Northeast - Help! C&O to Front Royal(Skyline Drive)???

Hello all.

I am riding from Pittsburgh to the Outerbanks this summer, via Skyline drive. However, the one piece of the route that is missing is how to ride to Front Royal, VA from the north. I'll be on the C&O Canal, and need a way to ride south to Front Royal. Route 522 is a direct shot from Hancock MD, but I suspect it's not very bike friendly.

Does anyone have any suggestions? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Maybe you should cross the Potomac at Harpers Ferry and start out by going on US 340. There are about 8 miles of busy secondary road, especially through the Rt. 9 interchange (unfortunately no good way around this), and you want to avoid weekday rush hours and mid-day Saturday. But once you pass the Charles Town Races and Slots and head through downtown Charles Town, it isn't too bad. Try Google Maps new walking directions feature for a route from Harpers Ferry to Front Royal and it gives you quieter less traveled roads for all except the above-mentioned stretch.

I'd check in a few more places. The BF Southeast regional forum. The COTowpath group on Yahoo. Potomac Pedalers Touring Club (bikepptc.org). Also check some of the bike map sites (mapmyride, bikely) to see if someone's put together a route.

If you like long climbs (and fast descents - watch for deer and minivans!), you'll love Skyline Drive. Seriously - it's pretty scenery. Be aware water stops are limited - check the Park info pages to see what's open.

Shepherds town would be a better crossing. I don't know how 480 is to bike on, but that and Leetown Road will get you to Berryville, with a lot of side road alternates. I'm not fond of 340, but there are other good routes south.

Here's the route I'd take, but I can only vouch for south of Berryville
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2618066
Summerville, Pyletown, Red Gate, Milldale, Morgan Ferry and Happy Creek are a nice scenic route with not too many hills.
ps Happy Creek can get busy.

Shepherds town would be a better crossing. I don't know how 480 is to bike on, but that and Leetown Road will get you to Berryville, with a lot of side road alternates. I'm not fond of 340, but there are other good routes south.
I like that route better than mine - didn't realize that there is a bridge at Shepardstown.

I like that route better than mine - didn't realize that there is a bridge at Shepardstown.
Yep. You pass right under it. There is a steep road on the south side up to route 34 which was closed for construction last time I was there (about 3 years ago)

CC Rider (I dig the handle) and JCFlack, thank you for taking the time to provide some suggestions.

KS1g, thanks for the leads on other places to post. And yes, I love climbing. Our golden rule when deciding which way to turn is "when in doubt, go uphill".

Hadn't thought of crossing at Shepardstown. There is quite a climb from the C&O up to the Rt 34 bridge (I've driven it after a late fall snowstorm gave us a bit of a surprise on a Scouts camping trip to Antietam). If you check bikewashington.org, there is a ride through Antietam/Sharpsburg that starts about 10 miles upstream; you could take 34 back after getting an ice cream in town.

I took a quick check at bikely.com; searching for rides with Front Royal VA turned up several possible routes via Harpers Ferry, Point of Rocks, Leesburg, and Winchester. I have no 1st hand experience with them, but they looked reasonable. The same search also shows a number of rides down Skyline Dr, one way to get the elevation profile. Good luck!