DAMASCUS, VA TO NEWPORT, VA – 149 miles

The MABDR starts in Damascus, a quaint town with less than 1000 residents. Pull into the small park next to the Damascus Old Mill Inn to see Laurel Creek dammed up to form a glass-like pool. From there you’ll ride east and encounter Chestnut Mountain Road with picturesque waterfalls.

As you meander through Jefferson National Forest and Mount Rogers National Recreation Area be mindful that the cinder-sized gravel tends to berm up on the center and shoulders of the road. This is a prelude to the roads ahead on the route.

Enjoy the twists and turns of Hurricane Road and take a detour to historic downtown Marion if you need to fuel up or choose to tour the historic quarter featuring buildings that are more than 200 years old. North of Marion, you’ll be jumping back and forth between narrow paved county roads and twisty mountain roads that swing from ridgeline to ridgeline. Wyrick Trail is an especially narrow two-track that balances atop any number of the area’s higher escarpments.

The Appalachian Trail crisscrosses the MABDR at numerous points. Stop by the Brushy Mountain Outpost, a small grill and market where hungry hikers and bikers restock. There are plenty of great camping options before reaching Newport.