This one-way ride is fairly flat, except for the last 10 miles from Buchanan up to the Peaks of Otter Lodge on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Otherwise, the ride is very fast. The ride requires someone else meeting the biker(s) at the Peaks of Otter for a meal and a drive home, or an overnight campout.
Starting Point: At the War Memorial Chapel on the Virginia Tech Campus.
Distance: 66.0 miles, one way.
Terrain: Fairly flat with one steep climb.
| Mile | Directions |
|---|---|
| 0.0 | Bike west out main entrance to Tech on the VPI Mall. |
| 0.3 | Left onto Main St. |
| 0.4 | Right onto Faculty Street. |
| 0.5 | Right onto Progress Street. |
| 0.6 | Left onto Harding Avenue. |
| 0.9 | Left staying on Harding when Owens (Roanoke Street) joins from the right. |
| 1.5 | Reach top of Harding Avenue and continue down. |
| 3.9 | Left onto SR 785 at bottom, when SR 723 goes right. |
| 14.0 | Continue on SR 785 when SR 697 goes to left. |
| 21.5 | Right onto SR 311 when SR 785 joins it. |
| 22.0 | Pass by Catawba Mercantile Store and left onto SR 779 in Catawba. |
| 24.2 | Go straight, staying on SR 779, when SR 600 goes to left. |
| 29.2 | Right, staying on SR 779, when SR 699 goes to left. |
| 33.0 | Left onto SR 630 going to Fincastle. |
| 36.0 | Cross SR 665 on left and right. |
| 39.5 | Right onto US 220 in Fincastle for about a half a mile to gas station /convenience store on left. |
| 40.0 | Turn around and go back to downtown Fincastle. |
| 40.5 | Right onto SR 606. |
| 41.0 | Right, staying on SR 606, when SR 640 goes to the left. |
| 47.5 | Cross under 1-81. |
| 48.0 | Left onto SR 11. |
| 56.0 | Right onto SR 43 in north end of Buchanan. |
| 61.0 | Left onto Blue Ridge Parkway at Bearwallow Gap. |
| 66.0 | Turn into Peaks of Otter Lodge on right. Finish. |
Notes:
Convenience stores with bathrooms are found in Catawba at mile 22.0, gas station/convenience store out of Fincastle at mile 40.0, and in north Buchanan on right at mile 56.0. At mile 11.2 is McDonald's Mill on the right, dating back to the late 1700s.