Bath County Motorcycle Rides & Scenic Drives Brochure

county of bath in the mountains of virginia

motorcycle Rides & scenic drives

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In this Guide: 4

Lodging, Dining, Other Things to Do

6

Eastern Highland & Bath County Loop

8

Midland Trail & Humpback Bridge Loop

10

Four County Scenic Loop

12

Goshen Pass & Downtown Lexington

14

Midland Trail – Lewisburg & Marlinton, West Virginia

Welcome Welcoming travelers is not new to Bath County. Even before the county existed, people made the journey to this region to soak in the natural mineral springs. The Homestead Resort opened here in 1766 and has hosted Presidents, celebrities and royalty ever since. Hospitality comes naturally to people in Bath County.

Centuries ago, people arrived on horseback or on a covered wagon.

Today, most travelers arrive via their favorite form of motorized transportation in search of great scenic drives. Bath County welcomes all visitors, especially motorcyclists.

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Discover Bath Real travelers know that the greatest rewards are always off the beaten path — less traffic, unspoiled landscapes and authentic small towns. Bath County has no interstate highways, no impersonal mega-malls and not a single stoplight in the entire county. That doesn’t mean it’s difficult to reach. In fact, if you’re a fan of the open road, you’ll probably agree that getting here is a pleasant and scenic drive.

Bath County is located in the mountains of Virginia west of the Shenandoah Valley. It’s about 90 minutes north of Roanoke and three hours west of Richmond. In the Allegheny Mountains along the West Virginia border, it’s a scenic drive you’ll never forget.

64

95

64

81

77

85

Motorcycle Rides & Scenic Drives

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Stay a While Explorers need a good nights sleep. Since you’ll probably be spending most of your days exploring the highways, byways and back roads of the region, be sure to pick the accommodations that suit your style so you’ll be refreshed when morning rolls around.

Lodging options range from campgrounds to a grand resort and plenty of choices in between. There are no chain hotels, but there are a couple of independent motels.

Bath County is home to lots of unique accommodations, including Bed & Breakfast Inns, working farms, rental cabins and more. Some feature historic buildings, and some offer breathtaking mountain views. All of them offer genuine Bath County hospitality. Of course, the Omni Homestead has been operating since 1766. It features exceptional service, great restaurants, a spa and plenty of other amenities.

See a full list of lodging options at DiscoverBath.com.

Check to see if any offer special packages for motorcyclists.

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Ride & Play Scenic drives through the mountains are a favorite pastime. During your stay, we hope you’ll enjoy some other adventures, including: · Hiking · Biking · Fishing · Paddling or Tubing · Golf · Arts, Music, Local Culture

Delicious Ways to Refuel The post-ride meal is an important part of the road trip experience. Dining in Bath County just might surprise you. If your preference is delicious home-made favorites like sandwiches, salads, pizza and country cooking, you’ll be in heaven. You’ll also find some exquisite fine dining with a farmto-table flair. Let our creative chefs prepare something special just for you.

Locally brewed craft beer is available in downtown Hot Springs.

The tap house is a fun place to relax. If you’re lucky, you might catch open mic night, a trivia contest or a local band.

Motorcycle Rides & Scenic Drives

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220

Eastern Highland & Bath County Loop Summary: This peaceful drive through the eastern portions of Highland and Bath Counties passes through several charming towns and includes sweeping vistas from the top of Warm Springs Mountain. The loop begins and ends in the Town of Warm Springs.

Hightown

220

250

Monterey WEST VIRGINIA

VIRGINIA

250

Jack Mountain

McDowell

Highland Wildlife Management Area

250

678

2

220

George Washington and Jefferson National Forest

HIGHL

Jackson RIver

AND C OUNTY BATH C OUNTY

Williamsville

Cowpasture RIver Fort Lewis

Legend: 625

1 39

3

1

Informational Gazebo

2

Hayfields Farm

3

Dan Ingalls Overlook

39

Warm Springs

6

39

Sounding Knob Fire Tower

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Dan Ingalls Overlook

Mileage:

Driving Time:

74 miles

1 hour, 49 minutes

Directions: Start at the informational gazebo on Route 220 near the junction with Route 39.

Head north on Route 220 to Monterey.

Turn right on Main Street (a.k.a. Route 250) east out of town.

Just at the top of Jack Mountain, you can turn off to hike to the Sounding Knob Fire Tower, or keep going east.

Turn south on Route 678. After 7 miles, you will pass the historic Hayfields Farm. The valley will begin to narrow as you travel the remaining 7 miles to the Bullpasture Gorge. Keep heading south across the Bath County line.

Continue on Route 678 and at the intersection with Old Plantation Way, it will turn into Route 625.

Make a slight right onto Route 629.

Turn right on Route 39 to head toward the top of Warm Springs Mountain, where you will encounter one of the region’s most Instagram-worthy spots — Dan Ingalls Overlook.

Continue on Route 39 to the junction of Route 220 in Warm Springs to complete the loop.

Motorcycle Rides & Scenic Drives

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Midland Trail & Humpback Bridge Loop Summary: This scenic drive begins and ends in Hot Springs. It passes through scenic portions of Bath and Alleghany Counties. It includes two of the regions most popular roadside attractions — Falling Spring Falls and Humpback Bridge.

WEST VIRGINIA VIRGINIA 687

615

220

Hot Springs 687

Lake Moomaw 220

BATH C OU

DOUTHAT STATE PARK

NTY HANY COUNT Y

ALLEG 687

1

641

600

Jackson River

George Washington and Jefferson National Forest Clifton Forge

Callaghan 600

3

2 60

Covington

Legend:

Moor Spring Falls 1 Low Falling

60

64

8

Selma

2

WestRock Paper Mill

3

Humpback Bridge

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Humpback Bridge

Mileage:

Driving Time:

96 miles

2 hours, 21 minutes

Directions: Head south on Route 220, also known as Sam Snead Highway.

After passing Falling Spring Falls on your right, continue south through hairpin turns as you cross Warm Springs Mountain.

After passing WestRock Paper Mill, turn right on East Riverside Street, which becomes West Riverside Street and intersects with South Monroe Avenue, also known as Route 60 The Midland Trail, in downtown Covington.

Turn right on Route 60, which promptly crosses over the Jackson River. In approximately five miles, you’ll pass historic Humpback Bridge, one of the great iconic structures of Virginia.

Continue on Route 60 The Midland Trail to Callaghan.

Turn right onto Route 600. The rest of the loop is on quiet back roads past farmland with nice views of the mountains.

Continue on Route 600 until it veers right onto Route 641. After approximately two miles, turn left on Route 687. This winding and scenic road offers occasional views of the Jackson River.

You will cross back into Bath County.

Turn right on Route 615, which becomes Main Street in Hot Springs, where the loop finishes at the junction of Main Street and Sam Snead Highway.

Motorcycle Rides & Scenic Drives

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Four County Scenic Loop Summary: This drive begins and ends in Warm Springs. It passes through portions of four Virginia counties and includes a ride through the breathtaking Goshen Pass. In the summer, people gather and swim in the Maury River in the pass. In the fall, the foliage is breathtaking.

WEST VIRGINIA

VIRGINIA

220

250

Monterey McDowell Highland Wildlife Management Area

220

HIGH LAND COUN TY BATH C OUNTY

250

George Washington and Jefferson National Forest

Jackson RIver

Warm Springs

1

39

RO C

Staunton

AU G

US TA KB CO RI UN DG TY EC OU GOSHEN NT Y

Millboro Springs

Cowpasture River

81

Rockbridge Baths

Millboro Goshen Wildlife Management Area

252

64

Longdale Furnace

39

Maury River Lexington

Buena Vista

10

Legend: 1

Informational Gazebo

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Goshen Pass

Mileage:

Driving Time:

135 miles

3 hours

Directions: Start at the Informational Gazebo on Route 39 near the Warm Springs Pools. Head east on Route 39, also known as Appalachian Waters Scenic Byway.

After passing through Millboro Springs and Millboro, you will enter Rockbridge County. Follow the signs as Route 39 passes through the town of Goshen before it begins running parallel to the Maury River as it cuts through Goshen Pass.

After passing through Rockbridge Baths, turn left on Route 252.

Continue for approximately 25 miles to the intersection with Route 250 on the outskirts of the charming City of Staunton – a great place for a meal or some sightseeing.

Head west on Route 250 through a portion of Augusta County and into Highland County.

Continue through the Town of McDowell to Monterey.

In downtown Monterey, turn left to head south on Route 220.

Route 220 is a scenic road that leads back into Bath County, where it becomes Sam Snead Highway. You’ll return to Warm Springs to complete the loop.

Motorcycle Rides & Scenic Drives

11

Goshen Pass & downtown Lexington Summary: The route begins and ends in Warm Springs. The drive begins just like the previous route, but after going through Goshen Pass, it turns south and passes through the historic town of Lexington, Virginia.

George Washington and Jefferson National Forest 1

AU G

US TA

2

CO UN

TY

39

Warm Springs

Millboro Springs GOSHEN

Cowpasture River

Millboro Rockbridge Baths

TY

39

BA TH

CO UN

42

Goshen Wildlife Management Area

Maury River

AL L C O EG UN HA T Y NY

64

3

Iron Gate

60

Longdale Furnace

5

11

4

Lexington

81 11

Legend:

BO TE

12

RO C

KB RI

TO DG UR EC TC OU OU NT NT Y Y

1

Informational Gazebo

2

Dan Ingalls Overlook

3

Virginia Horse Center

4

Virginia Military Institute

5

Washington & Lee University

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Downtown Lexington

Mileage:

Driving Time:

101 miles

2 hours, 6 minutes

Directions: Start at the Informational Gazebo on Route 39 near the Warm Springs Pools. Head east on Route 39, also known as Appalachian Waters Scenic Byway.

After passing through Millboro Springs and Millboro, you will enter Rockbridge County. Follows the signs as Route 39 passes through the town of Goshen before it begins running parallel to the Maury River as it cuts through Goshen Pass.

Pass through Rockbridge Baths and remain on Route 39. Just past the Virginia Horse Center, you’ll come to the intersection of Route 39 and Route 11. Turn right to go south on Route 11 for approximately 21/2 miles.

Exit to head west on Route 60 The Midland Trail, which passes through downtown Lexington, a charming town with great restaurants, shops, museums and the campuses of Washington & Lee University and Virginia Military Institute.

Proceed west on Route 60. Continue west as Route 60 merges onto I-64. Remain on I-64 west into Alleghany County. Take Exit 29, turn right at end of the ramp heading north on Route 42.

This scenic road offers some views of the Cowpasture River as it returns to Bath County.

Turn left on Route 39 and backtrack the first few miles of the journey past Dan Ingalls Overlook and back to the Informational Gazebo in Warm Springs.

Motorcycle Rides & Scenic Drives

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Midland Trail – Lewisburg & Marlinton, West Virginia Summary: The loop begins and ends in Hot Springs. It passes two favorite roadside attractions in Alleghany County – Falling Spring Falls and Humpback Bridge – before heading into West Virginia, where it includes the charming town of Lewisburg. The roads are scenic but very twisty as they climb mountains between West Virginia and Virginia.

POCAHONTAS COUNTY

Marlinton

WEST VIRGINIA VIRGINIA

39

39

WATOGA STATE PARK

GR E CO ENB UN RI TY ER

220

CALVIN PRICE STATE PARK

Warm Springs

219

Hot Springs

George Washington and Jefferson National Forest Lake Moomaw

GREENBRIER River

220

1 60

64

White Sulphur Springs

Jackson River 3

64

60

Callaghan Lewisburg

2 2

DOUTHAT STATE PARK

BATH COUN TY ALLEG COUNHTANY Y

Clifton Forge

Covington

60

Selma Low Moor

James River 219

RT

OE NR TY MOOUN G C AI TY CR UN CO

14

NY HA Y EGUNT L AL CO

OU Y Legend: ET NT T U

O O C 1 B Falling Spring Falls

2

WestRock Paper Mill

3

Humpback Bridge

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Falling Spring Falls

Mileage:

Driving Time:

126 miles

2 hours, 58 minutes

Directions: Head south on Route 220, also known as Sam Snead Highway.

Look for the roadside overlook at Falling Spring Falls.

Continue south through hairpin turns as you cross Warm Springs Mountain. After passing WestRock Paper Mill, turn right on East Riverside Street, which become West Riverside Street and intersects with South Monroe Avenue, also known as Route 60 The Midland Trail, in downtown Covington.

Turn right on Route 60, which promptly crosses over the Jackson River. In approximately five miles, you’ll pass historic Humpback Bridge, one of the great iconic structures of Virginia.

Continue on Route 60 The Midland Trail to Callaghan, where it merges with I-64 West. Stay on I-64 West into West Virginia.

Route 60 exits the interstate at Exit 181 and meanders through White Sulphur Springs on its way to Lewisburg. (NOTE: An alternative route is to stay on I-64 West to Exit 169 in Lewisburg.)

Turn right to go north on Route 219. Follow this scenic and winding road for approximately 41 miles to the town of Marlinton, WV. Turn right to go east on Route 39. In about 15 miles, you will cross the state line and enter Bath County, Virginia. Route 39 is a winding road through the mountains as it makes its way to Warm Springs.

At the junction of Route 39 and 220, turn right and return to the starting point in Hot Springs.

Motorcycle Rides & Scenic Drives

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county of bath in the mountains of virginia

motorcycle Rides & scenic drives

DiscoverBath.com · 540-839-7202 · 20M · 3-2022