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.

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.

WARM SPRINGS, VA TO MOOREFIELD, WV – 172 miles While in Warm Springs we recommend treating yourself to the crystal-clear water that bubbles up to the surface from deep underground. This healing water has been luring folks for generations. North of Warm Springs the dirt roads are far twistier than any previous ones you’ve confronted – you’ll be riding over mountains and ridgelines that seem to go on forever. If you’re up for a little added challenge, take the optional harder track on Hite Hollow Road and make your way to the Brandywine General Store for fuel. For the remainder of the section, enjoy riding ranges on flowing one-lane blacktop and constricted canyon-lined byways. Smoke Hole Canyon is especially thrilling given the pulsing South Branch of the Potomac River running beside it. Smoke Hole Caverns & Resort is a great place to rest for the night.

MOOREFIELD, WV TO SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV – 143 miles Most of this section is characterized by highly entertaining hours of narrow paved mountain trails. Atypical historic points of interest dot the route, like Horn Camp Schoolhouse. The family that owns this historic site lives to share the authentic structure and bygone experience with those who chance by. Another highlight is the Oldtown Toll Bridge, one of the last few private toll roads operating in the 50 states. Stop and pay the fee of $.50 to get to the other side. Further up the road lies the Oak Barrel Café and Grocery, a quaint throw back and place to fill up your tank and your belly. Stock up on camping provisions for an overnight stay at Antietam Creek Campground on the banks of the mighty Potomac. History buffs will want to visit Antietam National Battlefield in Sharpsburg, MD. This Civil War site witnessed the bloodiest single day in American military history. Be sure to visit the onsite museum.

SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV TO MT. HOLLY SPRINGS, PA – 119 miles Most of the roads you’ll ride in this section are paved and allow for ample time to visit Harpers Ferry, WV. A significant Union army camp, headquarters site, and logistical supply base during the Civil War, it also served as the largest surrender point of Confederate forces at that time. The town lies at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers, the meeting point of Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia. After you hop back on the bike, you’ll soon hit South Mountain Creamery, a worthwhile stop with wholesome and tasty food fresh from the Amish working farm located there. The remaining part of your day will be accentuated by a backdrop that morphs from thick groves of deciduous conifers to wide open rolling fields with bucolic small farms and sprawling cattle ranches. The canopy tightens once more upon entering Michaux State Forest, and the road regains a speedy, yet super flowy two-track. The town of Mt. Holly Springs lies at the end of this segment.

MT. HOLLY SPRINGS, PA TO MCVEYTOWN, PA – 102 miles On to Pennsylvania, the land of ‘Liberty, Virtue and Independence!’ The lay of the land in this state is similar to Virginia, with a collection of elevation changes from the ridgelines to the valleys a few thousand feet below. Pennsylvania utilizes smooth-as-a-drum rollers to compact its dirt roads after grading them, a welcome change from the days of dicey, gravel-ridden corners from earlier in the route. This area comprises all manner of outdoor recreation, including Tuscarora State Forest. Here you’ll find several named vista points, individual numbered campsites, and some small state parks with campgrounds. New Germantown is a particularly scenic village halfway along this segment. After more zigzagging roads, Section 6 eventually ends at McVeytown on the banks of the Juniata River.

MCVEYTOWN, PA TO HARTLETON, PA – 100 miles Travel back in time to when a horse and buggy were the only method of travel and life was simpler and less urgent. Small, quaint hamlets and extraordinarily well-kept farms and homesteads dot the Amish valleys as far as the eye can see. Make a stop at Greenwood Furnace State Park, and Greenwood Lake practically begs passersby to take a refreshing dip. Bonus, there are bathrooms and showers. Food options are sparse but Couch’s Grocery has some provisions just up the road. The ensuing dirt roads through Bald Eagle State Forest will snap you back to attention. The optional harder section on Poe Paddy Drive is highlighted by a steep descent complete with embedded rocks, ruts and switchbacks. Poe Paddy State Park is a welcome respite at the end of the slope and offers a lovely campground and picnic area. From there you’ll have another optional harder section or an easy gravel road on the way to the end of this section in Hartleton, PA.

HARTLETON, PA TO WATERVILLE, PA – 91 miles Welcome to the northern end of the MABDR and the southern edge of the Northeast Region. This area is home of legendary fall scenery that lures people from across the globe. An autumn trip yields groves of changing trees with almost surreal colors competing for attention with iconic covered bridges and fire-engine-red barns. Advanced riders will be glad to know there are two optional harder sections on this leg. Though short, they feature slender two-track through woods, punctuated with deep ruts and big rocks, which can be very challenging when wet or muddy. You’ll ride by several state parks, some of which have campgrounds. Near the end, the route passes through historic Woolrich, home of the famous Woolrich company. You’ll reach the end of the section in Waterville with a country store and reliable gas pumps.

WATERVILLE, PA TO NY BORDER – 97 miles The final stage of the route will transition from reality to memory all too soon as the state line of New York is less than 100 miles away. Midway through this final segment you’ll reach the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon, with viewpoints at Bradley Wales Overlook and Colton Point State Park on the west rim of Pine Creek Gorge. There is a popular campground at the rim and you’ll quickly see why. If you’d like to stay there, consider booking a reservation ahead of time. The final stretch is a pleasurable ride across dirt tracks and county paved roads. You will travel in and out of farmland and clusters of deciduous trees before ending your journey in the border town of Lawrenceville, PA with a requisite photo at the New York state sign.