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0 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Cruiser

I live 5 miles from this road and have ridden it for many years. The best part is the 32 miles from Marion, VA to Tazewell, VA. It is over 3 mountains, very curvy (15 mph posted curves), little traffic and beautiful.

0 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Cruiser

Wonderful road to ride. Very little traffic, decent speed limit, no LEO. Rode this a few days before the "Tail Of The Dragon" and liked this better. Certainly not well known, but well worth the ride. Very technical and incredible scenery, if you can take your eyes off the next corner long enough to look around.

0 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Sport

Route is full of twisties, and elevation changes. Verrry fun to ride; can't wait to go again. Roads are in great condition. A

There is also a gift shop and places to stop for a break.

157 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Touring

Run this from Frog Level to Marion, 9/6/2016. Back of the Dragon has great twisties and elevation change. Not a lot of civilization along this stretch.

10 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Standard

Rode this in early October, 2013. More scenic the the back of the dragon, but with lots of curves and hills. Gotta get back to Virginia.

0 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Sport - Touring

One of the very best roads in Virginia/NC highlands. Worth going out of your way to ride.

0 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Touring

11 mi. west of Hwy. 16 we ate at The Pit - great food, service and conversation with owner. Then headed to the fantastic roads and scenery of this route. We would recommend it to anyone who wants the combination of peaceful views with a challenging ride. Would definitely visit this area of the Country again!

0 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Touring

Awesome, beautifull ride, stopped for lunch in a country restaurant we had a group of 5 bikes.
Rode from Fancy Gap to Galax, Independence, Mouth of wilson, Marion to Tazewell.
We cut it short and took 42 East (beautiful ride) to 52, picked up I&& and south back to Fancy Gap. A must ride, take it slow lots of curves

0 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Cruiser

To me this is better that the Dragon, road is much better, scenic, three mtns, longer, less traffic and great fun. If you enjoy roads like 129 @ Deals Gap and Shady Valley 421 you should really enjoy route 16. I normally ride this on Sundays to from Tazewell Va to Marion Va. stop at the sonic and head back. Lots of fun.

4000 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Sport - Touring

The Back of the Dragon. What a great ride, if you can have a clear run. I was fortunate enough this year 2019 to have a completely clean run going north the whole way. Motorcycling Nirvana. Fortunately there are a good few pull-offs for if you get stuck behind the people that insist on doing 25 miles an hour on the road. And for those pull-offs there's plenty of nice views. I can only imagine how great it looks in October. The route can't be recommended enough.

0 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Standard

I've been riding this road for the past eight years and it's been a great little secret. Until 2011. The Tazewell Dept. of Tourism decided that they should get the same recognition as the "Dragon" so they've been plugging it to get lots of MC tourists. That's going to crowd the road, increase accidents and add heavy LEO patrolling. Too bad.

I usually make an annual trip to go camping with friends from all over the eastern half of the US in Hungry Mother state park. We just try to avoid the "Back of the dragon" rally weekends...

Great road although some sections were getting a little rough. Views are incredibly distracting...try to ride it before the squids ruin the secrecy of the area...

0 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Cruiser

Very nice ride, beautiful scenery. Just be careful not to drag the frame on those larger cruisers :)

2630 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Touring

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Wonderful road to ride. Very little traffic. For sure less traffic and more fun than the Dragon. Will give you as much challenge as you demand.
Curves in woods, curves in pastureland, uphill, downhill, fast, slow, hairpins, nice scener

80 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Adventure Touring

We caught this Route in Marion and rode to Tazewell (I believe this stretch is know as Back Of The Dragon), didn't ride to Yukon but what we did ride was beautiful. Well worth the visit. We were on a week trip which started in Pa. and covered Skyline Dr., Blueridge Pkwy, Great Smokey Mountains and much more.

3744 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Other

Only rode the stretch from Marion to Tazwell, went up and back twice... what a great ride! Road surface is in good shape, plenty of twisties and switchbacks along with elevation changes! One of the best rides I've been on! Be sure to check out Back of the Dragon store in Tazwell, big selection of shirts and stuff, the new store is set to open May of 2020, sounds like it's going to be really nice! Macado's in downtown Marion is a great place to eat. Old Post Office converted, really cool place to see, great food, generous portions!

20 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Cruiser

By far the most amazing and beautiful stretch of road I have ever ridden. Phenomenal scenery and roads. We started in Pineville WV and road all the way to Marion VA. Amenities are sparse north of the state line but are plentiful once you hit Tazewell.

62 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Touring

one of my favorites. usually not crowded, plenty of switchbacks and great views.

344 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Cruiser

lots of sharp curves, when we rode tru there all 3 of us nearly hit a deer at different spots

30 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Touring

Back of the Dragon is a hoot. Great ride

110 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Touring

Awesome, road. Took from Tazewell down to Boone, NC

812 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Touring

The lower part of this route, 32 miles between the quaint towns of Tazewell and Marion, is better known as the Back Of The Dragon. Wonderful windy, twisty roads make this a very enjoyable route. The turns are not quite as challenging as the Tail OF The Dragon. But the scenery is every bit as good - if not better. It is rumored there are between 260 and 438 turns, hairpins, sweepers, doglegs and so on.

22 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Touring

The new store at the back of the dragon is great. Best part of the road is Tazewell to Marion.

108 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Cruiser

Beautiful scenic ride with lots of great views, switchbacks one after another. If you rode the tail of the dragon this one is the Back Of The Dragon which is bigger

13 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Sport - Touring

Great twisties and scenery.