TAKE A RIDE... ON THE WILD SIDE OF OUR APPALACHIAN BACKROADS
Over 1,500 miles of vetted byways climb to the edge of the horizon and descend thousands of feet to verdant valleys below. Connect to our Appalachian Backroads from the famed Back of the Dragon which boasts 3 mountains, 438 curves in 32 miles. Spurs off the main routes offer one-of-a-kind adventures that will keep you coming back for more!
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Our back roads span multi-lane highways to rolling rural roads with modest to moderate curves and straight-aways. Extraordinary vistas with breathtaking scenery will awaken the photographer, while the adventurer spies the next road less traveled. Cruise elevations to over 4,200 feet with the sun at your back ad a smile on your face... Yes!
ABOUT US... HOW ABR GOT ITS START
This project began as a collaborative effort between Southwestern Virginia and Eastern Kentucky as an economic development initiative. The mountains that once provided an economy based on coal now offer our region a chance to reinvent itself as a world-class tourism destination. Using our high-quality, scenic byways as a draw, we marketed the Appalachian Backroads to motorcycle enthusiasts, bringing tourism revenue to our charming towns and authentic attractions.
The pilot program was an instant success. The first edition of the Appalachian Backroads Motorcycle Map showcased select scenic roads winding through some of the most majestic vistas in the Eastern US. The initial coverage area recognized such positive economic impact that the initiative was expanded to include the entire Coalfield Region of Virginia.
So we set out to explore all of the Heart of Appalachia back roads, including Buchanan, Dickenson, Lee, Russell, Scott, Tazewell, and Wise Counties, as well as the City of Norton. Our goal was simple, identify and provide detailed information for motorcyclists and other visitors so they may make the most of their visit to the Heart of Appalachia. We've done that. As of June 2017, we've added nearly 1,000 more miles of curvy, scenic roads to our Backroads Crooked Ridin' map and challenge you to ride each and every one of them!
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