VA 16 · Virginia
Back of the Dragon motorcycle ride
Back of the Dragon is the name riders and the towns along it gave to Virginia Route 16 between Marion and Tazewell. It crosses three mountains in about 32 miles, with tight switchbacks on each climb and quiet valley roads between them.
Distance
34 mi
Riding time
57 min
Lowest
2,010 ft
Highest
3,490 ft
Opens Marion to Tazewell in the MotoCurve planner on the Curvy style. Change the start to your home or hotel, then send it to the app for voice navigation.
Highlights
- Three separate mountain climbs, each with its own run of switchbacks.
- Much quieter than the Tail of the Dragon, with less traffic.
- The Back of the Dragon welcome center in Marion is a popular start.
Before you ride
- Gravel and debris collect in some of the tight turns, especially after rain.
- There is little in the way of services between the two towns.
When to ride
Open all year. Spring to fall is the riding season.
Questions
- How long is the Back of the Dragon?
- As MotoCurve routes it, Marion to Tazewell is about 34 miles, roughly 57 min of riding without stops.
- When can you ride the Back of the Dragon?
- Open all year. Spring to fall is the riding season.
- How high does the Back of the Dragon go?
- The route runs between about 2,010 and 3,490 feet above sea level.
- Can I get turn-by-turn directions for the Back of the Dragon?
- Yes. Open it in the free MotoCurve planner, change the start to your home or hotel, and send it to the MotoCurve app for voice navigation on Android or iPhone. You can also download the GPX for a Garmin or another GPS.
Put this road on your site
Riding club, blog or ride report? Paste this and your readers get a card of the Back of the Dragon that opens its map, GPX and directions. Free to use.
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Ride it from
Distance, time and elevation are measured on MotoCurve's own routing. See every road.