Overall Route Rating
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4.67 out of 5 Rider Rating 4.67
24 Reviews

Motorcycle Route Author

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By Guest (0 McR Points) on Oct 31, 2004

Rider Reviews

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Guest
September 16, 2008
I live 5 miles from this road and have ridden it…
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Guest
August 11, 2010
Wonderful road to ride. Very little traffic,…
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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 (https://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.

Drive Enjoyment

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.

Tourism Opportunities

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.

Motorcycle Road Additional info

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

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SKCMPeters
April 3, 2020
30 McR Points
Motorcycle Type : Touring
Back of the Dragon is a hoot. Great ride
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totowrench
April 5, 2020
110 McR Points
Motorcycle Type : Touring
Awesome, road. Took from Tazewell down to Boone, NC
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PaulC
April 14, 2020
812 McR Points
Motorcycle Type : Touring
The lower part of this route, 32 miles between the quaint towns of Tazewell and Marion, is better known as the Back Of The Dragon. Wonderful windy, twisty roads make this a very enjoyable route. The turns are not quite as challenging as the Tail OF The Dragon. But the scenery is every bit as good - if not better. It is rumored there are between 260 and 438 turns, hairpins, sweepers, doglegs and so on.
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