I’m planning a 1-2 week trip in Highland County, VA (just outside of Monterey). I know the entire region is hilly/mountainous, but can anyone recommend any good routes near and around Monterey? I know there’s a “Hot Springs Classic” route, but I don’t know it, nor will I be staying in Hot Springs…
Bump…anybody?
My father and grandmother lived in Monterey. A couple of suggestions
Rich Hills Road off of 250- can make a large loop using SR 629 and SR 630 coming back in from the south on Sounding Knob road. or Rich Hills to 629 to 624, to 617, to 654, coming back in on 250
Some other great options are to the West going out 250 to 646. This takes you to 637, go North to 640 and come back south or follow 637 south to 250 back into town. 637 and 640 parallel each other.
You have lots of great options, lightly travelled roads except 250, which is the major throughfare, but it is still Monterey, so not much traffic comparitively.
PM me if you need more info. But I got to know, what takes you there. I have never known anybody wanting / going to Monterey.
Thanks! LOL - my entire family tree on my father’s side is from that area, and has lived there since the early 1700’s. In all seriousness I’m probably a distant cousin to most of the county. We inherited land that made it’s way through the generations, so we have a “cabin” right off 220 near Vanderpool. If you know where Mustoe is, the property just northeast and east from there was our family property. There’s an old house up the hill from what used to be the post office/general store, and that’s my great-grandmother’s old homestead. She had 11 kids, and 6-7 of them worked at “The Homestead” back in the 1950’s. The fire marshall and town homeland security guy (not sure of his official title) is my Uncle. It’s neat going back because of all the history and connection - Ernie’s store (Ernie is a 2nd or 3rd cousin), another cousin used to own Faye’s Diner in Monterey, sounding knob - I actually climbed the old fire tower on sounding knob when I was about 10yrs old before they closed the road going up the mountain. I spent every deer hunting season in Monterey (they actually close the schools there to let the kids hunt) until I was about 16 or so.
I just don’t know any of the roads enough to know a good bike route to take - but I like what you sent. I also found this: 2007 Tour of Virginia April 24-29, which sounds like it weaves it’s way through some of that area.
I havent been back in a few years, but was just talking about it with my wife about going back and visiting the grand parents gravesite and looking around. My grand mother ( Gertie Johnston ( Griffith) ) lived up the hill on Spruce and my Great Grandfather lived at the bottom of it, just past the school, if going into wards town.
My grand mothers sister (Grace) used to have the little tiny store close to the junction in Vanderpool
I’ll ask my parents if they remember Grace or a store there.
I was also looking at routes West or South - heading toward Warm Springs and/or Hightown, also on 84 through Mill Gap or others. My main concern is paved roads.