Heart of Appalachia Bike Route

Wise County

The Heart of Appalachia Bike Route takes cyclists through some of the most beautiful mountain scenery in southwest Virginia. The Route is 128 miles of roads and trails in Tazewell, Bland, Russell and Wise counties providing a variety of terrain and surfaces, including paved and gravel roads, rail-trails and single-track side trips. The Heart of Appalachia route offers vistas of mountain valleys and a river crossing on a swinging suspension bridge. Since the ride uses both paved and unpaved secondary roads, experienced riders say that knobby tires on a road bike or hybrid tires on a mountain bike are preferred. Approach the Heart of Appalachia as a self-supported ride; there are few businesses along the way to provide supplies. Plan ahead, and stock up in the towns of Tazewell, Lebanon and St. Paul.