Shenandoah National Park

Near Shenandoah NP

View from the Ridge

    Snaking 110 miles along the ridge through Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, Skyline Drive is an amazing ride for any fit cyclist. Always gradually climbing or descending, riding through the park is quite strenuous but not technical. The asphalt is smooth and clean throughout. Before summer traffic picks up, spring riding offers the same views without huge traffic; make sure to bring some extra layers though! The views are excellent!

    While Skyline Drive itself is great riding, the quiet valley roads provide a flatter alternative. Traveling out Skyline and back through the valley makes amazing loops (i.e. this ride). The surrounding mountains also make challenging climbing. Here is a ride across the valley up to West Virginia that included miles of gentle switchbacks to fly down - one of my favorite descents ever!





    The smaller ridges in the middle of Shenandoah Valley are also nice climbs. Fort Valley road between them is a lovely ride on a small country road. Here is a ride that made for a nice recovery day on my trip to the area.

Morning Light on Skyline Dr.

Climb to Skyline Dr.

    The roads coming up from the valley connecting at 1/3 and 2/3 through Skyline Drive are great riding as well. Fairly challenging climbs a couple miles long with average gradients up to 7%, these roads provide a stronger test than Skyline Dr. itself. Traffic is fairly fast but two lanes on the ascent give traffic plenty of room to move around. The descents are a little tighter so get in to your best tuck! Descending for nearly 20 minutes from the top of the ridge to the valley is quite the experience!


    Skyline drive and the Shenandoah valley make for some the best riding in the East. The Appalachian Trail also runs through Shenadoah NP if you're looking for some hiking. The quiet country roads nearby push the road riding here to the next level. Plus, cleaning off in this glacially-cold, crystal clear river was an amazing way to end the days' workouts!

GPS Files of Each Day's Ride:

Day One - 30 miles on country roads

Day Two - Beautiful climb in WV followed by a flat loop in country, 70 miles

Day Three - 90 mile loop through southernmost section of Skyline Dr.

Day Four - Out-and-back through the middle of Skyline, 11k ft over 93 miles

Day Five - 40 mile out-and-back rest day ride along creek with nice climb in the middle

Day Six - P2P 45 miles through the northernmost section of Skyline