Overall Route Rating
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4.85 out of 5 Rider Rating 4.85
20 Reviews

Back of the Dragon

Motorcycle Route Author

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By ksp2089 (10 McR Points) on Jul 01, 2020

Rider Reviews

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ThomSS
3743 McR Points
July 10, 2020
Awesome ride!!! One of the best there is. The…
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RRHemi
14 McR Points
August 14, 2020
What a great ride! Beautiful scenery and a road…
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Written Directions

If you're starting from the North, you will start in Tazewell, VA and simply head Southwest on US Business 19 for about 2-miles and then turn south (take a left) on to VA Route 16 where the fun begins. Continue heading South for about 30-miles and you will come to the route's end as you arrive in Marion, VA. Beginning in Marion, VA, the Back of the Dragon takes you through 438 curves over 32 miles of breathtaking scenery, ending in the small town of Tazewell, VA. Here you will find the Back of the Dragon Welcome Center, as well as local breweries, restaurants, and a nearby Amish community.

Scenery

This route takes you through a beautiful section of the Appalachian mountains in the Southwestern corner of Virginia offering at times, wide-ranging views of the surrounding mountains. You'll be crossing/viewing three large mountains in the area: Big Walker, Brushy and Clinch and riding among valleys as the Apalachian mountains stake out their dominance running from the Northeast to the Southwest. Breathtaking, long range mountain views will greet you on this route that leads you from the interstate into the mountains of Southwest Virginia.

Drive Enjoyment

438 curves over 32 miles of hilly, winding back roads that offer little traffic, no potholes, and roads that are correctly banked. Despite the fact that it has been a favorite for motorcycle riders and sports car tourist for many years now, the traffic is typically a non-factor due to its remote location.

Tourism Opportunities

This route has everything from a state park to locally owned restaurants and a brewery. Also nearby is Burke's Garden, a scenic Amish community where you can purchase Amish goods and food. Stay at the Old Jail in Tazewell for a unique lodging experience. There are plenty of services (fuel, restaruants, places to shop) at both ends of the route in Tazewell and Marion. Tazewell has made a big investment to cater to the riding/driving comunities and have built a 5,000 square foot Back of the Dragon store has a brewery, food and drinks, memorabilia, and an out door sitting area. The town of Tazewell is ligned with beautiful vintage brick buildings and often will host riding/driving clubs as well as car & bike shows lined up along the street. Also, along the way you can visit Hungry Mother State Park. At the Southern end is Marion where you have plenty of modern fast food places as well as gas stations and places to pick up supplies.

Motorcycle Road Additional info

There is a first rate website describing the route, telling some history about how it was founded, and provides other associated information - https://www.backofthedragon.com/.
 

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liabr073115
October 16, 2021
31 McR Points
Motorcycle Type : Touring
Great ride with a lot of twisties.
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SnapThomas
November 1, 2021
10 McR Points
Motorcycle Type : Touring
After having ridden this road north to south about ten yrs ago (it wasn't much publicized yet) on the way to ride the 'Tail'; the ride on the 'Tail' was kind of anticlimactic. We just rode it again last month, this time south to north and this time it was a bit anticlimactic as we had been riding for two days with a local all over the back roads. I think one day we rode for about 5 hours and I don't think we were on a total of 5 miles of straight road. I wish I would have thought of a way to keep track of where all we went but I didn't. About the best I can say that most of it was east and south around Hillsville VA; in and around the Blue Ridge Pkwy but only briefly on the Pkwy. The roads were in great condition and not much traffic on a weekday. But . . . it was a work out on my trike LOL.
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Clockwork58
September 4, 2020
12 McR Points
Motorcycle Type : Other
So many curves, so little traffic. Lots of fun!
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