Serpent’s Revenge VA 691

The Serpent’s Revenge VA 691 is a hidden Blue Ridge motorcycle ride centered on Virginia Route 691, also known as Orchard Gap Road, in the Fancy Gap area of Southwest Virginia. The route climbs from the lower countryside toward the Blue Ridge Parkway at Orchard Gap, between Parkway mileposts 193 and 194, giving riders a concentrated dose of steep mountain pavement, tight curves and classic Virginia scenery. The Motorcycle Travel Network describes the route as running from the Fancy Gap area to the Blue Ridge Parkway, making it a perfect side adventure for riders already traveling the Parkway.

What makes Serpent’s Revenge live up to its name is the way VA 691 twists and coils its way up the mountain. The upper section of Orchard Gap Road climbs approximately 1,091 feet in only 2.8 miles, with an average grade of about 7.3%, creating a ride filled with elevation changes, sharp bends and technical sections that keep riders focused. It is the kind of mountain road where you work the handlebars, throttle and brakes from one corner to the next rather than simply cruising in a straight line.

The scenery is every bit as memorable as the pavement. Riders travel through thick hardwood forests, mountain farmland and Virginia orchard country, including the historic Levering Orchard area below the Parkway. A longtime local backroads guide describes the Orchard Gap area as having spectacular mountain views and some of the region’s oldest commercial orchards, giving this ride a character that feels distinctly different from the more heavily traveled motorcycle highways of the southern Appalachians.

Reaching the Blue Ridge Parkway at Orchard Gap provides the perfect finish—or beginning—to the Serpent’s Revenge. From there, riders can continue toward Fancy Gap, Meadows of Dan and the many overlooks and attractions along the Parkway, or turn around and attack VA 691 from the opposite direction for an entirely different experience. SerpentsRevenge691.com is part of the Motorcycle Travel Network and gives riders another great reason to leave the main highway, discover a lesser-known Virginia mountain road and experience how much excitement can be packed into one twisting stretch of Blue Ridge asphalt.

Travel Website Links

1. AppalachianTrailTravelGuide.com
2. AshevilleNCTravelGuide.com
3. BlueRidgeBNBInns.com
4. BlueRidgeCabinsOnline.com
5. BlueRidgeCampgrounds.com
6. BlueRidgeFestivals.com
7. BlueRidgeHikingTrails.com
8. BlueRidgeMountainLakes.com
9. BlueRidgeMountainLodging.com
10. BlueRidgeMountainOutdoors.com
11. BlueRidgeMountainRestaurants.com
12. BlueRidgeMountainTravel.com
13. BlueRidgeMountainWeddings.com
14. BlueRidgeParkwayOverlooks.com
15. BlueRidgeTravelGuides.com
16. GeorgiaBlueRidge.com
17. GreatSmokiesTravel.com
18. LakeWataugaTN.com
19. SkylineDriveOverlooks.com
20. WinterSkiCabins.com
21. BLUERIDGEONLINE.COM
22. BLUERIDGETRAVELNETWORK.com