Motor Routes Around Damascus

A busy springtime Saturday in downtown Damascus

Damascus, Virginia is a ride destination all on its own, as well as a popular waypoint on longer routes. Hit the brakes for a quick lunch in town or stop and stay awhile at your choice of lodging. Damascus has many miles of motor routes and scenic drives nearby.

US-421 The Snake

The most well-known ride in the area is US-421, better known as The Snake. The Shady Valley County Store, a popular pit stop, advertises “Three mountains, one valley, 489 curves.” Enjoy views of South Holston Lake, Shady Valley, and the surrounding countryside along the way. The highlight of the Snake? Pass through Backbone Rock, also known as “the world’s shortest tunnel.”

US-58 Mount Rogers Scenic Byway

The Mount Rogers Scenic Byway is a 30-mile route on a two-lane, paved scenic road through national forest, from Damascus to Volney. This route offers the easiest access to the high country of Mount Rogers National Recreation Area and passes several points of interest, including Straight Branch Falls, Beartree Lake, the Virginia Creeper Trail, historic Green Cove and Konnarock, and Grayson Highlands State Park.

FR-89 to Whitetop Mountain: the Highest Road in Virginia

FR-89 to Whitetop Mountain: the highest road in Virginia

To reach Whitetop Mountain, take a quick detour from the Mount Rogers Scenic Byway and follow the gravel of Forest Road 89, the highest road in the state of Virginia. Whitetop is the second highest peak in the state at 5,525 feet in elevation. On clear days, the summit provides panoramic views of three states – Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee. Whitetop is popular for sunsets, picnics, birding, and stargazing. If you’d like to stretch your legs, take the Appalachian Trail about a mile down to Buzzard Rock, the fourth highest peak in the state.

Mid-Atlantic Backcountry Discovery Route (MABDR)

For a dual-sport motorcycle adventure, check out the Mid-Atlantic BDR. Damascus is at the southern terminus of the route. From here, you can follow about 1,000 miles of forest roads, gravel, and rural country lanes to reach the New York-Pennsylvania state line.

South East Backcountry Discovery Route (SEBDR)

Just released in Spring 2025, the new South East BDR is the 14th route in the BDR series. This new route spans 1,300 miles from the Florida coast up to Damascus, where it connects with MABDR to complete the East Coast Trilogy, three interconnected BDRs from the Gulf of Mexico to the Canadian border.

The Crooked Road: Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail

Cruise along the 330 miles of The Crooked Road in Southwest Virginia and discover heritage music, from festivals and venues to history and education. The Crooked Road, Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail, connects nearly 70 music venues throughout Southwest Virginia. While music is its primary focus, you will also find outdoor recreation, museums, and history programs.

Virginia Bird and Wildlife Trail

Damascus is featured on two loops of the Bird and Wildlife Trail by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR): the Mount Rogers Loop and the South Holston Loop. This region offers a wide range of habitats which contribute to high biodiversity. Explore the back roads, scenic overlooks, forests, and waterways around Damascus and be on the lookout for flora and fauna.

Overmountain Victory Trail Commemorative Motor Route

Follow the 330-mile Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail, which traces the historic route of patriot militia in the Kings Mountain campaign of 1780. The Commemorative Motor Route uses existing state highways and features walkable points of interest along the way.

VA-16 Back of the Dragon

Make Damascus your basecamp and plan a day trip on the Back of the Dragon, with 32 miles, 438 curves, and 3500 feet of elevation. Route 16 crosses over three mountain ranges, Big Walker, Brushy, and Clinch, from Marion to Tazewell.

Historic Boone Trail Highway

The Boone Trail Highway project developed as auto route between 1917 and 1938, led by Joseph Hampton Rich of Mocksville, NC. Boone Trail Highway memorializes Daniel Boone, paired with promoting highway improvements, tourism, and patriotism. 358 historic markers were scattered between Virginia Beach and San Francisco. Made of cast iron metal from the battleship USS Maine, the markers were mounted on arrowhead-shaped stone monuments. Only about 115 of these markers remain. Damascus still has its historic marker, now located on the front wall of Town Hall. In the flood of 1977, the Damascus marker was washed away from its original location on Legion Island, then returned to Town Hall by a boy scout troop. Nearby, Abingdon, Virginia and Laurel Bloomery, Tennessee still have their markers on display as well. Nowadays, the Boone Trail Highway is less of a route and more of a scavenger hunt.

A scenic drive on Route 133 through Cherokee National Forest and the world’s shortest tunnel, Backbone Rock