRP and part of SkyLine Dr. We did the entire BRP in 2 days taking our time. I sure hope you can hit the BRP during the week as traffic really is much lighter. There is still a detour south of Ashville. We followed the BRP all the way to where its closed, then you drop of on what I think is Hwy 151 and then work your way back to the BRP. That was the only closure we ran into. There is about a 16 mile section near Mt Pisgah they are repaving, so expect delays there if you catch it wrong. The speed limit is down to 35mph in this section.

We started the Skyline DR ($10/bike), but after 40 miles in and rain and the miserable 35mph speed limit, we were bored and got off.

The middle of the BRP (Around southern Va), gets very rural and a bit boring compared to the scenery on the south side Once you get near the Peaks of Otter, things pick up again.

We stayed in Willville Campground (which is the halfway point of the BRP/Skyline combined) in the town "Medows of Dan" which is a MC only campground and it was pretty cool. - http://www.willvillebikecamp.com/ To get there, when you are headed North, get off around MM 1777 on Hwy 58 and go West for just under a mile and look for a white wooden sign. Its tucked way back in the woods along a creek.

Some other things to see are "Diamond Back" which is 226A near Little Switzerland. You can run a small loop that takes you down 226A and back up 226. Its a fun 10 mile loop or so.

[likestoride]

I've ridden the BRP a couple of times in 2 days and have done 2/3 of it in one day (including there and back) several times - most recently about a month ago. The first 2/3 of the BRP is great.

There is a waterfall on the detour road (In Pisgah Nat Forest) mentioned on the previous post that is definitely worth the short walk down to the bottom. Very scenic. I have a feeling a guy could spend a day or two in that area and have a good time. They have natural water slides, tubing, etc in the river just off the road.

In my opinion, the best riding is from Cherokee to Asheville. Riding to the area around the top of Mt Mitchell is also worth doing just to see the scenery up there but it is only about a 30-45 minute side trip. The area past Boone NC (riding north) is anticlimatic after doing the rest. The BRP is definitely not a 'race track' kind of road. There are a few areas with some rough pavement and some loose gravel, but nothing serious.

Great trip. You'll have fun.

[eddie98]

been there also. Like said above, try to hit it during a weekeday, too much traffic during weekends. I sencond Mt. Mitchell nice place to visit. Also recommend the Diamonback loop.

[John]

Linville Falls is pretty cool. Floyd VA is a neat place to stay. Built around Bluegrass music. Many cool small venues with live music.

[Gamecock]

My brother and I did it a few years back. Stayed a night in Cherokee, NC (hit the casino too) and rode all the way into Virgina before getting off, spending the night, and slabbing back the next day. The viaducks (sp?) is really cool how it comes off the mountains. Also the top of Mt. Mitchell is very cool (literally). Its a great trip if you have time and patience, just don't expect to drag knees, etc. Like others stated, during the week is best for the light traffic and fun.

[John]

One word of caution. Do not speed on the Skyline Drive. It is very heavily patrolled but beyond that there is a good chance you'll see wildlife-deer & bears-on the road. Well worth riding it though

[BlueLghtning]

Willville (in the Meadows of Dan, VA) is an awesome place to stay on the BRP - http://www.willvillebikecamp.com/

It's also the halfway point between the beginning of the BRP and end of Skyline.

[huskyduck]

Growiing up just minutes away from the BRP in Waynesboro Va, I rode countless of thousands of miles on it during the 70's and early 80's.
It was awesome back in those days, with less than 1/2 the traffic, and very little effort put into speed enforcement.
My first 10 consecutive weekends of streetbike ownership (75' CB 400F) had me riding the BRP from Waynesboro (Northern beginning of the BRP) to the Peaks of Otter. 100 miles each direction on the best road on earth, when speed limit is not of concern.
(Peaks of Otter is a great stop for food and camping or hoteling BTW.)

Things are soooo different now. The beauty is still there. But the fun factor has been taken away years and years ago.
The speed limit is strictly enforced, and it's Federal tickets you deal with.
With the speed limit varying between 30 and 45, rooling radar is a real bitch.
Having fun is just a roll of the dice. Your lucky or your not.

There is so much to see and experience,that it's definitly worth your time.
But for me, anything under 45mph is a pain in my ass and I might as well be in a cage.

If you'd like a nice hike while your up north of Peaks of Otter, turn off the Vesuvious exit ( turn right, going down hill ) and ride down to Crabtree Falls. Be CAREFULL, the road is a mean Snake. Crabtree Falls is only a couple miles off the BRB. There is a trail that runs along side of a shitload of consecutive falls. Like 30 or something.
When your done there, ride back up the hill and straight under the BRP and check out the awesome road on the other side that takes you down to Vesuvious. It's a blast comming back up.

Further up the BRP, look for an overlook on the right called 20 minute cliff.
Park, climb over the knee wall and relax for a while on the top of the "cliff" rocks.
It's very soothing to the mind.

Further up the BRP, after passing the Sherando exit, look on the left for the " Raven's Roost" overlook.
You just might find some hanggliders launching off, or some rock climbers doing their thing.
From this overlook, I can see both my wife's parents, and my parents house.

I could go on for about a hundred "must see" spots, but I'll save you from that.
The main thing is, have fun..take it all in.....be safe....and enjoy. :up:

[SOULRIDER]

Ditto what huskyduck said. I lived in Charlottesville just off the BRP and road the surrounding roads every weekend.

RT56 about 30 miles south of Afton Mountain (start of the BRP) is great. However watch for gravel. Once you get to the falls turn around. It gets boring.

About 1/2 down Skyline Drive jump off at Thornton Gap, and ride the eastern side of 211. It's a blast, but watch out for the police. The squids from Northern Virginia are up there in force causing accidents on the weekends.

Do NOT speed on Skyline. You will get a ticket for just a few miles an hour over the posted 35. Pull up RT811 which runs along the valley near a town called Crozet. This is a great empty, twisty road that runs from the RT33 just off of Skyline to the base of Afton Mountain.

The BRP and Skyline are fun, but the roads off of them are in another world. I miss those days...