NEWPORT, VA TO WARM SPRINGS, VA – 113 miles

Soon after leaving Newport, the route passes by the iconic Mountain Lake Lodge, the site of the beloved movie Dirty Dancing. Continue north toward the West Virginia state line atop lush tree lined dirt roads.

Now in West Virginia, look for the Potts Valley Rail Trail that overlays an abandoned corridor of the Norfolk and Western Branch Railroad. This 4.5 mile hiking (and mountain biking) route is popular with outdoor buffs and historic train enthusiasts. Soon the roads lead back into Virginia.

Tub Run Road, a highlight of the MABDR, is a slim and slightly technical dirt and gravel road with countless twists and turns. Red Brush Road is drier and brighter than Tub Run, but marked by ruts that require undivided attention. And just like that, you’re smack dab in the middle of the George Washington National Forest, which, combined with Jefferson National Forest, means you’re about to savor the largest swath of public land in the Eastern U.S.

There are numerous camping opportunities in the area as well as fuel and lodging options in Covington before the final stretch of this section to charming Warm Springs.