A photo essay of an EOM dual sport scouting trip to the Western VA Highlands Round One
A few of us are considering riding dual sports at EOM. These photos were taken along one recommended route.
Big Ridge/Cove Mountain Road. To the VDOT grader operator, you sir are a true craftsman for this road to have remained in such good shape after July’s monsoons.
Stopped in Paint Bank across the street for a chocolate milk and a granola bar lunch break.
Waiteville, WV
In Waiteville looking back to Peters Mtn from the west toe of Potts Mtn
Johns Creek Mtn seen from the mouth of Dick’s Creek Road in Maggie, VA
Johns Creek Valley ranks 13 on a 10 point scenery scale.
EOM 2015 FJR ROUTE NOTE for a slowdown and smell the roses 2-up tour: Johns Creek Road is HIGHLY recommended after riding VA311S out of Lewisburg. Plan to include a meal at the Swinging Bridge in the Paint Bank General Store along this loop. Be sure to take VA358 at the Blacksburg pointer sign. VA358 takes you to Cumberland Gap Road VA42 which is a great ride north across the eastern continental divide back to New Castle where you can have a go at VA311N. Or you can head south on VA42, pick up US460W along the New River and at Rich Creek take US219N back to Lewisburg. Both choices are highly scenic and the riding is none too shabby.
Miss the VA358 turn on your FJR and you will end up here…
Bound for the Appalachian Trail crossing atop Johns Creek Mountain
Snowflake awaits patiently as I stop half way up to find a tree
To say the grade steepens from here to the top is an understatement
Appalachian Trail crosses Rocky Gap Trail without fan fare
Up for a little dirty dancing?
Cold trailing for a bit first though. The end of what I believe is Doe Mtn where it is dissected by the New River as seen from Mtn Lake Road Overlook
Up the New River Valley or US460E toward Hokie-land
Testing Snowflake’s spiffy new early warning system
Back on the Dirty Dancing hot track: Mtn Lake Lodge
A traffic jam on Mountain Lake Road
Aspiring biologists headed home from a day of experiential learning
A few miles of more challenging riding as I head west back over Peters Mtn
Rest stop on top of Peters Mtn
Gap Mills Valley east
Gap Mills Valley west
One last glance back at Peters Mtn and it was time to set sail for home back across Kate’s Mtn to close my loop
Not quite riding to the bone, but working toward it.
This is a true dual sport route with a balance of about 50/50 paved to graded gravel and dirt. Dirt surfaces are easy to moderate. Crowder Road on the Waiteville side is more challenging. The route immerses a rider in spell-binding scenery from start to finish and it is hard not to rubber neck. A slower pace to allow taking it in is highly recommended.
There too many ways to modify this route. Y’all know we are going to have more than we can ride, so you just as well start thinking about returning to WV!
Potts Mountain North - West Central VA Highlands Round 2
Gentleman start your engine.
Harts Run Road pure paved fun!
From SE WV, Crowder Road is a dual sport gateway to the west central VA Highlands.
[Those who prefer pavement should check out Limestone Hill Road. And don’t forget to hike to Hanging Rock Observatory, it is just a little ways uphill to where it levels off 
]
Either road will take you over Peters Mountain
With pleasure when dry and comes out near Waiteville, Monroe County, WV
Trout Run skirts south of Paint Bank as a short cut to the west slope of Potts Mtn
To dump out on VA311S not far below the towers
Where I’m headed; Johns and Dick Creek Valleys from Potts Mtn Wayside
Lunch was an unpolished trail mix that had been along on a few trips including thrice melted chocolate chips…scrumptious!
FS604.2 bears south along the east slope under Potts Mtn Wayside
Leads south off Potts Mtn toward here. Maggie, VA is the common point of the Mtn Lake area route and Potts Mtn north route.
A few miles north of Maggie on Johns Creek Road [NOTE: DO NOT take Pioneer Trail, you will piss in someone’s Wheaties. Don’t ask how I know. Tub Run is a couple of miles further north.]
The paved twisties on VA311 have nothing on Tub Road Road. Get in too big of a hurry on the 15 mile Tub Run Road and you too will soon lose your color too.
A couple of hours later…hey haven’t we been here before?
Yep. But this time we are headed up the mountain to Sweet Springs Turnpike
The entrance to Potts Mtn Jeep Trail. I’ll leave that one for the heroes
Sweet Springs Turnpike to Potts Mtn Road to VA 607 will soon take you to Sweet Road. I concur.
A butt break at the intersect of Sweet Road and Hickory Hill
Snake Run Road to the Kanawha Trail VA311S to Cove Mtn Road
Sweet Valley looks a lot like Almost Heaven and will be in a couple of miles
At the end of Cove Mtn Road a zig through Pedro, a zag through Glace and Jones Mtn to Harts Run Road closes the loop where this adventure began.
Route mileage for Potts Mtn north is nearly dead even with the first run to Mtn Lake area. Though the scenery is none too shabby, Potts Mtn North can't compete with the Mtn Lake area. But it more than makes up for it in good riding. Highly recommended.
