Carroll County Loop

The residents in much of the country you'll cover on this ride have never seen a cyclist on their roads or anybody else who doesn't live in these parts, which are pretty remote even by Southwest Virginia standards. The Little River follows quietly for a few miles on route 787, then you'll climb gradually to the inaptly named town of Indian Valley, which is in fact on top of a high ridge. The Dugspur Deli Mart on Highway 221 is the only food stop you'll pass for many miles. Around mile 54 notice the former Longshoal post office, a white shack the size of a broom closet (and probably still in service until not all that long ago). After some fun decending and crossing some rickety bridges on Rt. 693, look to the left at the oddly slanted cliff formations hundreds of feet above the creek.

Distance: 99.0 mi.
Climbing Elevation: 10,913 ft.

Route Map (343KB)


Elevation Profile


Cue Sheet
Distances referenced from the Chapel
--- Head down Ellet Rd.
5.4 mi Turn Right on Ellet Rd. (723)
9.6 mi Turn Left on Cambria St.
10.0 mi Cross RR tracks and turn Right on Depot St.
10.9 mi Turn Left on Franklin St.
--- Franklin St. becomes Pilot Rd. (615) as you leave town.
15.6 mi Turn Right on Nolley Rd. (679)
17.3 mi Turn Right on Union Valley Rd. (669)
19.2 mi Cross Rt. 8 (stay straight)
23.8 mi Turn Left on Childress Rd. (693)
24.3 mi Turn Left on Indian Valley Rd. (787)
37.4 mi Top of Climb. Turn Right on Indian Valley P.O. Rd. (622)
44.0 mi Reach Junction of US 221 and Rt. 753.
Turn Right on Double Cabin Rd. (753)
50.7 mi Turn Right on Homestead Rd. (750)
53.5 mi Turn Right on Mitchell's Crossroad (752)
54.4 mi Turn Left on Windsong Rd. (751)
55.5 mi Turn Right on Sylvatus Smith Rd. (693)
74.4 mi Turn Right on Graysontown Rd. (693)
76.2 mi Turn Left on Dry Valley Rd. (787)
81.0 mi Turn Right on Lovely Mt. Dr. (664)
81.9 mi Turn Right on Tyler Ave. (Rt. 177)
82.0 mi Turn Left on Mudpike Rd. (600)
87.5 mi Veer Left on College St.
--- Cross 2 roads, then street bends left.
88.7 mi Turn Right on Depot St. and cross Franklin St.
89.6 mi Turn Left on Cambria St. and cross RR tracks
90.1 mi Turn Right on Ellet Rd. and follow back to town.
Note:
Be aware that Rt. 693 changes names frequently. From East to West: Childress Rd., Graysontown, Lead Mine, Julia Simpkins, Lead Mine(again), Farris Mines, and Sylvatus Smith Rd.