explorers & ADVENTURES
Railroad Grade Road
Bicycle Ride
Pedal through history and beauty along the New River BY » Martin Rose Photography by » Martin Rose
Railroad Grade Road provides a scenic 22-mile trip for cyclists.
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ailroad Grade Road follows the South Fork of the New River 11 miles from Fleetwood to Todd, N.C. Tubing, kayaking and fishing attract many visitors to the area, but traveling the narrow road by bicycle is the reason we visit repeatedly and consider this one of the prettiest bicycle rides anywhere. Todd was once the southern terminus of the Virginia Creeper railroad line. The tracks have long been removed and the railroad bed converted to a paved road, but it’s fun to imagine the train traveling along the river as you ride. The railroad is not the area’s only claim to history. The river itself is said to be the second oldest in the world, behind the Nile River in Egypt. With headwaters in the North Carolina mountains, the “New” is the only river in the United States to flow north as 14 LimitlessMagOnline.com | June 2021
it winds through Virginia and West Virginia. The road is flat the entire length, meandering with the river through a series of twists and turns. You’ll pass homes, farms and fields. Bridges cross the New River frequently, giving riders a place to rest and soak in the views. The route is popular with cyclists year-round, rain or shine, so local drivers are used to watching for bicycles. Visitors may not be aware of bicycles so it is highly recommended that bikers wear helmets and bright-colored clothing.
Great for all skill levels
This is a great ride for seasoned riders and those who rarely ride a bike. Experienced cyclists can do a round trip of 22 miles one or more times while soaking in the area’s beauty. Less experienced cyclists can simply pedal a few miles, then turn around and backtrack to their car.
At one end of the route, Todd Mercantile is a nice place to shop, get drinks, local art and great bakery items. Try the cinnamon rolls! Midway on the route, Riverside Restaurant and Provisions has sandwiches, salads, hamburgers and hot dogs. If you don’t have a bicycle or way to haul it, RiverGirl Fishing in Todd rents bikes, tubes and kayaks. There are also bike shops in Boone: Magic Cycles rents mountain bikes and Boone Bike does services and repairs.
Go for the day or stay and play
Railroad Grade Road is less than two hours from the Lake Norman area so it’s an easy day trip. Boone and West Jefferson are each 20 minutes away so combining your bike ride with other mountain activities is easy. Scenic Blowing Rock also makes a great day trip. Parking can be an issue.
In Todd, two churches allow biker parking Monday – Saturday as long as they do not have events (no parking Sunday). There are limited public spaces near what was the Todd General Store (unfortunately the store burned in February and there will be rebuild activity this summer). Todd Island Park has parking but spots fill up fast in summer. At the Fleetwood end of Railroad Grade Road, there are two churches that typically allow biker parking, with restrictions. For more area information, visit the Todd Community Preservation Organization website at toddnc.org. Thanks to Todd resident and frequent cyclist Pam Kicklighter for assistance with this article. For more area information, visit the Todd Community Preservation Organization website at toddnc.org
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