Motorcycle Route Author
By Guest (0 McR Points)
on Oct 31, 2008
Rider Reviews
Written Directions
This route is easy to find and follow. You'll find the starting point in town about 15 minuets west of Leesburg, VA called Bluemont, VA. At the intersection of route 7 and route 601 just take route 601 southwest. Immediately the 601 will climb to the spine of the mountains and you just stay on this all the way till it ends when it drops down out off the mountain and runs into US Highway 50.Scenery
This is a favorite ride of mine that I stumbled on a few years ago when my work sent me out to some FEMA command center out in just northeast of the Blue Ridge Parkway. It's about 15 minutes west of Leesburg and once I got out there and turned on to VA 601 I knew that I had stumbled on to what is a very nice little stretch of motorcycle road. The whole 11 or so miles rides along a not very well known spine of a section of the Blue Ridge Mountains (just look at the Google Maps Satellite view of the road to see how it drives right over the top ridge of the mountain range). You'll be riding through beautiful thick lush forest with a few sections were it opens up a bit for some views of fields. Another sight to enjoy along the way are the beautiful homes. Some really smart (and rich) people have built their dream homes along this stretch of mountains with what I imagine would be jaw dropping views from there back decks. Much of the road is lined with some really authentic looking (I can't tell if it's really old or just made to look that way) stone fencing traveling for miles along the road. At the very end of the route when 601 runs into US Hwy 50, make sure you take that (Hwy 50 east for just a mile or less and you'll take in a great valley view (see pics below)). The following addition was contributed by Ralph C in March of 2014: A beautiful soul-stirring ride along a mountain ridge flanked by beautiful forests. Nice enough during the summer, this is spectacular in the fall. This road is a nice bookend to Snickersville Turnpike, since the northern access is about a half-mile west of the Turnpike/Route 7 intersection.Drive Enjoyment
The road conditions are perfect in terms of quality of the road surface ... no potholes or even gravel to avoid. The turns are modest and so are the elevation changes ... this one won't require any peg dragging but the tameness of the roads will at least let you take in all the nice scenery up there. The road wasn't crowded but it wasn't empty either ... like I said before there is a FEMA center up there and homes so the workers and residents make up most of the traffic. The following addition was contributed by Ralph C in March of 2014: The road runs southwest from Route 7 along a picturesque mountain ridge bracketed by beautiful mountain forests and a few spectacular homes. There are gentle curves at the top, which get progressively tighter towards the south. About halfway down, you pass the Mt. Weather FEMA facility. Smile big for the cameras.Tourism Opportunities
I had to be honest and give this a 1 for amenities because there really isn't anything to do along the way (not even restaurants or gas stations) but DON'T TAKE THIS ROUTE BECAUSE YOU WANT TO SHOP FOR TRINKETS, TAKE IT FOR IT'S BEAUTY AND REMOTENESS.All the below pictures were taken where the route ends at the intersection of Rt 601 and US Hwy 50. You have to travel a little east (a mile or two) on Hwy 50 to see the valley view and check out the old town with the old buildings.
