Rides: Route 211 and Thornton Gap

Click here to open a Microsoft MapPoint file with detailed route and directions for the Thornton Gap twisties. If you're heading out from Northern Virginia, you might want to reference the Fairfax to West Virginia Ride.

Background: United States Route 211 is the scenic gateway to the Shenandoah National Park and the fabled Shenandoah Valley. Originating in Warrenton, Virginia, Rt. 211 takes you through some of the most scenic countryside you'll encounter in one of the most beautiful parts of Virginia. You'll cross an expanse of rolling foot-hill countryside with pastures, cornfields, orchards and a growing crop of vineyards and wineries. Thornton was a big cheese in early Sperryville days. Nowdays his namesake provides the nexus to enter or exit Skyline Drive and the watershed marking the down-hill descent into the beautiful Shenandoah Valley.

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Driving Distance: The sportbike twisties run up the mountain won't last for more than 5 minutes, but what a 5 minutes it is. For the cruisers you can spend as long as you want cruising the countryside before heading home. We just run the front side of the mountain as you can get a good lean on without having to thrash it at 100 mph, unlike the backside of the mountain.
Difficulty: Hard. This is not territory for beginner riders on their brand new liter bikes. You need to have cornering experience and be well educated to really enjoy these twisties. As the route up the mountain is 2-lane, if you want you can adopt a more sedate approach and take it easy that's possible. You would be missing the real fun in getting the bike leaned over for some of the best sweeping corners on the East coast though. Turn around at the top and then blast back down again, be careful going into those sweepers on the way down. Remember: Worth noting that the first real right-hander going up the mountain is a major decreasing radius turn. It is infamous for catching out inexperienced riders who go in fast, then can't cope with the decreasing radius and run wide into oncoming traffic to leave nasty red smears on the road. Be smart and adjust your entry speed accordingly. If you "have a moment" entering a corner and you think you're going in too hot, force your head and eyes to look all the way through the turn, lean the bike harder and though you may be absolutely terrified, you will be surprised at what your bike can handle and you will make it around. Don't grab a handful of brake at the last minute - this is not a place to target-fixate on the inside bend on the way down. You have been warned.