Blue Ridge Parkway Trip – Day 6

Today we’re heading from Roanoke to Galax, VA. We had planned on overnighting in Roanoke and that worked out great because a section of the BRP near there was closed, so we had to jump off the Parkway and detour through Roanoke anyway.

Unexpected Benefit

We got off the BRP north of Roanoke and got back on south of the city. Our entry point was Bent Mountain. What a great ride getting from Roanoke, elevation of about 1000’, to Bent Mountain, elevation of 2600’. The 3-½ mile long sidewinder road going up was a blast to ride, with amazing views.

Weather Report

We were so lucky with weather while on the Parkway. Cool and clear with no rain. You should definitely explore average BRP weather conditions before planning your trip. It’s easy for parts of the Parkway to hit 80-90 degrees in the summer. That kind of heat, especially if there’s a lot of traffic, wouldn’t be much fun.

Lover’s Leap

We did a very nice side trip off the BRP to get to Lover’s Leap. With an elevation of almost 3000’ the view from Lover’s Leap is amazing. It’s a short run off the Parkway, and definitely worth seeing.

North to South, or Elsewhere?

As you’re planning your BRP trip, think about the direction you want to ride. We’re going north to south, and have been told a number of times that views to the south keep getting better. (Which proved to be true.) But you can ride it in either direction, or not ride it end to end but instead spend time off the Parkway exploring areas more intensely.

See the Entire Trip

From prepping to traveling, our entire BRP trip was documented. Check out all of our BRP videos.