Virginia's State Route 16

Motorcycle Roads & Rides > Routes > United States > Virginia
Motorcycle Roads & Rides > Routes > United States > West Virginia

Average Rating - This road has been rated by 8 visitors

State: West Virginia
Date Submitted: November 1, 2004
Submitted by: Dan Robinette
Motorcycle Road Length: 57 Miles

Written Directions

Exit 45 on Interstate 81 in Virginia puts you right on route 16 and in the town of Marion, VA. From here you simply go north on route 16 which turns north off of U.S.11 as you follow it north out of Marion and is an awesome road. Take it about 35 miles all the way up to the town of Stony Ridge. Continue on into West Virginia and check out The Berwind Lake Public Park (http://www.berwindlake.com/recreation.html) from about that point on Route 16 really snakes along as it hugs the river and takes you into the Route's end point in Yukon, WV.

If you liked that route, you also could start at Marion and go south and you will ride about 30 miles to the state line of North Carolina ... good ride but not as good as going north out of Marion on 16.

Scenery

Awesome mountains and countryside, 2 state parks, Hungry Mother State Park to the north of Marion, VA at exit 45 on I-81 and Grayson Highlands State Park to the south on 16 at exit 45 on I-81 towards North Carolina. North from Marion takes you to Tazewell, VA which is very near Burke's Garden.

Road Quality

From Marion, VA. north on 16 the pavement is well kept and smooth with some awesome scenery and plenty of twists and turns as you cross 3 mountains into Tazewell, VA. If you take 16 south from Marion, VA. at exit 45 off I-81 the road is scenic but not as twisty as the northern route out of Marion.

Roadside Amenities

At Marion you will find the usual fair of chain restaurants and some local mom n pop places too. South on 16 there is not much till you get near the town of Mouth of Wilson near the North Carolina line. Going north after you leave Marion there is nothing until you reach Frog Level just outside of Tazewell, VA.

Additional Info

- View the weather forecast for this area from Yahoo weather .

Nickname (optional) Dan Robinette

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Reviewed by Guest on September 16, 2008 (2 out of 2 members found this review useful.)
Creator: Ken
motorcycle_year: 2003
motorcycle_make: BMW
motorcycle_type: Cruiser
Comment: I live 5 miles from this road and have ridden it for many years. The best part is the 32 miles from Marion, VA to Tazewell, VA. It is over 3 mountains, very curvy (15 mph posted curves), little traffic and beautiful.
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Reviewed by Guest on August 11, 2010 (1 out of 1 members found this review useful.)
Creator: Allan
motorcycle_year: 1999
motorcycle_make: Honda
motorcycle_type: Cruiser
Comment: Wonderful road to ride. Very little traffic, decent speed limit, no LEO. Rode this a few days before the "Tail Of The Dragon" and liked this better. Certainly not well known, but well worth the ride. Very technical and incredible scenery, if you can take your eyes off the next corner long enough to look around.
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Reviewed by Ridden on October 7, 2011 (0 out of 0 members found this review useful.)
Creator: Ridden
motorcycle_year: 2004
motorcycle_make: BMW
motorcycle_type: Standard
Comment: I've been riding this road for the past eight years and it's been a great little secret. Until 2011. The Tazewell Dept. of Tourism decided that they should get the same recognition as the "Dragon" so they've been plugging it to get lots of MC tourists. That's going to crowd the road, increase accidents and add heavy LEO patrolling. Too bad. I usually make an annual trip to go camping with friends from all over the eastern half of the US in Hungry Mother state park. We just try to avoid the "Back of the dragon" rally weekends... Great road although some sections were getting a little rough. Views are incredibly distracting...try to ride it before the squids ruin the secrecy of the area...
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Reviewed by Guest on April 24, 2011 (0 out of 0 members found this review useful.)
Creator: Wayne J
motorcycle_year: 2004
motorcycle_make: Suzuki
motorcycle_type: Cruiser
Comment: Very nice ride, beautiful scenery. Just be careful not to drag the frame on those larger cruisers :)
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Reviewed by Guest on October 31, 2009 (0 out of 0 members found this review useful.)
Creator: Frank Papovich
motorcycle_year: 1999
motorcycle_make: BMW
motorcycle_type: Sport-Touring
Comment: One of the very best roads in Virginia/NC highlands. Worth going out of your way to ride.
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Reviewed by Guest on July 24, 2009 (0 out of 0 members found this review useful.)
Creator: Don Hester
motorcycle_year: 1990
motorcycle_make: BMW
motorcycle_type: Touring
Comment: 11 mi. west of Hwy. 16 we ate at The Pit - great food, service and conversation with owner. Then headed to the fantastic roads and scenery of this route. We would recommend it to anyone who wants the combination of peaceful views with a challenging ride. Would definitely visit this area of the Country again!
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Reviewed by Guest on June 10, 2009 (0 out of 0 members found this review useful.)
Creator: Jef Verhelst
motorcycle_year: 2009
motorcycle_make: Harley-Davidson
motorcycle_type: Touring
Comment: Awesome, beautifull ride, stopped for lunch in a country restaurant we had a group of 5 bikes. Rode from Fancy Gap to Galax, Independence, Mouth of wilson, Marion to Tazewell. We cut it short and took 42 East (beautiful ride) to 52, picked up I&& and south back to Fancy Gap. A must ride, take it slow lots of curves
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Reviewed by Guest on March 18, 2009 (0 out of 0 members found this review useful.)
Creator: Mike
motorcycle_year: 2007
motorcycle_make: Harley-Davidson
motorcycle_type: Cruiser
Comment: To me this is better that the Dragon, road is much better, scenic, three mtns, longer, less traffic and great fun. If you enjoy roads like 129 @ Deals Gap and Shady Valley 421 you should really enjoy route 16. I normally ride this on Sundays to from Tazewell Va to Marion Va. stop at the sonic and head back. Lots of fun.
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