This document provides information about a motorcycle route through Shenandoah National Park in Virginia along Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway. The 106-mile route follows Skyline Drive, which travels along the spine of the Blue Ridge Mountains through Shenandoah National Park at 35 mph, offering views of the Shenandoah Valley and Blue Ridge foothills. The document recommends extending the route by taking the Blue Ridge Parkway south from Front Royal, which connects scenic mountain views between Virginia and North Carolina.

1. RIDE ATLAS *F TqOfiTI{ AMilftIE&- 2E
VERMONT
PAqf$ *t* Aru* 3:.t. ROUTE LENGTH - About 220 miles, a day or longer with stops
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TOURING INFORMATION
VT 100, also known as the 43rd lnfantry Drvision
Memorial Highway or Grand Army of the Republic
Highway, cleaves a path through the center of the Green
Mountains and into the heart of Vermont.
This run is considered one ofthe longest and most scenic
rides you're likely to find. From Stamford, VT 1O0
begins a northward path and bisects the state from the
Massachusetts state line to just a bit short of the
Canadian border. The two-lane road meanders
through pastoral countryside with plenty of reasons to
stop-such as the viltage of Weston (poputation 600),
home to the Vermont Country Store, known as a ,,pur-
veyor of the practic€l and hard to find."
TAKE A SIDE TRIP 3e51 3*.1esn to !.:ds: Fall color is splendid.
Ride VT 108 from Stowe to Smugglers Notch, or as the Gsrsiir"]sevailabiiity: Plentiful
locals call it, "Smu€lgs." Smugglers Notch Scenic Highway Absiili th* i'**d: Both scenic and twisty, low traffic densjty, good road
is a tight, twisty mountain pass with 1-,O00-foot cliffs and conditions
large boulders protruding into the narrow passageway. lnsid*r tip: A40-50 mph speed limit is there for a reason and is enforced
Watch for wildlife.
With no smog and no pollution, the notch is home to
many endangered species of plants found nowhere else For a ride that is both exhilarating and
in Vermont. It also features some of the state's most relaxing, this twisty, turning road has all
popular hiking trails, easily accessibte from Smugglers the ingredients for motorcycle motoring F-l--Ill--*"-uf.'u,t
0#!,10/'20 km 30
-
Notch state Park. memories. Long climlrs up forested hills,
rushing descents into scenic valleys,
VISITOR INFORMATION boulder-filled waterways, white steepled
wwwtravel-vermont.corn churches, family farms with weathered
l 8O0.837.6668
red barns, small towns with friendly
CAMPING INFOBMATION folks, and only three stop lights on the
www.vtstateparks.com/htm/i nfo.cf m whole route make this a joy. Be on the
4O2.241.3655 (information) lookout for a church supper.
888.409.7579 (reservations)
So many places deserve a stop that it's
hard to pass them by. Near Stowe, in
& hqy's
Waterbury, visit Ben & Jerry's lce Cream renn
)ry4
Factory, the number one tourist attrac- ivr
tion in the state. The factory offers a
tour with samples, playground, souvenir fila)
shop, ice cream store, and a "graveyard"
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of retired flavors that seemed Iike a BristoL
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good idea but bombed with ice cream ,i
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Iovers.
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Watch for Gold Brook Road as you enter
Stowe. Emily's Bridge is a few miles up
the road on the left. Built in 1844, Emily's
Bridge has a serene beauty by day. At
night the so-foot-long covered bridge
takes on a dramatically spooky appear
RIDE HIGHLIGHTS: ance. Legend has it that the bridge has
been haunted ever since Emlly took her
life there after losing her one true love.
On windy nights it's said that you can
hear her crying on the bridge.
With a population of only 4,400, Stowe
has a surprising 70 shops, 50 restau-
rants, bungee trampolines, alpine slide,
the Trapp Family Lodge (the singing
family in The Sound of Music), and a
gondola ride to the top of Vermont's ;
tallest peak-4,393-foot Mt. Mansfield.

2. RIDI ATL&5 SF NORTF{ AMERICA* 2E
MAINE
$TE ATLAS PAG€ S3" ROUTE LENGTH - About 165 miles or a leisurely day
TOURING INFORMATION
This road hugs the Goast of Maine:and follows US 1-, also
known as the Blue Star Memorial Highway, most of the
way.. US 1- used to be the main.thofoughfare from Maine
to Florida and was called the Main Street of Arnerica-
TAKE A SIDE TRIP
Be sure to visit. Fort,Knox. Fort Knox in Prospec.t, Maine,
that is. lt waF built in the mid-1800s to ,rotectthe
Penobscot River Valley from British haval attaoks. The
fort was named for Major General Henry l'(nox, America's
firsl Secretary of War. America'$ other Fort Knox, the
one located in Kentucky and famous for its gold buuion
depository, also was named after him.
From Belfast, proceed north on US 1. ihrpugh Searspoi.t
and Stoekton Springs, and immediately before crossing
the suspenslon bridge, take a left onto ME J.74. Fort
Knox is about a quarter mile on the right.
VISITOR INFOEMATIOI{
www.visitmaine.com | 888.624.6345
CAMPING INFORMATION
www.maine.gov/doclparks ) 207.287.3821
,3**t *€a$s!} ts r!.:o: Late spring through autumn
6s$*lin* *vail**ility: Plentiful
Abo*i ihs ron*: Well-maintained two-lane road used by folks who want to enjoy
the scenery from Portland to Acadia National Park
:rsrr':cr:'p' Dress in layers and carry rain gear. Be prepared for changes in
weather and occasional morning fog.
Start your motor running and head "down East"-Maine lingo for in the direction of the
Canadian l4aritimes. Picture-perfect images of coastal lviaine are alive and vibrant on this
ride: rocky coastlines, lighthouses on distant promontories, marinas packed with fishing
boats, seaside villages, fresh lobster. Everywhere the ocean makes its presence known,
whether by sight, sound, or smell.
The charming old port city of Portland crowns a hilly peninsula surrounded by rivers and
harbors. Cobbled streets lined with shops and restaurants, vintage redbrick warehouses
ringed by wharves, and grand sea captains' mansions are beautifully preserved.
Less than 20 miles north of Portland, Freeport is the home of upscale shopping and historic
homes and churches. Stop byworld-famous L.L. Bean, which is open 24 hours a day" Less
than three miles outside of Freeport is a famed oddity, the Desert of Maine. Geologists
believe that 11,000 years ago a melting glacier left behind this 4o-acre sand dune.
Connected to the mainland by a causeway, Mount Desert lsland and Acadia National Park
offer 26 mountains, 22 lakes and ponds, 120 miles of hikingtrails, beaches, and natural
wonders galore. A 27-mile loop takes in the major attractions, including the pink granite
RIDE HIGHLIGHTS:
summit of 1,528-foot lvt. Cadillac.
Facing Frenchman Bay, the island's biggest town of Bar Harbor has narrow streets filled
with boutiques, restaurants, and resting places.
ADD ON: Podland Head Light
Start this ride on Broadway at "Bug" Light on Casco Bay, in South Portland. Head south
on Madison Street, then east on Breakwater Drive, continuing onto Benjamin Pickett Street.
After a left on Fort Road, you'll see Spring Point Light at the end of a breakwater, the
Portland Harbor museum, and the clipper ship Snow Squa//. Take Fort Road back south,
turning left onto Preble Street, which becomes Shore Road.
The roadway straightens and glides past waterfront mansions in Cape Elizabeth.
turn left and anticipate the first glimpse of Portland Head
At the sign for Fort Williams Park,
Light, Maine's most celebrated lighthouse.

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4. RIDT ATLAS OF NORTH AMERICA" 2E
MARYLAND TO DELAWARE
$rr -qYL,&$ reG€s ss, s?, 5*, Abl* 5i", ROUTE LENGTH - 176 miles or about 4 hours depending on stops
,ro$te,.pqst{E in
landmark -archi-
:ais, and Colonial
! ii',illt,:;.t,'1,":'rl
*est seat.!fr ta i:lde: May through October
&asel!ne evai!ai:iilltl: Plentiful
Ahoilt lh* roa{i: Two-lane roads skirting ocean shoreline and winding through
historic countryside
ln$:{ier ti'}: Make frequent stops to see historic sites; watch for crowds in June
when NASCAR races run in Dover.
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RIDE HIGHLIGHTS:

5. ftIDH ATLAS CIF NORTH AMERICA- 2E
E!
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iii*rl!r,;1;.:..
From Ocean City, Md., head north, passing the 1859 Fenwick lsland ADD ON: Assateaque lsland
l
Lighthouse on the state line. DE links coastal wildlife refuges like Prime
Hook and Bombay Hook with Cape Henlopen. Henlopen's 8O-foot sand Famous for its herds of wild ponies, Assateague lsland stretches for 37 wind-
dune is crowned by a WWll watchtower. Lewes Beach survived pirate raked miles between the Atlantic Ocean and Maryland's and Virginia's
raids and German U-boat surveillance. Today, ships offshore take visitors Eastern Shore. Native Americans first populated this 6,000-year old ever-
to whale watch and sport fish. shifting sand island. After European settlers wrested the land away from
the Algonquins, they used it as a livestock grazing ground. Legend says the
lnland, DE 9 North passes state capital Dover, where Delaware represen- wild ponies swam onto the island from a sinking Spanish galleon, but they
tatives were the first to ratify the U.S. Constitution in 1787. Dover lnternational most likely were the property of English settlers.
Speedway's NASCAR season revs up in June, The countryside's historic towns
include Odessa, prized for its 30 landmark homes. Despite the island's popularity, it remains a valuable ecosystem preserving
the habitats of many species. On your way over to the island, stop at the
MD 213 rides through Eastern Shore farmlands and maritime towns settled Barrier lsland Visitor Center where you can walk through exhibits and see
along Chesapeake Bay tributaries. Chestertown's elegant brick homes look an audiovisual program about the island.
much the same as when George Washington and Thomas Jefferson traveled
Kent County. Follow US 301 as it crosses Chesapeake Bay to Maryland's Exploring is encouraged, butthe dunes are clearly marked as off limits.
Western Shore and state capital Annapolis. Local bikers fill their tanks and Dunes are extremely fragile, and even one person can unwittingly destroy
tummies at "gourmet gas station" Kent lsland Depot at the Stevensville exit. years of natural work. As you ride or hike around the island, you'll not miss
French family-owned, the station dishes delish eats. the famous ponies. Rangers strongly urge visitors not to go near the ponies
or tempt them with food. They may appear friendly and tame, but they are
Annapolis's architecture spans three centuries. Capital highlights include the still sometimes-dangerous wild animals.
City Dock where African slave Kunta Kinte, author Alex Haley's ancestor,
arrived. Patriot sites include homes of I/larylanders who signed the Two campgrounds, one oceanside and one bayside, invite overnight stays.
Declaration of lndependence, early settlement London Town, St. John's On your second day, you could consider riding south on the mainland to
College, and the wood-domed State House. At the U.S. Naval Academy, the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge on the other end of the island.
tour the museum and see John Paul Jones crypt. There you'll get a chance to observe nature along several longer self-guided
nature trails.

6. RI*E ATLE$ *F NORTH AMERICA' 2E
VIRGINIA
$ff &ft",,l$ fAfi[$ ii.]J ;il** ?1.{. ROUTE LENGTH - 106 miles or 4-5 hours
TOURING INFORMATION
Shenandoah's.Skyline Drive (US 340) travels the heart of
Shenandoah National Park et 35 mph. lt has 75 scenic
turn-outs. lt's slow, but the view is worth the pace.
TAKE A SIDE TRIP
Take your time atong the Blue Ridge Parkway, ihe
southern extension of Skyline Drive that leads to the Great
Smoky Mou,ntains National Fark. Drive the abov.e route
in reverse order, beginning in Front Royal. After a brief but
steep ascent just south of Rockfish Gap, the Btue Ridge
Farkway rises and fallg gracefully over some of the mo€t
spectacular mountain scenery in the Mid-Atlantic states.
Skyline Drive follows the spine of the Blue Ridge
Mountains. The route takes in views of the fertile
Shenandoah Valley to the west and the Blue Ridge foot:
hills to the east. Dickey Ridge Visitor Center (Mile 4.6)
Sr$: $enein i{r .i**r Spring and autumn.
i}:rl1ir'll: ::r;ii;briri,r' Plan ahead
and Byrd Visitor Center (Mile 51) both offer informational
displays and maps.
i.l1i*i tl:* rr,r*: winding with many pull offs
!l'r*iC*r li1:r $10 fee to enter the park, whlch is valid for one week; lots of auto-
mobile traffic. Watch for cars as well as deer, bear, wolves, and snakes.
Skyline Drive bursts into color in the spring as it wends
through Shenandoah National Park. ln autumn, the
woods glow red and yellow, the hues of the Blue Ridge Begin your northerly tour of US 340 ln
Mountains in the distance. Around every bend, over every Rockfish Gap, the southern national 0 5 10mi
peak, there's another camera-ready vlew along this route. park entrance. (The town's lnformation |.___r_+
0 5 10 15km
Center has local information and
o Rand MsNally
VISITOR INFORMATION brochures.) You'll be tempted to stop
www.visitshenandoah.com | 800.778.2851 at dozens of scenic turn-outs. Make 1 ? . .j - , freha d. cdo
-'.-_ ..--,.
time for Big Run overlook (l/ile 81), ,+'.'. -Ruertlitrvr=';-€
-.F:-+.
- -;i.:"
'
with a sweeping view of the Blue ..,|.-HPPJ
CAMPING INFORMATION
www.nps.gov,/shen/planyourvisit/ca mpgrounds.htm Ridge Mountains. 0r park your bike Hxntlv
800.365.2267 and stretch your legs at Swift Run Gap
(Mile 65.5), one of a dozen points
te,
where the Appalachian Trail crosses 3i68 ft. .
Skyline Drive. A more strenuous trail il
"rl"rrlmrll
departs from Bearfence Mountain
Parking. The one-mile circuit leads '', lznJ
over a rock scramble to a rare 360-
degree vista.
Near the midpoint of Skyline Drive are
lodging choices for riders who want
to prolong their stay: Lewis Mountain
Cabins; Bi€ Meadows Lodge, a
restored 1939 inn; and Skyland
Resort, set at Skyline Drive's highest
point, with cabins, rooms, and access
to riding stables.
As Skyline Drive continues north, it
rises and twists past well-known
RIDE HIGHLIGHTS: rock formations, the Pinnacles and
Stony Man Peak, as it rounds Hazel
Mountain. Tunnel Parking Overlook
(Mile 33) offers a preview of 600-
.i
foot-long Mary's Rock Tunnel before
you experience it first-hand. Just lBl
I
north of here, Hogback Overlook -Pofl
(Mile 21) takes in views of the
Shenandoah River snaking through
the Shenandoah Valley.
Skyline Drive concludes in Front Royal,
a canoeing and kayaking hub in this
region. Outfitters are located in the
Page Valley, just south of town on the
South Fork of the Shenandoah River.
Pick up directions and brochures at
the Front Royal Visitor's Center.

7. RIEE ATLAS fiF NORThI AMERIEA- 2E
WESTVIRGINIA
ROUTE LENGTH - 120 winding miles or one-day trip with plenty of stops
TOURING INFORMATION
The Midland Trail ride begins in the state capital of
Charleston and follows US 6O through some of the most
rugged terrain in West Virginia. The ride passes through
both the Kanawha River Valley and the plateau high
above.
TAKE A SIDE TRIP
Ride through parts of the New River Gorge National
River area honoring one of the oldest rivers in the world
and one of the few on Earth that flows north. The area
is a mecia for rafting. Once a year, on the third
Saturday oJ October, the New River Gorge Bridge is
closed to vehiculartraffic and open for pedestrians.
Watch base jumpers and bungeed folks leap off the
side of the longest arch bridge in North America. liirii rd;?si)11 iit fir*: Late spring through late autumn
[*t*]ir;: ;rvL:ilcbiliir: Plentiful
A National Scenic Byway, the Midland Trail along US 60 Ailsut thr riad Generally good shape; road has segments where ride can get
was ori$nally carved into the mountains by buffalo and athletic with switchbacks and twisties.
Native Americans. Prior to 1988. the Midland Trail was Watch for wildlife.
heavily traveled, particularly by commercial vehicles.
Traffic was significantly redueed in 1988 when the final Travel the Midland Trail and enter a land of challenging white-water rafting, Civil War history,
touches of l-64 were completed. Now the trail is mostly stunning scenery, and small towns full of country charm. The byway will carry you over hills
for those who want to get away from interstates and enjoy and through valleys, and finally out lnto rolling farmland settled during the colonial era.
an Qutstanding ride.
The Great Kanawha River provides a wonderful backdrop fortravel as it hugs US 60 from its
VISITOR }NFORMATION headwaters at Gauley Bridge to south of Charleston. BeginningJUSt west of Kanawha Falls
www.wvtourism.com I 800.225.5982 and continuing to Cathedral Falls near Gauley Bridge, there are more than a dozen seasonal
waterfalls in fewer than five miles, all visible from the trail.
CAMPING INFORMATION
w!wv.wvstateparks.com I 800.225.5982 Hawks Nest State Park sprawls across the top of Gauley Mountain to the base of New
River Gorge. Called the "Grand Canyon of the East," New River Gorge is best seen from
Hawks Nest Park in Ansted. Take a short walk at Hawks Nest Roadside Park to the over-
look or stop at the lodge and enjoy dinner while perched above the gorge.
East of Hico, the Midland Trail curves through top-notch scenery as it crosses the highest polnt
on the trail-Big Sewell lvlountain at 3,170 feet. At Gauley Mountain, the twisty turns near
Chimney Corner are so sharp that travelers joke you can see your taillights in the rear view mir-
ror as you round the bends.
Since the 18th century, the wealthy have flocked to White Sulphur Springs for the leg-
endary curative powers of the area's springs. Visit The Greenbrier, a five-star resort and
home of the nation's oldest golf course. To the east, mountains melt into Greenbrier
Valley's rolling pastures, covered bridge, beautiful farms, and white steepled churches.
The trip ends 72 miles from the Blue Ridge Parkway.
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