Little Creek Loop
By Chris Hall
Eggleston Springs, Little Creek, Big Walker Mountain, Wolf Creek, Mountain View
Begin and End in Maybrook VA at intersection of US 460 and CR 730 (Giles), 37.300 North, 80.559 West (14 miles from Blacksburg VA via US 460; 62 miles from Roanoke VA via I581, I81, VA 311, VA 42, US 460)
Length 117 miles
This loop includes a little bit of everything you love about southwest Virginia roads: tight narrow hilly swoopy stuff, real fast sweepers, creek valleys, and one good mountain pass.
Mile 0. Turn off of US 460 onto an immediate right-hander as CR 730 rises along the northern face of Spruce Run Mountain. This twisty road has lots of excellent curves, with the occasional gravel patch, the occasional aggressive Fido, and the occasional pick-it-up truck taking its half of the road down the middle. As always, caution is wise.
At Mile 2.2 you'll see CR 625 to the left. This narrow lane passes through farm country and eventually parallels the New River. Part of the road between Spruce Run and Norris Run is unpaved, but you can use this road to get back to the Blacksburg area, and to enjoy the New River up close.
At Mile 2.8, CR 772 (Sinking Creek Rd) descends to the right, eventually crossing Sinking Creek, and climbing back to US 460 near Hoges Chapel. This paved road is a nice alternative to CR 730.
Eggleston Springs is on the right at Mile 3.6. The dead-end road to the right will take you down to the small village. There used to be a resort hotel here, but it's long since gone back to nature.
Cross the New River after Eggleston Springs at about Mile 4. Slow down and enjoy the view of the river, where you'll often see canoers and wade fishermen enjoying this wonderful resource.
Just past the river is a turnoff to Eggleston on the right, a slightly larger community than Eggleston Springs. You can check it out now, but the end of this loop comes back through Eggleston, so be patient. There's also a turnoff to the left, CR 622 (River Rd). For dual-sporters, this road provides a nice alternative, as it follows the New River upstream, and leads to Bear Springs Rd and back to CR 630 near the metropolis of Trigg VA.
On the West side of the river, CR 730 alternates between relatively open farmland and forest. There are a few straights, but it's mostly curves, especially the last mile or so before this road reaches VA 100 near Staffordsville. Watch out for significant gravel in the tight righthanders along this stretch. At Mile 11.3, the road makes a sharp right detour along Big Walker Creek and then ends at the four-lane VA 100.
Make a left on VA 100 and after a mile or so the four-lane squeezes to two and swoops along the eastern end of Brushy Mt, then descends to the Big Walker Creek valley where there's a righthand turnoff to VA 42, leading to Bland VA. If you're trying to shorten this loop, one thing you can do is turn right here and pick up in Bland. But this section of VA 42 isn't nearly as much fun as its little brother to the south, Little Creek Road.
Mile 16. So, keep south on VA 100 another mile and a half to a right turn onto CR 601 (Little Creek Rd). There's a gas station and store near this intersection if you or your motorcycle are thirsty.
Little Creek Rd, following Little Walker Creek valley, seems to be a well-kept secret. I've ridden it many times and only once have I encountered other motorcyclists. It's about 31 miles from here to the road's end at US 52 north of Wytheville VA, and every mile is excellent. There are also several interesting side roads that connect Little Creek with other roads.
A fellow I met one day at the top of Big Walker Mountain told me that until about 5 years ago, Little Creek Rd was all unpaved. Well, it's paved now, and except for about three miles at the western edge of Pulaski County, it's all two-lane with painted lines. That three-mile stretch is a little narrower and a bit rougher, but still good pavement. You'll want to watch out for gravel in some of the turns. One of the best curves, a tight uphill righthander followed by a downhill lefthand sweeper, is almost always full of rocks big and small.
In Wythe County, you'll see several very nice homes, though you'll be loath to slow down enough to enjoy them. Another Wythe County specialty is the wooden one-lane bridge: there are six of them, and a couple of them are immediately followed by 90 degree lefthand curves. Also remember that wooden bridges are slippery when wet (but then, what isn't?).
Mile 43. Go under I-77, just south of the Walker Mountain Tunnel, and then at Mile 47, the road (now CR 717) ends at US 52, about 8 miles north of Wytheville. There are no facilities at this exit.
Mile 47. Turn right onto US 52 and immediately begin to ascend Big Walker Mountain on the well-maintained, smooth, wide, switchbacks. At the top, you'll be tempted to turn around, descend and do it all again. Go ahead, we'll wait for you at the Big Walker General Store at the top.
Mile 51. Big Walker Mountain is about 3800 feet. This place used to be a popular tourist destination when US 52 was the main thoroughfare from Chicago to the Carolinas, but the interstate system changed all that. The old store was cooler than the current version, but it had years to develop before it burned to the ground a couple of years ago. If we all patronize the new store, perhaps one day it'll be as cool. In any case, it's a nice place to stop, enjoy the view and discuss what a wonderful ride you're having. No gas here. I believe the nearest gas is at the US 52/I-77 intersection near Bland. You'll be there soon enough.
Leave the parking lot and take the little road to the left, CR 621. Alternatively, you could take US 52 north, but you might just enjoy this narrow twisty alternative. CR 621 has no painted lines, but the pavement is good and I've rarely had gravel problems here. It descends to VA 42 near Sharon Springs. If you're on a dual-sport, you could turn left then right onto CR 623 to take the southern entrance to Burke's Garden. If you've got the time, you can add a 10-mile round trip to Ceres VA to visit the Lutheran Church and admire the many intricately carved headstones in its cemetery.
Mile 54. Turn right on VA 42 and in 5 miles merge with US 52 north. Another 4 miles gets you to the US 52 exit on I-77, where you can find gas and other goodies before continuing on US 52 through Bland, Bastian, and Hicksville before reaching Rocky Gap. You'll be riding approximately parallel to I-77, and you'll likely have the road to yourself.
Mile 76. Turn right on VA 61. Well, for that matter, you could turn left and have some fun too, as the first few miles of VA 61 west of Rocky Gap are a blast. And if you wanted to see Burke's Garden but didn't take that dirt road in the south way, you can follow VA 61 20 miles to the west, then take CR 623 (paved at this end) 8 miles into the highest valley in Virginia, known there as God's Country.
In Rocky Gap, there's a couple of gas stations, and the right turn onto Wolf Creek Rd (VA 61). You can also explore the dead end road 665 going south, or take 598 up over East River Mountain to the scenic overlook at the VA/WV state line. There are facilities there, as well as a beautiful view of the WV mountains and the Bluefield K-Mart.
If you have never ridden Wolf Creek Road, you're in for a special treat. Can you say "Simon Says Sweet Fast Sweepers"? Three times? Real fast? Sure you can. And that's what Wolf Creek Road is: 20 miles of level sweepers, with a couple of straightaways, and almost always in sight of the creek. There are numerous intersections with Old Wolf Creek Road, and if you can make yourself slow down enough to make those turns, you'll enjoy the diversions.
Mile 97. Narrows VA is named after the rapids on the New River, caused by the inflow of Wolf Creek. The speed limit goes from 55 to 25 when you reach the outskirts of town. I've never gotten a ticket, but then I usually slow down to 25. I have seen sheriffs and troopers in Narrows. There's a nice restaurant here, Anna's, that does lunch and an excellent dinner buffet. No breakfast though.
Here you can get onto US 460 if you're in a hurry, or you can follow VA 100 the 7 miles to CR 622 (Mile 104), a narrow lane that climbs up to the small community of Mountain View. On a clear day you can see far-away places with strange-sounding names. This road starts off as Broad Hollow Rd and becomes Guinea Mountain Rd, and ends in Eggleston, where you were a few hours ago. Enjoy the town and the views of the river, then turn left onto CR 730 (Mile 113) and follow the remaining 4 miles of CR 730 back to US 460.
If you started in Blacksburg, you've got 14 miles to go to get home. If you started in Roanoke and are going back via VA 42 and VA 311, you've got 62 miles, but if you take US 460 and I-81, you can cut that to 53 miles.