Back of the Dragon · VA-16

Virginia's own motorcycle road, one way: from Marion the route takes VA-16 north past Hungry Mother State Park and climbs over Walker, Brushy and Clinch mountains, one set of tight curves after another, before dropping into Tazewell, where the Back of the Dragon welcome center waits on Main Street. It's 33 miles. The curves are tight and keep coming, so this isn't a ride for new riders, and there are no services between the two towns: fuel up in Marion. The route stays in Virginia the whole way.

In 2012 the Virginia General Assembly named the stretch of VA-16 between Marion and Frog Level, in Tazewell County, the Back of the Dragon. Tourism and rider sources put it at about 32 miles and 438 curves over three mountains: Walker, Brushy and Clinch. The route starts in downtown Marion and leaves town past Hungry Mother State Park, one of the six state parks Virginia opened on the same day in June 1936, with a lake right beside the road and a visitor center lot a few steps off VA-16.

From there the road climbs Walker Mountain, drops into Rich Valley at Chatham Hill, then climbs Brushy and Clinch mountains one after the other before coming down to Tazewell, where the Back of the Dragon welcome center on Main Street has a shop and a kitchen. The curves are tight, there are long climbs and descents between them, and there's nothing in the middle: no fuel, no food, often no cell signal. Fuel up in Marion, ride it in the order the route gives, and leave it for another day if anyone in the group is new to mountain curves. It's a one-way route, all inside Virginia.