Fort Valley & Thornton Gap

The hidden valley of the Massanutten and Thornton Gap, one way: from Waterlick the route runs Fort Valley Road through the valley inside Massanutten Mountain to Camp Roosevelt, climbs VA-675 over the ridge to Luray, and crosses the Blue Ridge on US-211 at Thornton Gap to finish in Sperryville. It's 48 miles. It passes the Skyline Drive entrance without going in, so there's no park fee. Expect gravel in the mountain curves, and stay off the Massanutten's forest roads, which are dirt.

Fort Valley is a long valley closed in by the two ridges of Massanutten Mountain, in the George Washington National Forest. From Waterlick the route runs Fort Valley Road south along Passage Creek past the Elizabeth Furnace recreation area and through the valley's farms to Camp Roosevelt: on April 17, 1933 it became the first Civilian Conservation Corps camp in the country, and today it's a forest campground and picnic area where the foundations of the old camp can still be seen.

From Camp Roosevelt the route climbs VA-675 over the ridge and drops to Luray, then takes US-211 east up the Blue Ridge to Thornton Gap. It passes the Skyline Drive entrance without going in, so there's no park fee, and comes down the other side to Sperryville. Expect gravel on the mountain curves of VA-675 and a very tight bend after the overlook, and stay off the Massanutten's forest roads, which are dirt. Police patrol US-211 at Thornton Gap closely. It's a one-way route.