I am planning a 4 or 5 day midweek trip to the South East in Sept. and need some advice on route, motels restauraunts etc. Not looking for any Iron Butt trips, just a nice leisurely ride with lots of good roads and scenery. I have tried searching old threads but it all gets a little confusing after I get as far as 219 south to Coudersport PA area. Thanks in advance.
Pennsylvania/W. Virgina trip advice needed.
- Thread starter Hedgeone
- Start date
Carmen
Well-known member
I only saw deer in the Mononghalia National Forest, but they were numerous. I had three jump out in front of me on 28/33 near Seneca Rocks in June.
homme de fer
Well-known member
Just came back from a week in WV. Pretty much any squiggly line on the map is a winner IMO. Roads I found most entertaining are:
- 219 from Snowshoe Mountain to Lewisburg. Make sure you go up and down Snowshoe.
- Highway 7
- highway 20
- highway 72
- highway 60
About the deer, I saw too many to mention. Get off the roads before dusk. A writeup and pics are in the works.
WV is an area that should be a mecca for motorcyclist. The roads are incredible, almost no traffic, and the only cop I saw didn't bother chasing me. In my opinion, WV is much better for riding than Virginia and North Carolina; 219 from Snowshoe mountain makes the Tail of the Dragon look tame.
- 219 from Snowshoe Mountain to Lewisburg. Make sure you go up and down Snowshoe.
- Highway 7
- highway 20
- highway 72
- highway 60
About the deer, I saw too many to mention. Get off the roads before dusk. A writeup and pics are in the works.
WV is an area that should be a mecca for motorcyclist. The roads are incredible, almost no traffic, and the only cop I saw didn't bother chasing me. In my opinion, WV is much better for riding than Virginia and North Carolina; 219 from Snowshoe mountain makes the Tail of the Dragon look tame.
The ride from the GTA to Coudersport on the 219 isn't that great. However, once you get to Coudersport the fun begins. Here are a couple of good days of riding southbound.
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=200376690763924239491.0004821fbb4c6d9c863b0&msa=0
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=200376690763924239491.0004822005c0fb454d872&msa=0&ll=38.967951,-78.266602&spn=4.278863,6.976318
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=200376690763924239491.0004821fbb4c6d9c863b0&msa=0
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=200376690763924239491.0004822005c0fb454d872&msa=0&ll=38.967951,-78.266602&spn=4.278863,6.976318
BeastieGirl
Well-known member
Really? Not sure I agree - both are fine rides though.
I can see how searching threads on this area can get overwhelming. You just aren't going to see everything and go everywhere and hit every good road in five days. The goods news is once you're hooked, this area is close enough to make it your "go to" destination for short trips. My last trip down in early August I centred in Morgantown because I was attending a rally there, but on the way back I ran Rte 50 all the way from Grafton to just outside Front Royal, just because I started on it and got hooked! Once I was that far back south/east anyway, I decided to take a quick jaunt on Skyline Drive, last year we rode the Blue Ridge all the way, but for time reasons hit the interstates again, rather than continue north on Skyline. Scenic but slow and after an hour I was okay to turn around and head back north, made it back into Pennsylvania to my last night before homeward bound.
If you don't already have a paper map, I'd advise on getting one - in the States almost every tourist bureau I've emailed on the internet has sent me a free map. Personally I like planning on paper, checking it out on mapquest for approximate timelines - programming into my GPS as back up. Don't worry too much - its hard to go wrong, but accept you can't do everything at once. My last four trips down to West Virginia I've meant to go check out the New River Gorge Bridge - haven't made it yet. Maybe next time.
homme de fer
Well-known member
BeastieGirl, don't get me wrong, the Dragon is a great road. But, with two cop cars and tons of traffic even during the week in addition to an artificially low speed limit, the Dragon is a bit lame.
The road up Snowshoe mountain is an absolute gas while the 219 leading down to Lewisburg gets pretty crazy and there was no cop to be found and very little traffic. I road up and down a section of 219 four times before finally making my way westward and I have to say it was much more satisfying than sitting behind a row of slow moving Hardley's on the Dragon.
The road up Snowshoe mountain is an absolute gas while the 219 leading down to Lewisburg gets pretty crazy and there was no cop to be found and very little traffic. I road up and down a section of 219 four times before finally making my way westward and I have to say it was much more satisfying than sitting behind a row of slow moving Hardley's on the Dragon.
frekeyguy
Well-known member
here are some pics from a recent trip....should give you some ideas/inspiration.....
PA - Look out point....like their grand canyon (thank you BOOYA)
After the gold mine road, us 125 i believe...
You gotta ride through the forest by the River
ITS LOVELY!!!
BIG SHOE!!
HERSHEY, PA --> Try not to stay here, or get reservations EARLY in the day. As its a big tourist spot...
PA - Look out point....like their grand canyon (thank you BOOYA)
After the gold mine road, us 125 i believe...
You gotta ride through the forest by the River
ITS LOVELY!!!
BIG SHOE!!
HERSHEY, PA --> Try not to stay here, or get reservations EARLY in the day. As its a big tourist spot...
Last edited:
mototrek
Well-known member
There are two messages in this thread (so far) that link 219 somehow to Coudersport. There's no link [other than Hwy 6] - They are about 40 miles apart. See link
http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=C...ZfQIdqiVP-w&vpsrc=6&mra=dme&mrsp=1&sz=13&z=11
I recommend you visit GOOGLE MAPS - locate some places to visit along route 219. Massage the maps to define them the way you wish, and then print up a few. Take the time. You'll be glad you did.
You may also want to visit this site. Provides great roads and reports and color codes the value of the roads.
http://www.motorcycleroads.us/
Good luck and ride safe.
