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Great Roads Near Boone, Banner Elk, and Blowing Rock

Price: $5.00

• 500 miles of roads described
• 3 suggested loop rides
• Includes North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia
• A ride that makes Deals Gap seem a short hop in the woods
• 92 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway

As the Blue Ridge Parkway makes it's southern climb from Virginia into North Carolina, most travelers pass through this tri-state area without giving any thought to the vast areas which lie adjacent to it. Though the elevations are not as high as that which comes further south and the rocky jagged peaks of Virginia have been left behind, these rolling hills and high farmlands host some great riding for those willing to stray off the common path. I suppose because its the middle of the 469 mile Parkway ride, most people are focused on reaching either end. But for those who are looking to find the great mountain roads hidden in these hills, this maps leads you to them, and there are plenty to be found.

The 92 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway included on this map make up the central portion of that long ride where many choose to make their halfway stop for an evening. As this map will show, there are good reasons to take some time to explore the area before moving on. The western border of this map overlaps the eastern border of our map "The Best Rides North and South of Asheville, NC". Together, the two maps provide enough riding to fill a very full week and still have you wanting to come back and do the rides you didn't get to.

To make the most out of the hundreds of miles of great roads I've identified on this map, I put together three loop rides that direct you to some of the best of them, though you can easily combine or build more extensive rides on your own. One of the loops describes the areas adjacent to the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina. The second directs you to one of the most scenic and fun classic rides in North Carolina and Tennessee. The third loop leads you to some of the most exciting, beautiful, and technically challenging roads encompassing the junction of all three states, a ride that makes the famous Deals Gap seem just a short hop in the woods.

Scope: This map is bordered by I-40 in North Carolina in the south, and I-81 in Virginia in the northwestern corner. I-77 is not shown within the scope of this map, running north-south to the east. Because the area is bordered by Interstate highways on three sides, it is too often bypassed.

Significant Content: The Blue Ridge Parkway, Grandfather Mountain, Roan Mountain state Park, the Linn Cove Viaduct, and the Mt. Rogers National Recreation area.

Cities and Towns:
Virginia: Abingdon, Damascus, Troutdale, Bristol
Tennessee: Bristol, Elizabethton, Roan Mountain, Hampton, Mountain City
North Carolina: Lenoir, Morganton, Marion, Connelleys Springs, Rutherford College, Valdese, Drexel, Boone, Banner Elk, Blowing Rock, and Hickory, Nebo, Spruce Pine, Bakersville, Crossnore, Newland, Elk Park, Beech Mountain, Seven Devils, Sugar Mountain, Jefferson, West Jefferson, Lansing

Details: 11 x 17 inches. Full color. Printed on durable high quality coated paper. Heavy duty waterproof version available. Routes are indicated in red with large easy to read road labels. Good connecting routes are identified in blue. Points of interest, gas stations, arrows showing turns onto new roads, mileage between roads, and all major parks or forests are included. Route descriptions on the back of the map include time and distance to ride each route, and brief description of what to expect.

Adjoining Maps: "The Best Rides North and South of Asheville, NC"

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