Bike Riding on the Blue Ridge Parkway
After last week’s post on the Blue Ridge Parkway, I received several questions about riding bicycles on the Parkway. Yes, you can ride bicycles on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Below are two Parkway day rides:
Blue Ridge Parkway LoopsEnjoy views from any of several scenic overlooks along the parkway. The 22-mile ride begins at Royal Oaks Cabins in Love (Milepost 16) and goes south to Tye River Gap and back. For the 40-mile ride described in the cue sheet below, begin at the same point, but head north to Milepost 0 at Afton Mountain. At this point, take the optional loop through the small hamlet of Afton, home of the legendary Cookie Lady, a weary cyclist's best friend.
0.0 - R Route 8140.2 -
L Blue Ridge Parkway (scenic overlooks into Shenandoah and Rockfish Valleys)16.2 -
L on exit to reach Route 250 East16.3 -
R Route 250 East (Rockfish Gap Tourist Information, long downhill, country store)19.1 -
R Route 750 (Bike Centennial's Route 76)20.9 -
R Route 6 in Afton (home of the legendary Cookie Lady on your right, just across railroad bridge) Head back up Route 6 22.3 -
L Route 250 (watch traffic)23.5 -
R on ramp to Blue Ridge Parkway and Shenandoah National Park23.6 -
L on Blue Ridge Parkway39.6 -
R Route 81439.8 - Return to Royal Oaks
For Mountain Bikes:
0.0 - From milepost 16 Blue Ridge Parkway - cross the Parkway onto Route 814
Right onto Route 56 to North Fork - follow it back to the Parkway Right onto the Parkway back to milepost 16
Both of these routes are from the Nelson County Visitor’s Center, and I will be posting additional routes in coming months.
