Motorcycle Route Author
By Guest (0 McR Points)
on Apr 30, 2008
Rider Reviews
Written Directions
Start in Summersville, WV, at US 19 and head east on WV 39. Cross into Virginia shortly before you get to the endpoint in Warm Springs, VA, at the intersection of US 220.Scenery
WV 39 is just a fantastic motorcycle touring road! At various times you will ride along beautiful mountain streams, thick forest, and cranberry glades as you cruise along the valley and over the mountains. If there is a BETTER motorcycle touring road in WV - I am not aware of it!Headed East from Summersville you will go past the Cranberry Tri-River Trail Head, Summit Lake, the Cranberry Glades Botanical Area, the Chesapeake & Ohio RR Depot (in Marlinton) and the lush greenery of the Monongahela and George Washington forests.
You will hug the banks of the gorgeous Cherry river for several miles.
Road Quality: 4
WV 39 offers a near perfect balance of sweepers, tight turns, elevation changes and wide-open spaces for passing (when needed). There aren't very many hairpin turns - only a few spots are what I would label as "technical".
The constant change of terrain serves to make this road an absolute pleasure to ride.
Heading east from Summersville, WV 39 really starts to deliver after about 15 miles when you enter the Monongahela. At the 54 mile mark - WV39 borrows a typically fun & exhilarating section of US219 before getting back to business and heading out to the George Washington forest at Marlinton.
The condition of the tarmc is good to great - only a few small sections of patchwork. The only issue I had with the road was what seemed like more than the usual and customary amount of loose gravel in the tighter turns. .
Roadside Amenities:: 4
Summerville offers all of the usual and customary amenities with plenty of chain hotels and restaurants as well as some local establishments - its tied to the New River gorge tourism business.
There are several small towns along the way - Richwood and Marlinton have several places to rest and to dine that looked very inviting...maybe next time!
