Cycling Through a National Park Postcard

My Favorite Ride: Cycling the Blue Ridge Parkway

Waynesboro from the Blue Ridge Parkway

There are common conversations that occur in the van, no matter how different each riding group and person may be in experience, fitness, or interests. One of the most common discussions is about, "What's your favorite ride?"

The answer depends on whether the discussion is about touring or trails. When it comes to tours, it's difficult to choose because each one becomes a favorite for different reasons—scenery, camaraderie, challenge, history, or simply the timing in life when you experience it.

Yet whenever someone asks me that question, there is one tour that always comes to mind first: Shenandoah Blue Ridge Parkway Tour, originally offered by another tour operator, and now part of the portfolio for America Bicycle Journeys.  I wish I could do this ride every year.

While researching the tour as a rider, I came across this information and boy did it hit home:

"Make an honest evaluation of your abilities before beginning a bicycle trip on the Blue Ridge Parkway. In some sections, you will climb over one thousand feet in just a few miles." (source unknown)

That statement held true.  But don’t be deterred.  Use it as motivation.

The Blue Ridge Parkway is challenging. But what I ultimately discovered — and still believe — is that riding the Parkway feels like cycling through a national park postcard. Everywhere you look there are sweeping mountain vistas, layers of ridgelines stretching into the distance, wildflowers lining the roadside, morning fog hanging in the valleys, waterfalls tumbling through the trees, and some of the most rewarding roads a cyclist could ever experience.  Make it a tour, not a race, and it will be one of your best rides ever.

The Blue Ridge Parkway

The riding on the Blue Ridge Parkway is everything a cyclist hopes it will be.

Traffic is light. The pavement is well maintained. The climbs are steady and challenging, while the descents are exhilarating enough to make even experienced riders grin like a kid. Managed by the National Park Service, the Parkway stretches 469 miles along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains, connecting Shenandoah National Park in Virginia with Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina.

One of the things that makes the Parkway unique is what you won't find there. Commercial traffic is prohibited, there are no billboards, and development is carefully controlled. The speed limit is 45 mph, creating a calmer and more predictable riding environment than many public roads. Instead of trucks and busy intersections, riders encounter overlooks, historic sites, stone bridges, tunnels, and countless opportunities to stop and just take in a view.

The Parkway was built during the 1930s as part of a vision to connect two national parks while preserving the beauty of the Appalachian Mountains. Today it is one of the most visited units in the National Park System, attracting millions of visitors each year. Yet on a bicycle, particularly in the early morning hours, it can feel wonderfully quiet, remote and spiritual.

This particular tour was designed in a loop format, meaning we weren't packing up and moving every day. That allowed time to explore different sections of the Parkway and adjoining areas while enjoying a more relaxed touring rhythm, especially at the start of the day.

The riding experience itself was almost cathartic. There is a sense of peace that comes from settling into a long day on the bike, finding a comfortable cadence, and simply climbing. Over twelve days, we covered approximately 600 miles and more than 43,000 feet of elevation gain. While the mileage may seem modest compared to a cross-country ride, the climbing more than made up for it. Even "easy" days were over 2,500 feet of elevation gain—a significant challenge for someone who spends most of their riding time on Midwestern roads.

The Ride

The tour began near the northern terminus of the Blue Ridge Parkway in Waynesboro, Virginia, with Charlottesville serving as both our starting and ending point. From there, we traced some of the most scenic sections of the Parkway southward toward Roanoke and beyond.

Every day seemed to offer a different version of mountain beauty. Some mornings began with cool temperatures and wisps of fog drifting through the valleys below. Other days brought crystal-clear skies that revealed seemingly endless layers of mountains stretching toward the horizon. Pullouts with overlooks to marvel at the views became natural gathering points for riders to pause, share a snack, and trade stories about the ride.

For me, the crown jewel of the tour was the day to Peaks of Otter.

The route featured a memorable 13-mile climb that seemed to rise steadily through the mountains before delivering us to one of those peaceful overnight places that can sometimes happen on a tour. Nestled beneath Sharp Top Mountain, Peaks of Otter Lodge sits alongside Abbott Lake, surrounded by forest and mountain scenery.

The experience was especially memorable with the absence of modern distractions. There was no internet, no email, limited cell service, and no television – a no guilt disconnected day of riding and night of rest. There was time for conversations, mountain air, and the simple pleasure of sitting beside the lake. After dark, the stars emerge in remarkable numbers, reminding us the importance of stopping from time to time and to have a moment.

Peaks of Otter Lodge, Abbott Lake

All of the riding days on this tour were quiet and peaceful, but that particular day represented the pinnacle of the experience. When it's difficult to leave a place the next morning, you know you've found somewhere special.

And as with most great tours, the memories aren't solely about the scenery, the roads or the places you stay.  They're about the people.

The group wasn't my regular riding or touring crew, but neither were they strangers. We shared common cycling experiences, similar perspectives on adventure, and an appreciation for the unique privilege of spending twelve days exploring the mountains by bicycle.

Then there were all the people we met along the way. Whether in small-town diners, country stores, dining rooms of a lodge or along the road, we encountered the kind of care and hospitality for which the region is known. People were genuinely interested in where we had come from, where we were headed, what it was like to travel through the mountains on two wheels and if we needed anything.

Years later, when asked about my favorite tour, I still think of those roads, those climbs, those mountain vistas, and all the people along the Shenandoah Valley and Blue Ridge Parkway.

The SBRP is not the easiest ride. It may not even be the most famous. But, it remains one of the most beautiful, peaceful, and rewarding cycling experiences I've ever had.

Lisa Meester, co-owner

America Bicycle Journeys

Based in Fulton, Missouri

Offering supported, long distance bicycle tours, trail services for the Katy Trail and Rock Island Trail, and shuttle services for Missouri's premier mountain bike parks.

573.220.0806

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