VA Trails for Longer Tour

This topic has 11 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 9 years, 2 months ago by breakingaway89.

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March 25, 2016 at 2:23 pm #918021

iCycle
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I’m new to NoVA and cycling. Originally from PA, I moved here and began cycling to work last summer, covering up to 80 miles per week on my old/used Schwinn World Sport. I’ve frequented the W&OD from Arlington/Alexandria to Leesburg, the Custis into Rosslyn, down the Mount Vernon Trail, and some brief jaunts on the Capital Crescent trail and Rock Creek Park trail. I’m looking for some longer, scenic tours for a few days’ vacation, without all the costs of Adventure Cycling.

Since I am new to VA and want to experience the cities, mountains, and Piedmont, an idea is to take W&OD west towards Leesburg, pass through Harpers Ferry, then down to Front Royal. Take Skyline Drive down to Waynesboro/Charlottesville. Then hop on the Trans America Trail east towards Richmond. Capital Heritage trail east to Jamestown and Williamsburg. Then back west to Richmond via East Coast Greenway, and then north to Arlington via Fredericksburg and the Adventure Cycling Atlantic route.

Would anyone have advice on this route, possible other routes to consider (maybe more in southern VA?), or any interest in participating in June?
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March 25, 2016 at 5:57 pm #1050125

huskerdont
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@iCycle 137475 wrote:

I’m new to NoVA and cycling. Originally from PA, I moved here and began cycling to work last summer, covering up to 80 miles per week on my old/used Schwinn World Sport. I’ve frequented the W&OD from Arlington/Alexandria to Leesburg, the Custis into Rosslyn, down the Mount Vernon Trail, and some brief jaunts on the Capital Crescent trail and Rock Creek Park trail. I’m looking for some longer, scenic tours for a few days’ vacation, without all the costs of Adventure Cycling.

Since I am new to VA and want to experience the cities, mountains, and Piedmont, an idea is to take W&OD west towards Leesburg, pass through Harpers Ferry, then down to Front Royal. Take Skyline Drive down to Waynesboro/Charlottesville. Then hop on the Trans America Trail east towards Richmond. Capital Heritage trail east to Jamestown and Williamsburg. Then back west to Richmond via East Coast Greenway, and then north to Arlington via Fredericksburg and the Adventure Cycling Atlantic route.

Would anyone have advice on this route, possible other routes to consider (maybe more in southern VA?), or any interest in participating in June?

Seems you’ve got it pretty well nailed down, trails wise. I will say that the Virginia Capital Trail is a thing of beauty. W&OD will take you all the way to Purcellville.

March 25, 2016 at 6:00 pm #1050126

Tim Kelley
Participant

How long are you looking to spend doing all this? That’s quite a loop!

Front Royal to Waynesboro along Skyline is a segment that I’ve done quite a few times if you want advice–definitely a full day in the saddle!

March 28, 2016 at 2:01 pm #1050167

iCycle
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@Tim Kelley 137504 wrote:

How long are you looking to spend doing all this? That’s quite a loop!

Front Royal to Waynesboro along Skyline is a segment that I’ve done quite a few times if you want advice–definitely a full day in the saddle!

I am thinking that this trip would be about a week-long, possibly 9 days, to cover the 480 miles (50-60 miles per day with some time to site-see). Advice on Skyline would be great! I am a bit nervous about the initial climb at Front Royal.

March 28, 2016 at 2:09 pm #1050191

Tim Kelley
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@iCycle 137573 wrote:

I am thinking that this trip would be about a week-long, possibly 9 days, to cover the 480 miles (50-60 miles per day with some time to site-see). Advice on Skyline would be great! I am a bit nervous about the initial climb at Front Royal.

The climb at Dickey’s ridge is only 4 miles and nothing on Skyline is as sharp as what you’ll find along the Parkway south of Waynesboro. In the late spring/summer all the waysides should be open for business (water turned on, and the restaurants open). Are you planning on camping?

March 28, 2016 at 2:14 pm #1050194

iCycle
Participant

@Tim Kelley 137574 wrote:

The climb at Dickey’s ridge is only 4 miles and nothing on Skyline is as sharp as what you’ll find along the Parkway south of Waynesboro. In the late spring/summer all the waysides should be open for business (water turned on, and the restaurants open). Are you planning on camping?

Oh that’s not too bad then! I don’t have camping plans yet, likely to spend a night at Lewis Mountain cabins, then crash at friends’ along the way in C’ville and Richmond. No camping gear should help cut down on pannier weight.

I’m really looking forward to the great scenery along the way!

March 28, 2016 at 2:17 pm #1050196

Tim Kelley
Participant

@iCycle 137577 wrote:

Oh that’s not too bad then! I don’t have camping plans yet, likely to spend a night at Lewis Mountain cabins, then crash at friends’ along the way in C’ville and Richmond. No camping gear should help cut down on pannier weight.

I’m really looking forward to the great scenery along the way!

If you can time it right, I’d also suggest doing Skyline on a weekday, rather than a weekend. It’s just more enjoyable with less of the weekend tourists. (Oh and NPS will make you have a front and rear light too)

March 28, 2016 at 4:35 pm #1050204

creadinger
Participant

@iCycle 137475 wrote:

I’m new to NoVA and cycling. Originally from PA…

Welcome to the forum. Where from in PA? Did you do much in the way of touring or long rides up there? I’m constantly trying to piece together routes to places and I’m trying to do more in PA as I grew up in State College.

I haven’t done any touring south of here so I can’t offer much advice on your idea. It sounds awesome though!

March 28, 2016 at 5:11 pm #1050208

iCycle
Participant

@creadinger 137588 wrote:

Welcome to the forum. Where from in PA? Did you do much in the way of touring or long rides up there? I’m constantly trying to piece together routes to places and I’m trying to do more in PA as I grew up in State College.

I haven’t done any touring south of here so I can’t offer much advice on your idea. It sounds awesome though!

I’ve lived in Berks, Lehigh, Philadelphia and Delaware Counties – so east of State College. I haven’t yet done any real cycling in PA but I am making plans to follow the Adventure Cycling Atlantic Coast trails from DC to Philadelphia. I will likely take the Northern Central rail trail from Baltimore to York, then either take county roads in Lancaster or the Schuylkill River trail leading to Philadelphia. Of course, this is not too close to State College, and I unfortunately am not familiar much with State College or any routes in that area. I recently bought Chuck and Gail’s Favorite Bike Rides, and there is a chance some of the southern PA routes reach the State College area.

March 28, 2016 at 6:59 pm #1050217

creadinger
Participant

Oh cool!

That should be a good tour up to Philly. I did a trip from Boston to DC, and I definitely deviated from the Adventure route in places. I also took the NCR trail between York and Baltimore.

It’s also definitely worth checking out the signed Bicycle PA routes. I think you would use Route S – East-west across the southern half of PA. They do a decent job of using main roads with shoulders, or lesser roads, but they’re not so country that they avoid all towns (food/water), or are like a maze trying to follow them.

Yeah, I feel like I’m trying to make up for wasted time. I didn’t ride much in State College, or Lancaster (college) either.

March 28, 2016 at 11:22 pm #1050231

KWL
Participant

@huskerdont 137503 wrote:

Seems you’ve got it pretty well nailed down, trails wise. I will say that the Virginia Capital Trail is a thing of beauty. W&OD will take you all the way to Purcellville.

And from Purcellville it’s not much further to Bears Den Hostel that might be a good first night stop.

May 26, 2016 at 5:34 am #1052783

breakingaway89
Participant

@Tim Kelley 137579 wrote:

If you can time it right, I’d also suggest doing Skyline on a weekday, rather than a weekend. It’s just more enjoyable with less of the weekend tourists. (Oh and NPS will make you have a front and rear light too)

Great!!!
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