Biking Blue Ridge Parkway

Meals: Dinner

We meet in Front Royal to prepare for the ride. This includes bike fitting, safety information, RideWithGPS Experience tutorial and an orientation dinner. Transportation is available from Dulles International Airport

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Distance: 73 miles

Elevation Gain: 8,045 feet

Largest Single Elevation Gain: 1,300 feet

We start our ride from the hotel in Front Royal and jump right on the Skyline Drive and climb over Dickey Hill. We continue on the ups and downs of this ridge top road to Swift Gap, for a quick descent to our lodging for the night.

Accommodation: Wintergreen Resort

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Distance: 62 miles

Elevation Gain: 7,560 feet

Largest Single Elevation Gain: 1,100 feet

We complete the ride of Skyline Drive to Rockfish Gap and start in on the Blue Ridge Parkway itself. In less than 20 miles we climb over 3000 ft on this traffic restricted road. Be sure to stop at the Humpback Rocks Visitor Center, Farm Museum and Picnic Area.

Accommodation: Peaks of Otter Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Distance: 77 miles

Elevation Gain: 8,015 feet

Largest Single Elevation Gain: 3,300 feet

We climb today from the lowest elevation on the entire parkway, at 649 ft near the James River Visitor Center, to it's highest point in Virginia, at 3950 ft, near the Thunder Ridge Overlook. We pass through the first of many tunnels today, and start to experience the countless overlooks on the parkway.

Accommodation: Hotel Floyd

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Distance: 80 miles

Elevation Gain: 8,120 feet

Largest Single Elevation Gain: 1,230 feet

Today we ride around the city of Roanoke. There is a great descent into the valley of the Roanoke River, and an equally impressive climb back up to the Roanoke Valley Overlook. The detour to our hotel (optional to ride) is 5 miles to the town of Floyd.

Accommodation: Olde Beau Resort

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Distance: 75 miles

Elevation Gain: 6,425 feet

Largest Single Elevation Gain: 500 feet

Lots of ups and downs today as we continue to follow the mountain ridgeline. We ride past countless overlooks, across a few roads and past the Bluegrass Music Center. We leave Virginia behind and ride into North Carolina. In the Roaring Gap valley we stay in a luxurious Golf Resort.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Distance: 67 miles

Elevation Gain: 7,440 feet

Largest Single Elevation Gain: 500 feet

The ride follows State Parks, Recreation Areas and Wildlife Preserves. We'll be on several sections of newly paved road, and we end the day in our largest town of our overnights - Blowing Rock.

Accommodation: Little Switzerland Alpine Inn (47mile)

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Distance: 47.6 miles

Elevation Gain: 4,800 feet

Largest Single Elevation Gain: 800 feet

Our shorter day today gives you a chance to sleep in or take a stroll around the town in the morning. We do hit a high point of 4,414 ft, have some super downhills to enjoy, we pass through our second tunnel, and go past several visitor centers. A diversion could include the Moses H. Cone Memorial Park and a tour through the Cone Manor.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Distance: 60 miles

Elevation Gain: 5,950 feet

Largest Single Elevation Gain: 1,400 feet

Todays route rides through the Pisgah National Forest with remote stretches of just mountains and overlooks, before ending up in the metropolis of Asheville. We climb to a new high point of 5692 ft., and pass through 7 tunnels. Several information and visitor centers are on the route. We stay in the Biltmore Village on the south side of city, for the next 2 nights.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Distance: 80.7 miles

Elevation Gain: 10,190 feet

Largest Single Elevation Gain: 2,300 feet

Save some energy for the last day, which covers 80 miles and over 10,000 ft of climbing. Our triumphant finish is at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center in Great Smoky National Park at mile post 469. We catch a van ride back to Asheville for a celebration dinner and a last overnight.

Meals: Breakfast

Timberline Adventures provides transport to the Asheville Regional Airport, or to your ending location in Asheville, NC.