Planning to take a week or so off from work this summer and spend it knocking out some bigger days on my bike.
So far I’m looking at Mt Mitchell and Clingmans dome as the iconic climbs to hit, and am considering trying to cover skyline drive on two big out and back days (I’d love to go end to end but I’m solo on this so trying to avoid dealing with a shuttle unless someone has a solid recommendation there)
The GA gaps are an easy morning trip for me that I do often so I’m not planning to spend time there on this trip.
Anything else in the area that maybe goes under the radar but is a worthwhile endeavor? Open to any ideas as long as it stays on pavement, and bonus points if it is simple to navigate as I usually just note a few intersections on my phone then wing it
Mt Mitchell is fairly boring in my opinion. A loop such as the one below hits a bunch of smaller, curvier climbs (Hickory Nut Gap, Beech Mountain, Schulls Mill Road, etc) and there are SO MANY within that “circle” that this route doesn’t include. Perhaps someone else can chime in with more specifics, I haven’t ridden in that area in quite a while.
I really want to ride Clingmans, enjoy it if you go. When I was vacationing in the area the best ride I did was Foothills Parkway west from the Walland area then connecting to the Tail of the Dragon, up and over. Seems like there are many choice rides in the general vicinity.
I really want to ride Clingmans, enjoy it if you go. When I was vacationing in the area the best ride I did was Foothills Parkway west from the Walland area then connecting to the Tail of the Dragon, up and over. Seems like there are many choice rides in the general vicinity.
Yes! Tail of the Dragon/Deals Gap is the same thing.
Fun fact about February 2010, I actually proposed to my wife at the top of Look Rock on Foothills Parkway
Just for clarity, are you saying bicycling cherohala? I know there is an organized ride there, and I’ve ridden it and Deals/TOTD on my motorcycle a few times before but have never seen anyone pedaling on either.
Just for clarity, are you saying bicycling cherohala? I know there is an organized ride there, and I’ve ridden it and Deals/TOTD on my motorcycle a few times before but have never seen anyone peddling on either.
Yes, I’m saying ride. And on the Deals downhill parts I don’t do much peddling myself- more like riding the breaks trying to ensure my trainer riding skills don’t leave me in one of the dirt banks.
People ride their bikes on that road? I’ve driven it before, seems like suicide to take a bicycle on those roads.
If you get out really early then it’s no better/worse than Clingmans - probably better, actually.
To your point, none of the roads/skyways/parkways around the park are all that safe (in my opinion) from late March through October. There are so many tourists driving without shoulder it’s terrifying. The last time I was out on the skyway was February, but I’m “local†so I have that advantage.
Skyline Drive is a must - roughly 105 miles from Front Royal, VA to Waynesboro, VA. Big Meadows is roughly half way to re-supply with food/drinks. The great news is that the speed limit is 35MPH the entire way. On a typical weekend, there are a bunch of other bike riders, which also makes it feel safe. We usually start in Front Royal, bring an overnight bag, spend a night in a hotel in Waynesboro and then ride back the next day. All of the overlooks provide exceptional views, but I’ve never stopped at Rattlesnake Overlook (for obvious reasons). Another option is to stay in Front Royal, ride halfway to Big Meadows and then return to Front Royal.
Skyline Drive is a must - roughly 105 miles from Front Royal, VA to Waynesboro, VA. Big Meadows is roughly half way to re-supply with food/drinks. The great news is that the speed limit is 35MPH the entire way. On a typical weekend, there are a bunch of other bike riders, which also makes it feel safe. We usually start in Front Royal, bring an overnight bag, spend a night in a hotel in Waynesboro and then ride back the next day. All of the overlooks provide exceptional views, but I’ve never stopped at Rattlesnake Overlook (for obvious reasons). Another option is to stay in Front Royal, ride halfway to Big Meadows and then return to Front Royal.
Awesome. Skyline is definitely on my wishlist, I’ve done it on moto a few times over the years and it seems like it would be an incredible century-ish to knock out.
I mighhhhtttt be able to get a friend in MD down there to give me a ride after thinking about it some more, but if not I was considering staying at Big Meadows and doing an out and back to either/both sides depending on what I had in my legs.
Mt Mitchell is fairly boring in my opinion. A loop such as the one below hits a bunch of smaller, curvier climbs (Hickory Nut Gap, Beech Mountain, Schulls Mill Road, etc) and there are SO MANY within that “circle” that this route doesn’t include. Perhaps someone else can chime in with more specifics, I haven’t ridden in that area in quite a while.
Mitchell would be a “can say I’ve done it” thing as well as just a good long climbing effort to try out.
This loop does look solid though, thanks for that. I’ll do some more poking around in the area and see what I can come up with based on the climbs you mentioned
Well, hate to give contrary opinions, but I disagree with most all of the advice in this thread. I am in NC and these are not the roads I would recommend for bicycling. Tail of the Dragon!!?? are you kidding? On a bike? We have many many road with very little traffic . . . these are not them. Particularly not during the summer tourist season. I ride mainly in the Saura mountains. I have very little traffic. I can ride up to the Blue Ridge Parkway, and roads in that area but not on it. Someone said Sky Line Drive, which is part of the BRP, and I’ll say the same for that . . . in the summer - NO! Why do that when there are so many other good places to ride. Come visit and Ill show you around. You’ll love it!
Catch a ride up to Virginia and then ride the Blue Ridge Parkway back. You can go from hotel to hotel in 5 days and end in Cherokee, NC. Or just go ride any section of the Blue Ridge. The best riding I have done in the southeast.
Well, hate to give contrary opinions, but I disagree with most all of the advice in this thread. I am in NC and these are not the roads I would recommend for bicycling. Tail of the Dragon!!?? are you kidding? On a bike?!
I rode Tail of the Dragon in late June. It was a weekday, there was practically no traffic. The Foothills Parkway seemed practically deserted.
Well, hate to give contrary opinions, but I disagree with most all of the advice in this thread. I am in NC and these are not the roads I would recommend for bicycling. Tail of the Dragon!!?? are you kidding? On a bike? We have many many road with very little traffic . . . these are not them. Particularly not during the summer tourist season. I ride mainly in the Saura mountains. I have very little traffic. I can ride up to the Blue Ridge Parkway, and roads in that area but not on it. Someone said Sky Line Drive, which is part of the BRP, and I’ll say the same for that . . . in the summer - NO! Why do that when there are so many other good places to ride. Come visit and Ill show you around. You’ll love it!
When was the last time you were on Skyline Dr? They’ve repaved the roads. It’s pretty nice out there these days. I ride out there a few times a year, always on the weekend, always in the summer. I’ve never felt unsafe from cars. In fact, the cars there are a lot more respectful to cyclists on the road than the regular roads I normally ride. I’ve also done Skyline out and back in a day (210 miles). Whether it’s around sunrise or sunset, the only time that I’ve gotten scared was when there was a family of bears crossing the road while I was descending.
In July or August, the traffic up to Clingman’s Dome will be terrible. I’d be very concerned riding my bike there, unless you started very early.
Mt Mitchell is a great ride. Start at the Folk Arts Center and enjoy the beauty of the Blue Ridge Parkway. I’ve ridden it during weekdays and it’s not too bad traffic wise.
If you feel like driving up a little further in northeast TN, there’s good climbs right on the TN/NC border. Roan Mountain is a 7 mile climb with an average 7% grade. It was one of the climbs that was part of the Tour DuPont, many years ago. Once you climb this one, you can easily connect to several other great climbs in the area (Unaka, Spivey, Sam’s Gap, Iron Mountain, etc……)
Ditto on Clingmans Dome and traffic. Very heavy touristy place. Mitchell is not as bad traffic. It’s been about 7 yrs since, but Blue Ridge Parkway was nice in summer. I used to live very close and would ride the Parkway up until fall leaf season, and then traffic got too much. Can also check around Roanoke and Blacksburg. Mt. Lake is an epic climb north of Blacksburg, either Rt 700 or 613 (steeper). 12 o’clock Knob near Roanoke is amazing, and then go up to Poor Mountain and then catch the Parkway. Tour DuPont used those climbs back in the 90s. There is another route NW of Blacksburg called Burkes Garden. That is one of the best rides I’ve ever done. It starts in Narrows, VA. One could easily spend several weeks around SW Virginia.
ETA
If you want something different for Mt Mitchell, start in Marion and take 80 up to the parkway. We used to park at the Lowes shopping center on 70 and then ride a bit west and then up 80. 80 is so steep and winding that there was usually almost no traffic on weekdays. It’s better than the more vanilla Parkway-only options. Descending 80 is a treat if you are good at descending.
Linn Cove Viaduct on the Parkway is another bucket list option too.
Ditto on Clingmans Dome and traffic. Very heavy touristy place. Mitchell is not as bad traffic. It’s been about 7 yrs since, but Blue Ridge Parkway was nice in summer. I used to live very close and would ride the Parkway up until fall leaf season, and then traffic got too much. Can also check around Roanoke and Blacksburg. Mt. Lake is an epic climb north of Blacksburg, either Rt 700 or 613 (steeper). 12 o’clock Knob near Roanoke is amazing, and then go up to Poor Mountain and then catch the Parkway. Tour DuPont used those climbs back in the 90s. There is another route NW of Blacksburg called Burkes Garden. That is one of the best rides I’ve ever done. It starts in Narrows, VA. One could easily spend several weeks around SW Virginia.
ETA
If you want something different for Mt Mitchell, start in Marion and take 80 up to the parkway. We used to park at the Lowes shopping center on 70 and then ride a bit west and then up 80. 80 is so steep and winding that there was usually almost no traffic on weekdays. It’s better than the more vanilla Parkway-only options. Descending 80 is a treat if you are good at descending.
Linn Cove Viaduct on the Parkway is another bucket list option too.
Good to know on Mitchell, I was planing to find an open lot to ride out of near where 70/80 connect and I love a good descent that should work out great.
How bad is Clingmans on a weekday? I was figuring on getting out there around sun up mid week. I’m mostly comfortable being close to cars after years of lane splitting on motos and riding here in the city occasionally but … tourists can definitely be a different breed of dangerous
8 summers ago a friend and I did Clingmans Dome on a weekday in early August. We started from the parking lot of the Ocanaluftee Visitor Center at 8am. Traffic wasn’t bad at all until we hit the Newfound Gap North road, which is what the tourists from Gatlinburg take. It was a steady stream of cars. I didn’t feel unsafe, just lots and lots of cars, and lots of people parking along the road because the lot at the Dome was full. In retrospect, cycling was much faster than driving that section. We walked up to the Dome and took a short rest, then descended back down a bit past the Visitor Center and got on the Parkway for an out and back section. Total of 64 miles and 7700 ft climbing.