The ride starts in Linville, NC at the intersection of 221/105 and finish at the Grandfather Mtn Highland Games at McRae Meadows..
-------------------------------------------------
***** Grizzly Full Metric Century ****
***** Half Grizzly (30 miles)******
DIRECTIONS LEG (Mi) Leg (Km) TOTAL KM Total Miles
--------------------------------------------- --------- --------- ---------- -----------
START AT LINVILLE AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT (221/105)
Hwy 181 Intersection (Linville Bypass) 0.7 1.13 1.1 0.682
TURN LEFT on Avery High School Rd (Rd 1370) 1.5 2.4 3.5 2.17
TURN RIGHT on Hwy 194 North 1 1.6 5.1 3.162
TURN LEFT on Spanish Oak Rd 0.4 0.6 5.7 3.534
…..UPHILL for several Km
…..Downhill; pass Cow Camp Rd on right
(DON'T turn onto Cow Camp Rd)
…..Just after Cow Camp Rd, BEAR RIGHT &
MERGE into Squirrel Creek Rd.
downhill (cont.)
…..Cemetery on right 6.2 10 15.7 9.734
TURN RIGHT on Hwy 19E (@Old Frank Store) 0.1 0.16 15.9 9.858
Enter Minneapolis, church & school on right 2.6 4.2 20.1 12.462
…..Uphill to Cranberry Gap
Belview at Cranberry Gap; Continue on 19E 0.9 1.4 21.5 13.33
Enter Cranberry 2 3.2 24.7 15.314
pass Cranberry House Retirement on left 0.7 1.1 25.8 15.996
TURN LEFT on Hwys 19E/194 toward Elk Park 0.4 0.6 6.4 16.368
TURN RIGHT on Hwy 194 towards Banner Elk 0.4 0.6 27 16.74
…..Begin section with dangerous curves 1 1.6 28.6 17.732
…..Bridge followed by old stores on left 1 1.6 30.2 18.724
TURN LEFt (just after stores) on Road 1308 @
green, Fall Creek Baptist Church sign 0.2 0.3 30.5 18.91
…..UPHILL climb
pass Corral and pond on left 0.8 1.3 31.8 19.716
…..UPHILL climb continues
pass Sam Eller Rd. on right 2.4 3.9 35.7 22.134
pass Falls Creek Baptist Church and Cemetery 1.1 1.8 37.5 23.25
…..Begin DOWNHILL
pass McGuire Cemetery on right and
prep for hard right (fast) turn
RIGHT TURN on Buckeye Rd. (Road 1312) 3.6 5.8 43.3 26.846
TURN RIGHT (Hard downhill right) on gravel 0.2 0.3 43.6 27.032
road leading to Ski Beech, Ball Field,
Buckeye Lake and Rec. Center
TURN LEFT toward Buckeye Recreation Center 2.4 3.9 47.5 29.45
pass Buckeye Rec Center on left 0.5 0.8 48.3 29.946
UPHILL climb continues for several Kms
BEAR RIGHT onto Pine Ridge Road 1.8 2.9 51.2 31.744
TURN LEFT onto Beech Mountain Parkway @ 1.5 2.4 53.6 33.232
STOP sign
pass Alpine Ski Center on right 0.8 1.3 54.9 34.038
FOLLOW hairpin Turn to RIGHT 0.4 0.6 55.5 34.41
pass Fred's General Mercantile on right 0.8 1.3 56.8 35.216
STEEP and Winding DOWNHILL coming up 0.3 0.5 57.3 35.526
STEEP & WINDING DOWNHILL
TURN LEFT on Hwy 194 (North) toward 3.2 5.1 62.4 38.688
downtown Banner Elk at STOP sign
TURN RIGHT following Hwy 194 @ traffic light 0.3 0.5 62.9 38.998
pass small lake on right ….and… 0.4 0.6 63.5 39.37
TURN RIGHT onto Road 1342
(Hickory Nut Gap Road at end of lake) 0.1 0.2 63.7 39.494
Begin modest UPHILL grade
pass Wildcat Lake on right 0.9 1.4 65.1 40.362
Crest (Gap) - Hickory Nut Gap 2.7 4.3 69.4 43.028
Begin winding downhill run
Enter Newland - Hickory Nut Gap Rd = Elk St. 4.3 6.9 76.3 47.306
Church on right; prepare to turn left
LEFT TURN onto Watauga St. 0.05 0.1 76.4 47.368
TURN LEFT on Hwy 184 across from Newland 0.55 0.9 77.3 47.926
Elementary School (towards Linville)
TURN RIGHT on Hwy 181 South/Hwy 221 3 4.8 82.1 50.902
pass Land Harbor Development on right 2.1 3.4 85.5 53.01
AT Pineola
TURN (Bear) LEFT on Hwy 181 (to Morganton) 0.8 1.3 86.8 53.816
TURN LEFT onto Blue Ridge Parkway entrance 1.7 2.7 89.5 55.49
(Christa's Store on right)
TURN LEFT onto Blue Ridge Parkway (North) 0.05 0.1 89.6 55.552
pass Beacon Heights parking area on right
watch for upcoming left turn
TURN LEFT on Blue Ridge Parkway exit ramp 7.05 11.3 100.9 62.558
TURN RIGHT on Hwy 221 South toward
Grandfather Mountain 0.2 0.3 101.2 62.744
pass Grandfather Mountain Entrance Gate 0.9 1.4 102.6 63.612
TURN RIGHT on access road 0.1 0.2 102.8 63.736
Ride down hill then up onto track and
TURN LEFT onto track for clockwise finish 103.2 63.984
=================================================================================================================
Start at Linville at Traffic Light
Follow Hwy 181 & turn LEFT at Avery HS Rd------------------------------2.8 miles total
TURN Right on Hwy 194 North
TURN LEFT on Spanish Oak Rd
Pass Cow Camp Rd on Right (Don’t turn)---------------------------------6.3 miles total
TURN LEFT at intersection Mount Pleasant/Squirrel Creek Rd-------------6.6 miles total
Follow Mount Pleasant to Crossnore City Limit
through town until you hit 221 N/194.
TURN LEFT on 221 North to Pineola intersection 221/181 South-----------12.6 miles total
BEAR LEFT onto 221 North to Stoplight.
TURN Right 221N/105 to Linville.
At Linville stoplight take a Right onto Lineville Ave. ----------------15.9 miles
Follow Lineville Ave until it ends at 221/181 South.
Turn LEFT onto 221 South/181 South
Follow 181 South to entrance on LEFT (Christa’s Store on Right) ------21 miles
TURN LEFT (North) on Blue Ridge Parkway toward Grandfather Mt.
Exit at 221 S Grandfather Mt. -----------------------------------------27.9 miles
At the bottom exit ramp turn RIGHT onto 221.
Pass Grandfather Mt. entrance Gate on Right
Turn into Gate 3
ride up paved hill to track entrance.
Enter track and turn LEFT (clockwise) to finish line.------------------30 miles total