WHAT: MOUNTAIN BIKE / HYBRID TRAIL TOUR – approximately 225 miles.
WHERE: Southern VA to Parkersburg, WV (Originates and terminates in Washington, DC area).
|
Trail |
Mileage |
Day 1 |
Ride Virginia Creeper Rail Trail - Whitetop Station, VA to Abingdon, VA. Overnight in Galax, VA |
35 miles |
Day 2 |
Ride New River State Trail Park Rail Trail - Galax - Pulaski, VA. Highlight: Shot Tower in Shot Tower State Park. Overnight in White Sulphur Springs, WV |
55 miles |
Day 3 |
Ride first half of Greenbriar River Trail. Overnight in Markleton, WV. |
40 miles |
Day 4 |
Rest Day. Options to ride Pocahontas County, WV Singletrack trails, or other trails. Overnight in Markleton. |
Varies |
Day 5 |
Ride second half of Greenbriar River Trail. Overnight in Cass, WV. |
40 miles |
Day 6 |
Take Cass Scenic Railroad up mountain. Return by bike. Overnight in Clarksburg, WV. |
15 miles |
| Day 7 | Ride North Bend Rail Trail - 13 tunnels highlight the trail. Return to DC area. | 60 miles |
|
Total: 245 mi. |
WHEN: This tour is most likely to be offered in the late summer (August), when it's hot in Washington, but cooler in the WV and higher VA Mts.
WHO: OPEN TRIP.
TERRAIN: Level to 1% grade (See profile elevation map on tour highlights page). Packed dirt and crushed stone surfaces. 6-8 feet wide. Mountain, hybrid or cyclo-cross bicycles required.
RATING: Easy. The terrain is easy. Distances are easily varied to meet varied ffitness levels.
LIMIT: 9-11 cyclists.
Trip Overview
The Tour of the Virginia's is not hard. It's rail trails, smooth and flat or with mild grades. The trails for this trip are interesting, and varied. The scenery is outstanding, and the distances moderate.
The trip begins with charter transportation from near Washington Dulles Airport in Washington, DC's Virginia suburbs, to southern Virginia, departing at 6:00 a.m. and arriving in southern Virginia mid-day, giving participants time to ride the Virginia Creeper trail downhill from Whitetop Station to Damascus, and on to Abingdon. The highlight of this trail is its 47 trestles and the great views from and of the trestles. After a short shuttle, the second day is spent on the New River Trail, with its highlight, Shot Tower in Shot Tower State Park at about the mid-point. At the end of the day, another shuttle transports you to the start of the Greenbriar River Trail in WV, where you spend day 3 riding the first half of the Greenbriar River Trail. Day 4 is a rest day in Marlinton, WV, that offers options to explore the town, or to set out for some of the best singletrack trails the mid-atlantic states offer, in the national forests of Pocohontas County. Options exist for short, easy rides, or arduous technical grinds with awesome mountain views. On the fourth day, you finish the second half of the Greenbriar River Trail, and overnight in Cass, WV. On day 5, you experience the Cass Scenic railway, as we travel 15 miles up the mountain to the destination, then return down the mountain on our bikes. After this exhiliarating, but easy day, we transport to Clarksburg, WV, where we overnight. On the seventh and final day, we tackle the North Bend Rail Trail, a fascinating 70 mile gem in western West Virginia, that highlights 13 tunnels, each of unique architecture and character. This day may be shortened after the most scenic parts and tunnels have passed, depending on group comfort. We return to Washington about 10:00 p.m. on the seventh night.
15-60 miles per day, with shuttle options to shorten daily distances.
The support vehicle will shuttle participants between the daily endpoint and the next day's starting location on most days, and will also meet riders at pre-determined support points along the trail. Daily transport is generally under an hour, except the drive down, drive back, and drive between Cass and Clarksburg, WV, which are longer. Trip meals are provided and are included in the trip cost.
See Frequently Asked Questions at the "FAQs" link, for answers to common questions.