There's a few really nice gran fondo routes that you can use in the area. BSG is one of the best races I've ever done, and leaves from nearby Valle Crucis. Really like the route, have a 45 and 95 mile option with a couple store stops off the route:

http://www.bloodsweatandgears.org/routes/


Right in Banner Elk, there was also a fun metric century called Beech Mountain Metric- was almost like a gran Tour stage that ended with a summit finish up Beech mountain.

https://beechmountainmetric.racesonline.com/course

Otherwise, you can't go wrong with riding on the Blue Ridge Parkway in either direction- I highly recommend checking out Lynn Cove Viaduct, which is actually the newest section of the Parkway. Also check out Shull's Mill, which is a nice twisty climb up toward Blowing Rock, and 191, which is an awesome climb from Valle Crucis to Banner Elk.

Have fun! I think my favorite riding has been up in the mountains around Boone- good roads, generally respectful drivers, and some awesome climbing.

blood sweat and gears route, like was said above, is just about the best cycling route I've ever done

and it's one of the worst loops you can do in western NC. ugh. sooooo many better places to ride than BSG loop.

i do not think the BSG route is a particularly great use of all the roads available to you in that area. i also do not think the BRP is especially amazing WITH THE EXCEPTION of the viaduct section. some of my favorite sections up there would be Beech Mtn (just for sheer difficulty), 194 (climbing and descending) Shulls Mill Rd climb (used to climb this at the start of BSG), Hickory Nut Gap, basically any part of 221... You can really go anywhere (and especially on gravel) and find some truly outstanding riding. i'll try and look through my strava to see if i can find some good stuff. will edit this post later.

ETA -

Ok this first link is to one of my favorite loops of all time. This is the "non Beech" version, which still gets you about 1000ft/10mi and if you eliminate 181 it's a nice loop that is pretty manageable (181 is kind of the stick of the lollipop). I've probably done this loop 15+ times and it never got old (don't live in NC anymore) https://www.strava.com/activities/9863653

This is a loop we did from a different start point near Blowing Rock. It's got a lot more vert in it and there is some gravel, but it was long enough ago that I don't remember which sections are gravel. I remember this being pretty spectacular but also quite difficult https://www.strava.com/activities/9863653

This third one is from that same trip but is a shorter version, don't remember gravel/road mix. https://www.strava.com/activities/11634832

I am originally from Blowing Rock, NC which is fairly close to Banner Elk, it may be a bit of drive from Banner Elk but not quite sure. If you go down in an area called globe there is gravel for days. Was there for the weekend of the 4th and just rode my mtb but a proper gravel bike would be fine. First day I took road bike down into globe and double flatted so I decided to just bring too much bike.

https://racesonline.com/...obe-gravel-challenge

the whole area of globe has great gravel last day did a section of road called maple sally which was about 37mi and around 4500ft of gain.

EDIT: Was looking at a map if you can connect from Banner Elk to a "Town" called Gragg that is where all the gravel is and I am sure that route would be gravel and see if you can connect to a road call Watauga river road that's towards Valle crucis.

If you are into mountain bike then go to Beech Mountain Ski Resort for the downhill. Rent a big travel enduro bike and some armor. Ride the lifts up and bomb back down. The beginner trail is not for beginners but the trails are excellent. Or ride XC on the Emerald Outback. I have never ridden that trail but my understanding is there are sections that would be OK with a gravel bike (someone with experience might say otherwise)

Thanks everybody. Looks like a lot of options. I'll have 4 hours each morning for a week while everybody is sleeping so I want to maximize climbing. I like the Metric Century and the third route from James. If I hit up those I believe I'll see other roads to explore. I'm not looking for downhill gravel or mountain bike. I'm not that skilled and I don't want to be "that guy" in the hospital during this time.

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