Best direction to ride the Back of The Dragon

ak85lp

ak85lp

(Paul)
Joined
Jul 12, 2009
Messages
331
Location
Franktown Ontario Canada
Bike
2018 VStrom 1000XA
I am going to ride this stretch of road in July and I wondered what the best direction is recommended for stopping at the lookouts? I heard if you go one way it might be hard to turn left across traffic to get to the lookout, so it would be best that the lookouts are on your right side.
Thanks
 
There's really only one look out spot I'm aware of, where you can see the dam. But, you can pull off on both sides.

Also, try not to do it on a Friday or Saturday... just way too much traffic and crazies. I just did that a couple weeks ago and even on a Thursday traffic was starting, I got there around 9am-ish.

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Deals gap

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ak85lp said:
Actually I was talking about the Back Of The Dragon, not the Tail. This one goes from Marion VA to Tazewell VA.
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There really is only one solution: ride it both ways. It's a completely different ride each way.

You might want to call and ask: (276) 979-4288

www.backofthedragon.com

Home - Back of the Dragon

A one of a kind motor enthusiast experience through the Appalachian Mountains in Southwest Virginia
www.backofthedragon.com www.backofthedragon.com
 
Going south I think the best overlook is on the left side and the traffic coming from the south-to-north has virtually no sight line around the left corner right there. Lots of scratch marks and gouges in the pavement there. Safest probably is northbound but ride it both ways if you have to choose.....
 
There are 2 pill offs. One at the tazwell end almost off the mountain but it still has a pretty good view. The other is at the top of the mountain at the marion end.. you will cross 3 mountains the marion overlook is on the first one past hungery mother park and the tazwell one is neer the bottom of the third one .
Another road thats a good ride is 58 from volney to damascus
PS
My campground is a 130 mile round trip
 
I have done the Tail and the Back. Still need to complete the Head, and the Claw !! CAt'
ps: don't forget to stop at the Dragon store in Tasewell,,, to pick up your pin.

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There is also the snake US421 where my campground is at. There are 489 curves in a 12 mile radius of the cross roads. The country store is a popular hangout.
 
tnbill said:
There is also the snake US421 where my campground is at. There are 489 curves in a 12 mile radius of the cross roads. The country store is a popular hangout.
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Hmm... I'm thinking SnakeSTOC... Mid-October?
 
I would definitely recommend starting your ride from the Tasewell end. Any overlooks will then be on your right hand side. My friend and I started from the marion end and agreed that the scenic views and the sight lines for hairpin corners would have been much better if we had done it the other way around.
 
finleysw said:
I would definitely recommend starting your ride from the Tasewell end. Any overlooks will then be on your right hand side. My friend and I started from the marion end and agreed that the scenic views and the sight lines for hairpin corners would have been much better if we had done it the other way around.
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Start at marion and go to the second overlook turn around and stop at tha other one than have lunch in marion
 
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