Blue Ridge Parkway Detour Options

- around closed section: Mt Mitchell (Mile Post-355) to Bull Gap (Mile Post-375)

Heading NORTH – ignore D.O.T. detour signs

1) Leave Blue Ridge Parkway at Bull Gap - MP 375: left turn

2) Follow Ox Creek Rd, a tight curvy road, until it ends (4.7 miles) on Reems Creek Rd.

**Decision required**

Option A -Most direct, least interesting, Riding time 80 minutes to BRP north at MP-344

1) Turn left on Reems Creek Rd

2) Go 4.2 miles to end of road - Turn left on 25 south

3) Go .7 (7/10’s) of a mile - Turn right and follow signs to 19/23north–future 26west

(actually traveling north)

4) Go 12 miles take Exit 9 – 19E east to Burnsville

5) Go 25 miles - Turn right, Micaville, Turn right again after a short distance, follow signs for 80 south

Lunch options at 21 miles Turn left at light, several interesting local mom & pop options around

Burnsville town square, Plus fast food chains on either side of 19
6) Go 13.3 miles to Blue Ridge Parkway - Turn right just after passing under stone bridge
7) Turn right, BRP north, MP-344

Turn left: Mount Mitchell is 15 miles south on BRP, allow at least an hour

Following options should be avoided if you are not comfortable on tight curvy,

sometimes roughly paved roads

Option B

1) Turn right - go 2.3 miles to end of Reems Creek Rd

2) Turn left on Maney Branch -SR1003 (paved - ignore dirt road warning signs)

VERY tight curves; Maney Branch becomes Paint Fork at top of mountain

3) Go 4.9 miles to end of road

**Decision Required**
Option B-1 -Excellent ride if you don’t mind 4.2 miles of dirt road (State maintained 2 lane) in the

middle. Riding time 90 minutes to BRP north at MP-344

1) Turn right follow 197 north

2) Go 28 miles - Turn right on 19E east (first stop light you come to)

Lunch options - Turn left instead onto 19E west; turn right at the next stop light;

several interesting local mom & pop options around Burnsville town square,

Plus fast food chains on either side of Route 19
3) Go 4 miles on 19E east -Turn right, Micaville, follow signs for 80 south

4) Go 13.3 miles to Blue Ridge Parkway - Turn right just after passing under stone bridge
5) Turn right, BRP north, MP-344

Turn left: Mount Mitchell is 15 miles south on BRP, allow at least an hour

Option B-2 -Interesting ride; farms and plenty of rural WNC “architecture”, tight curves, some rough

Pavement, have not found a map that accurately represents these roads…follow instructions carefully

Riding time 95 minutes to BRP at MP-344

1) Turn left on 197 south (actually traveling west)

2) Go 1.8 miles - Turn right on to Holcombe Branch Rd -SR 1546 (D&D gas station on corner)

3) Go 3 miles - Turn right on Beech Glenn -SR1540

4) Go .6 (6/10’s) of a mile - Turn right on Paint Fork -SR 1530

5) Go 10.7 miles - Turn left at Stop sign on Prices Creek -SR 1121

(Paint Fork actually becomes Prices Creek a mile or so before Stop sign)

6) Go .3 (3/10’s) of a mile - Turn right on 19E east toward Burnsville

Lunch options at 4.3 miles turn left at light; several interesting local mom & pop options

around Burnsville town square, plus fast food chains on either side of 19

7) Go 9.5 miles - Turn right, Micaville, follow signs for 80 south

8) Go 13.3 miles to Blue Ridge Parkway - Turn right just after passing under stone bridge
9) Turn right, BRP north

Turn left: Mount Mitchell is 15 miles south on BRP, allow at least an hour

I’ve tried to be as clear & concise as possible with these directions. If you have any problems following

them PLEASE let me know at your earliest convenience. Suggestions to make them easier to follow

are WELCOME.

THANKS,

Gary

smma@mindspring.com or 828-658-0239

Smoky Mountain Motorcycle Adventures http://www.motorcycleadventuremap.com

Heading SOUTH - ignore D.O.T. detour signs

1) Leave the BRP at Rt. 80 MP-344

Mount Mitchell is 15 miles further south on BRP, allow at least an hour
2) Turn left on Rt. 80 north at the bottom of exit

3) Go 13.3 miles -Turn left at Stop sign in Micaville, after a short distance Turn left again on to 19E west

**Decision Required**

Option A-south - Most direct, least interesting, Riding time 80 minutes to BRP south at MP-375
1) Go 25 miles on 19E west – take 19/23south-future 26east…19E west basically turns into 19/23south

Lunch options at 4.2 miles - Turn right at light, several interesting local mom & pop options

around Burnsville town square, Plus fast food chains on either side of 19

2) Go 12 miles – take Exit #21- New Stock Road - turn left on New Stock Rd.

3) Go under overpass, at second red light - Turn left on to 25 north

4) Go .7 (7/10’s) of a mile – Turn right at red light on to Reems Creek

5) Go 4.2 miles – Turn right at BRP sign…just after Reems Creek Fire Dept…

just before Vance’s birth place

6) Follow Ox Creek Rd, a tight curvy road, until it ends (4.7 miles) at BRP MP-375

7) Turn right to continue south on BRP

Following options should be avoided if –

you are not comfortable on tight curvy, sometimes roughly paved roads

Option B-1south: Excellent ride if you don’t mind 4.2 miles of dirt road (State maintained 2 lane)

in the middle,

Riding time 90 minutes to BRP south at MP-375

1) Go 4 miles on 19E west – Turn left 197 south

Lunch options; Go 4.2 miles on 19E - Turn right, several interesting local mom & pop options

around Burnsville town square, Plus fast food chains on either side of Route 19
2) Go 28 miles on 197 south (watch for 197 signs at required turns) – Turn left Paint Fork

just after Barnardsville Fire Dept.

3) Go 4.9 miles, a tight curvy road, Paint Fork becomes Maney Branch at top of mountain

– Turn right on Reems Creek
4) Go 2.3 miles – Turn left at BRP sign…just after Vances birth place…

just before Reems Creek Fire Dept.
5) Follow Ox Creek Rd, a tight curvy road, until it ends (4.7 miles) at BRP MP-375
6) Turn right to continue south on BRP

Option B-2south - Interesting ride; farms and plenty of rural WNC “architecture”, tight curves,

some rough pavement,

have not found a map that accurately represents these roads…follow instructions carefully

Riding time 95 minutes to BRP at MP-375

1) Go 9.5 miles on 19E west – Turn left Prices Creek

Lunch options at 4.2 miles - turn right at light; several interesting local mom & pop options

around Burnsville town square, plus fast food chains on either side of 19
2) Go .3 (3/10’s) of a mile – Turn right staying on Prices Creek

3) Go 10.7 miles – Turn left on Beech Glenn -SR1540

along the way Prices Creek -SR 1121 becomes Paint Fork -SR 1530

4) Go .6 (6/10’s) of a mile – Turn left Holcombe Branch Rd -SR 1546

5) Go 3 miles – Turn left on 197 north (actually going east)

6) Go 1.8 miles – Turn right Paint Creek…just before Barnardsville Fire Dept.

7) Go 4.9 miles, a tight curvy road, Paint Fork becomes Maney Branch at top of mountain

– Turn right on Reems Creek
8) Go 2.3 miles – turn left at BRP sign…just after Vance’s birth place…

just before Reems Creek Fire Dept.
9) Follow Ox Creek Rd, a tight curvy road, until it ends (4.7 miles) at BRP MP-375

Turn right to continue south on BRP

I’ve tried to be as clear & concise as possible with these directions. If you have any problems following

them. PLEASE let me know at your earliest convenience. Suggestions to make them easier to follow

are WELCOME.

THANKS,

Gary

smma@mindspring.com or 828-658-0239

Smoky Mountain Motorcycle Adventures http://www.motorcycleadventuremap.com

Copyright Smoky Mountain Motorcycle Adventures 3/08