Runs
Back of the Dragon
Intensity: 5 Distance: 225 miles Estimated Duration: 5hr 05min Zip down I-77 for 45 minutes ($4.25 toll-NO credit cards), traversing the East River Mountain tunnel, (one of only two land vehicular tunnels in the US to cross a state line) to reach the Bastian loop to Tazewell, VA. We’ll stop at the Back of the Dragon store before heading 32 miles south to Marion, VA on the Back of the Dragon (438 curves such as Rollercoaster, Ferrari Curve, Dragon’s Elbow, Cliff Hangar, Kudzu Curve, Dragon’s Wing and drive alongside scenic Hungry Mother Lake). The route crosses the Big Walker, Brushy and Clinch Mountains. Lunch in Marion will be at Moon Dog Cafe. Then we’ll return north, covering half of the Back of the Dragon again in the opposite direction before heading east to the Big Walker Country Store. Then return to Beckley via I-77 (another $4.25 toll-NO credit cards) traversing both the Big Walker and the East River Mountain tunnels. (Bastian Loop, Back of the Dragon, Demascus Wytheville Loop)
Summersville Run
Intensity: 4
Distance: 170 miles
Estimated Duration: 4hr 08min
We’ll head northeast out of Beckley with our first stop at the Glade Creek Grist Mill in Babcock State Park. This is said to be the most photographed spot in the state and has a restroom, gift shop, and lots of photo opportunities. We will then proceed north to the Summersville Dam with a quick 5 minute photo opportunity at Long Point on Summersville Lake before the dam. Once below the dam, you can view the power plant and the Gauley River Whitewater Raft Put-In. The fall drawdown of Summersville Lake creates 22 days of Class 5 whitewater rafting on the Gauley River, rated among the top 5 whitewater rivers in the world. The fall release of 12.5 billion gallons will drop the lake 70 feet for the winter. Leaving the dam, we are just 10 minutes from lunch at the Brownstone Mill. The place is cute, but tiny, so you will need to provide your lunch order the night before this run so they can be preparing it before our arrival. From Summersville, we’ll take curvy Hwy 20 south to I-64 for a 20 mile freeway return to the hotel. (Swampfox Run, The Old Tractor Run)
Mountain Lake
Intensity: 4
Distance: 197 miles
Estimated Duration: 4hr 30min
YOU HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE! Hearken back 35 years to the Silver Screen and Kellermans Mountain House where you had the Time of Your Life. We’ll head south to Princeton on curvy US 19 and take our first BIO break at the West Virginia Tourist Center where there is an abbreviated version of Tamarack Marketplace. US 460 will take us east along the New River past Pembroke, VA where we turn north for a photo opportunity at Clover Hollow Covered Bridge and then climb 2000 feet over seven miles arriving at Mountain Lake Lodge in Virginia. This is our lunch stop and there will be a little time for touring and shopping. After lunch, we descend 2000 feet over five miles to the New River and return to WV for a photo stop at Cook’s Old Mill, dating to 1796. We’ll travel along Indian Creek and the Greenbrier River to Hinton where the Bluestone and Greenbrier Rivers join the New, and then climb 2500 feet back to Beckley on Hwy 3. (Millionaires Playground Loop, Rocky Gap Ride, Seneca Trail, War Ridge Ride, Swampfox Run)
Paint Bank
Intensity: 4
Distance: 211 miles
Estimated Duration: 5hr 08min
We’ll head east out of Beckley through the region that mineral waters built and after a stop in Alderson, we’ll pass through Lewisburg, steeped in Civil War history and once named the coolest small town in America. Lewisburg has a Carnegie Hall, one of four in the world, built in 1902. Across the street is the Old Stone Presbyterian Church, built in 1796 and in continuous use for 227 years. Our route takes us through White Sulphur Springs, home of the Greenbrier Resort, built in 1778. As we turn south, we will pass two structures built entirely of coal – one of which is a private residence. We’ll pass by Sweet Springs Resort (1833), designed by Thomas Jefferson, which hosted the first five U.S. Presidents. Lunch is at the Swinging Bridge Restaurant in Paint Bank, VA. We might dine on the screened-in back porch overlooking Tingler’s Mill or in the ‘rustic lodge’ dining room. A little tamer road right after lunch so your food can settle, but then we’ll pick up the intensity for the return to Beckley. (Swampfox Run, War Ridge Ride, Hog Wild Ride)
The Devils Den
Intensity: 3
Distance: 184 miles
Estimated Duration: 4hr 41min
This westerly route will travel through coal country and make a stop at the Hatfield Cemetery (of the Hatfield-McCoy feud). Parking for eight cars is alongside the highway and those who wish can make the steep gravel climb to the cemetery. The most striking monument is the life-size statue of William Anderson “Devil Anse” Hatfield (1839-1921) created in Italy of Carrara marble. (I would not plan on this climb if the path is muddy from rain). Continuing on, we will drive west of Logan to the Dingess tunnel, built in 1892 as a railroad tunnel. We’ll take a drive through this one lane roadway, turn around and pass through again on our return to Logan for lunch. The highllght of the return is the 1600 foot descent down Bolt Mountain Road. (The Trail of Dragons, Millionaires Playground Loop, Broken Axle, The Outpost, Mountaineer Moonshiner, Bolt Mountain Loop)
Weldon’s Head of the Dragon
Intensity: 3
Distance: 195 miles
Estimated Duration: 4hr 59min
Head southeast on King Coal’s ‘Road to Nowhere’, the Coalfield Expressway, then south to Welch, (after passing the Itmann Company Store) where we enter the Head of the Dragon. MKC member Weldon Robinson learned to drive on these roads. He was born near Squire and went to school in War, Welch and Bluefield. Lunch will be in Bramwell at an old fashioned soda fountain that was a drugstore at the turn of the century (the 20th that is). Bramwell was home to 14 millionaires in the early 1900’s who made their fortunes in coal. This was the richest town in the country for it’s size. The Bramwell bank floated the largest Liberty Bond during World War 1. Locals didn’t look twice as the banks janitor trundled wheelbarow loads of payday cash down the street for train delivery to nearby mines. Fantastic coal seams eight to ten feet high began at Bramwell and extended for 48 miles as the Pocohontas Coal field. There were four major local mines, one of which produced 100,000 tons of coal annually. Fourteen passenger trains a day whistled into the wooden station. Miners earned $1.05 for a coal car that held 2 1/2 tons. A strong, efficient worker could load 4 1/2 cars a day. Return via curvy Hwy 10, passing the Lake Shawnee abandoned amusement park. (The Trail of Dragons, Head of the Dragon, Millionaires Playground Loop)
Claw of the Dragon
Intensity: 4
Distance: ~225 miles
Estimated Duration: ~6hrÂ
(Under Final Development) Zip down I-77 for 55 minutes ($4.25 toll-NO credit cards), traversing the East River Mountain tunnel, (one of only two land vehicular tunnels in the US to cross a state line) to reach the Bland loop (The Tailbone). We’ll make a stop at the Big Walker Country Store and then ride The Tailbone, Demascus Wytheville Loop and Creek Bottom Rides to lunch at Creek Bottom Brewing Company in Galax, VA. After lunch, we’ll wind north and west before the return to Beckley via I-77 (another $4.25 toll-NO credit cards) again traversing East River Mountain tunnel. (The Tailbone, Creek Bottom Rides, Floyd Live Music Rides)
