Author Topic: C&O Canal to Front Royal/Skyline  (Read 6521 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline gatlat

C&O Canal to Front Royal/Skyline
« on: March 04, 2009, 08:36:58 am »
This summer a friend and I will be riding from Pittsburgh to the Outer Banks.  I have the ACA maps for the relevant portion(s) of the Atlantic Coast and Trans Am route.

Initially we planned on riding the rails to trail from Pittsburgh to DC, which worked nicely because we could pick up the Atlantic Coast route in DC.  However, we have since decided that we want to include Skyline Drive in the trip. 

I see that from Hancock MD route 522 is a direct shot to Front Royal and the beginning of Skyline Drive.  Can anyone provide any insight as to how bike friendly 522 is?  Of course we all have different perceptions of what consititutes bike friendly, but I would love some opinions.  Traffic free cow path or certian death  ;) ?

Does anyone have any other route suggestions for reaching Front Royal from the C&O trail?  It doesn't have to be from Hancock MD, any trail head is fine.

Our intended overall route is:
Pittsburgh to Connelsville PA via back roads, picking up the Allegheny Passage rails to trail in Connellsville.
Take the rails to trail into MD (C&O Canal) as far as Hancock MD.
Roads from Hancock to Front Royal, VA and Skyline Drive
From the south end of Skyline we will follow the TransAm to Richmond, then the Atlantic Coast route to the Outer Banks.

Thanks for any information you can provide.

« Last Edit: March 05, 2009, 12:48:06 pm by gatlat »

Offline staehpj1

Re: Hancock MD to Front Royal/Skyline via 522?
« Reply #1 on: March 04, 2009, 09:08:24 am »
Can't comment on 522, but the TA to Richmond was nice enough.  Still, you might consider riding some or all of the BRP.

Maybe check out:
http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/TourDeTrails

Offline bikerben58

Re: C&O Canal to Front Royal/Skyline
« Reply #2 on: March 14, 2009, 04:52:49 pm »
Valley Rd fr Berkeley Springs to Winchester is a lovely stretch. Haven't ridden that far north on 522, but familiar with Virginia Piedmont. Traffic is ok in the region. I regularly ride 522 from Front Royal south. Drivers in VA are generally courteous, though their speed can be unnerving.