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All Road Routes GPX format
All Road Routes PDF format
MAP PDF GPX
RouteType: TOURING BIKE-FRIENDLY, DESTINATION, TWISTY, TECHNICAL
Navigation difficulty: AVERAGE
Distance: 179 miles.
Lunch Stop: Hollow Restaurant in Franklin, WV, and Ice Cream at Moe Fatz if desired.
Direction from Canaan Valley: S, SE CLOCKWISE
Comments: Suitable for any bikes but including 1.5 lane paved twisties. Includes Smoke Hole Road as well as Moyers Gap & Sugar Grove. After lunch back on US-33 where a stop could be made at Germany Valley overlook then a quick up and back run to Spruce Knob on the paved road in/out before heading back to the resort. Much time can be taken at Spruce Knob just walking the short trails and absorbing the fantastic views East and West.
MAP PDF GPX
RouteType: SHORT, TWISTY
Navigation difficulty: AVERAGE
Distance: 94 miles.
Lunch Stop: Melanie's Family restaurant (but it's only 50 miles into the short 94 mile route)
Direction from Canaan Valley: N, NW CLOCKWISE
Comments: Five rivers- Blackwater, Dry Fork, Black Fork, Shavers Fork, and Cheat. Back Hollow Road to WV-72 (not suitable for large trucks!!!) A few miles north on WV-72 I have included a sharp left onto River Road to follow the banks of the Dry Fork of the Cheat. This is a tricky sharp turn and some may prefer to stay straight on WV-72 which is twisty itself but you don't have this sharp left hand turn which may be difficult on a large touring bike. River Road merges back onto WV-72 in about 5 miles so either way will keep you on the route. We'll go through the community of Hendricks where the Blackwater River joins the Dry Fork and creates the Black Fork ( about 3.5 miles in length I believe it's the shortest river in WV), the Black Fork merges with the Shavers Fork just north of Parsons to create the Cheat which ultimately meets its end at Point Marion Pennsylvania north of Morgantown, WV where it joins the Monongahela River.
At Parsons we'll stay on WV-72 and just a bit north of town we'll drop off onto Holly Meadows Road to the right. We'll follow this to Limestone Road which will head up the mountain and eventually join Stemple Ridge Road. This will meet US-50 at which we'll turn right/east. I added Melanie's Restaurant as a waypoint in case folks want a bite to eat or coffee and Cathedral State Park is just across the road where one could stop and walk the trails among the old growth hemlock trees.
· From there we double back west on US-50 and back to Stemple Ridge Road but at the intersection with Location Road we will turn left onto Location Road and take it down into the valley to St. George. You will not regret riding Limestone, Location, and Stemple Ridge Roads, they are just incredibly beautiful.
· Once we arrive at St. George we will return to Holly Meadows Road until it intersects with Horseshoe Run Road, we will stay on it until we come to Lead Mine Mountain Road, we will take it, to the right. This road is a blast going up the mountain to it's terminus at US-219, there we will take US-219 and WV-32 back to CVR.
MAP PDF GPX
RouteType: DESTINATION, TWISTY
Navigation difficulty: AVERAGE
Distance: 308 miles.
Lunch Stop: Whistle Punk Grill & Taphouse, East Main Street, Richwood, WV
Direction from Canaan Valley: W, SW CLOCKWISE
Comments: An all day ride and good for the spirited rider as it's 308 miles total and 9-10 hours should be allowed to complete it. The county route section between Marlinton and the Highland Scenic Highway via Woodrow and Williams River roads is one of my all time favorite strips of blacktop in WV. US-219 between Elkins and Marlinton isn't bad either. Nor are the roads headed back north, WV-20, WV-15, US-19. Along US-19 North of Flatwoods is Falls Mill, a roadside stop with a beautiful waterfall on the Little Kanawha River. A back road route through the backwaters of Stonecoal and Stonewall Jackson Lakes will deposit us at Horner and US-48 for the mostly relaxed ride back to CVR.
MAP PDF GPX
RouteType: DESTINATION, TWISTY
Navigation difficulty: AVERAGE
Distance: 261 miles.
Lunch Stop: High's Restaurant in Monterey, VA
Direction from Canaan Valley: SW, SE COUNTERCLOCKWISE
Comments: Called "Chris's Favorite" (Chris Shoop) as it includes the infamous "high crash area signs." Route includes Snowy Mountain Road as well as the Blue Grass, VA valley both of which will make you think you're in the Scottish Highlands. On the way to High's Restaurant in Monterey, VA it will pass the Green Bank Radio Observatory, which is definitely worth a stop. After Green Bank the twisty US-250 will rival US-33 which is on the way back. I recommend High's for lunch, they have awesome pie too.
· Part 2 (below 133 miles) runs US-250 east to pick up VA-736 and 42, etc. to Ottobine, VA. Here if one did not wish to ride up to the US-33 (high crash area) they could head west from Ottobine to Briery Branch VA and on across the state line/pass to Sugar Grove and then pick up US-33 at Brandywine for the ride back to CVR. Along the way back on US-33 from Franklin folks will want to take in the view of Germany Valley. The overlook comes upon you quickly as you are enjoying the twisties approaching you from the east.
MAP PDF GPX
RouteType: DESTINATION, TWISTY, TECHNICAL
Navigation difficulty: AVERAGE
Distance: 197 miles.
Lunch Stop: Main Street Grill, Romney, WV
Direction from Canaan Valley: E, COUNTERCLOCKWISE
Comments: Note: This route contains TECHNICAL sections, meaning some stretches of paved road that are rougher than would be preferred by touring and pure sport bike riders. "Lost River to the Trough via Grassy Lick" heads from CVR to Seneca Rocks then to Petersburg where a stop could be made at Tri-County Powersports (MSTA STAR sponsor). Then onto Moorefield and CR12 to Lost River State Park. From there we make our way up to a fun road called Grassy Lick, which will take to Romney. A very nice lunch can be had at the Main Street Grill but there are other fast food options, Sheetz and Dairy Queen. Points of interest in Romney include the School for the Deaf and Blind on the North side of US-50, also the Indian Mound Cemetery is interesting, it is on the west end of town also on the North side of US-50. From Romney we will head south though the Trough, I often see bald eagles on this road. This will pretty much go to Moorefield where I have us on the four lane US-48 back to Davis and CVR.
MAP PDF GPX
RouteType: DESTINATION, TWISTY, TOURING BIKE-FRIENDLY, EASY NAVIGATION FOR NON-GPS
Navigation difficulty: SIMPLE
Distance: 254 miles.
Lunch Stop: High's Restaurant in Monterey, VA
Direction from Canaan Valley: S, SW CLOCKWISE & COUNTERCLOCKWISE
Comments: Go crazy on the Crazy 8's ride! This ride features some of the best curves in the state. It makes a figure 8 pattern because honestly I don't know which direction is best on Rt 250! This ride will take you past the Green Bank Observatory, the Jefferson Baths in Warm Springs Va and several other great locations along the way. It is a two lane paved ride with plenty of turns and some nice long straights through the valleys. You will travel through valleys, over mountains and follow along rivers through small towns and rural farms. There will be several excellent views as you switch back up some of the mountains.
MAP PDF GPX
RouteType: DESTINATION, TWISTY, TECHNICAL, ADVENTURE (EASY, PAVED)
Navigation difficulty: AVERAGE
Distance: 199 miles.
Lunch Stop: The Bluegrass Mercentile, Blue Grass, VA. Check their facebook for specials and menu
Direction from Canaan Valley: NW, SW CLOCKWISE
Comments: Ready for adventure, but not ready for gravel? No problem. The Paved Adventure route is for you! This route is paved and features some off-the-beaten-path lane and a half paved or chip and sealed roads that wander through the mountains of West Virginia. It features rolling farm county, scenic views, Seneca Rocks and Seneca Caverns!
MAP PDF GPX
RouteType: TWISTY, DESTINATION, TOURING BIKE-FRIENDLY, EASY NAVIGATION FOR NON-GPS
Navigation difficulty: SIMPLE
Distance: 178 miles.
Lunch Stop: Wood Grill Buffet, located at 1711 Reservoir Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22801. 540.432.9303
Direction from Canaan Valley: SE, OUT-AND-BACK
Comments: Keith McCrea provided this simple route via US33 to The Wood Grill Buffet in Harrisonburg, VA. It was used as the Lunch Ride for STAR in 2021. US33 is a LOT of fun!
MAP PDF GPX
RouteType: DESTINATION, TWISTY, TOURING BIKE-FRIENDLY, EASY NAVIGATION FOR NON-GPS
Navigation difficulty: SIMPLE
Distance: 145 miles.
Lunch Stop: High's Restaurant Monterey, Va http://www.highsrestaurant.com/menu.html
Direction from Canaan Valley: S, SW COUNTERCLOCKWISE
Comments: Go crazy on the Crazy 4/8's ride! This ride is the northern half of the longer Crazy 8's ride. It features some of the best curves in the state. It is a two lane paved ride with plenty of turns and some nice long straights through the valleys. You will travel through valleys, over mountains and follow along rivers through small towns and rural farms. There will be several excellent views as you switch back up some of the mountains.
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