US 421 to Trade TN is scenic with light traffic. After you cross back into NC, US 321 will give you lots of opportunities to lean left and right. Please be aware of people towing boats and campers. There will be some moderate traffic depending on the time and day of week. You'll turn right on US 321 which is pretty technical but there are many views of the lake as you ride. Enjoy the view from of the lake as you cross the bridge. In Mountain City, TN, you will take Hwy 67 which is an excellent road leading to Watauga Lake. This is a good road with good curves and light traffic. VA 91 will take you from Saltville, VA south towards Mountain City, TN. The Gap is at the top and there's a pull off at the top of the mountain with an excellent view. VA 762 is the road that will take you across Skull Gap. There is excellent sight distance along most of the road but be aware of the truck pulling the horse trailer that may be traveling below the speed limit. That being said, be aware that VA 603 (Laurel Valley Road) runs through the middle of the Jefferson National Forest and there are several horse campgrounds there.
The first half of the loop is just for the pure enjoyment of riding with excellent scenery amid lots of sweepers with long lines of sight. This is a good loop of a moderate 175-mile length. The last leg is US 221, which crosses the New River near the Ashe County line, before returning you to West Jefferson. The portion of US 21 back into NC is an easy ride with lots of long sweepers. It’s worth stopping and enjoying the view. After the tunnel, you’ll climb the mountain and pass the Big Walker Mountain Lookout. On the return leg, you’ll ride US 52 through several small mining towns and will eventually end up riding parallel to I-77, including getting on the interstate to pass through the Big Walker Mountain tunnel. Be mindful that this a popular place for ATV’s which are road legal in WV. When you leave “downtown” Crumpler, stop at the Ashland Company Store for lunch. This Crumpler is actually a dead end but there is an excellent sign for your photo op. Who knew there were two Crumplers? This 260 mile ride offers an opportunity to pass over the "Back of the Dragon" in Virginia, but the final destination is the small community of Crumpler, WV. The final section through Laurel Springs has several opportunities to view the river as you pass with lots of long sweepers. The section through Todd has roads that also have no center lines but plenty of road width. Pie on the Mountain or The Old Orchard Creek General Store are excellent choices. NC 194 back to Lansing is an excellent road with some technical sections and some excellent sweepers. VA 743, going back into North Carolina, has no lines on the road in places but is of sufficient width.
Old Hwy 16 from Jefferson to the Virginia line is a technical road with light traffic. State Line Grocery also has a good restaurant for lunch.
There is fuel at the State Line Grocery just inside the Virginia state lane. This loop covers the still used rural post offices starting and ending in West Jefferson. Because Ashe County was so rural and transportation options were limited, there were many post offices in the county, many of which no longer exist. Our Post Office loop stays almost entirely in Ashe county but is 108 miles long. After visiting, you will truly understand why the Devil's Stairs is the hottest ride in the Coolest Corner. We hope that when visiting Ashe County, you will take the time to enjoy all that the North Carolina High Country has to offer, including our incredible motorcycle roads. When you rise, pick one of our alternative routes to ride and explore, including a local Post Office tour, or enjoy easy access to one of the many regional rides including The Snake and the Back of the Dragon. Spend the night relaxing with friends and family at one of our many different lodging options. Along the journey, you will see Sharp's Falls Dam, Worth Chapel, the Trade Tennessee Grist mill, Appalachian State University, and the tiny village of Todd, once the end of the line for the famous Virginia Creeper railroad.Īfter a great day riding, enjoy a wonderful meal at one of the many local restaurants. Weaving thru the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains and along the ancient New River, The Devil's Stairs has something for everyone. Are you looking for a motorcycle ride featuring great pavement, technical curves, light traffic, and beautiful mountain scenery? If so, check out The Devil's Stairs, located in Ashe County, the coolest corner of North Carolina!īased on a local folk tale, The Devil's Stairs is an approximately 80 mile ride starting and ending in West Jefferson, NC.