Johnson City Roundtrip The Southern Dozen Ride 01 The Snake Ride
This route was brought to you by:
RouteXpert René Plücken (MRA Master)
Last edit: 07-06-2025
Route Summary Each is an adventure in itself that takes you through winding bends, breathtaking natural landscapes, historical sites, local landmarks and fun attractions.
This is part 1 of the Southern Dozen, this 112 mile round trip featuring “The Snake Ride” with 489 turns, 3 mountains and 1 valley packed into 33 miles.
I rate this route 5 stars because of the beautiful scenery and winding roads through the mountains.
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Verdict
Duration
7h 34m
Mode of travel
Car or motorcycle
Distance
183.25 km
Countries
RouteXpert Review Whether you fancy exploring Bristol Caves, spotting wolves, visiting historic sites, leaning into some heart-pounding bends or simply enjoying the view, you'll find a ride to suit you.
This route is part 1 of the Southern Dozen and is a 112 mile ride that starts in Johnson City Virginia. It is a mix of beautiful winding roads through the mountains and rolling Virginia countryside. Along the way you will pass through several towns where you can plan a break.
Take “The Snake Ride” through the Tennessee mountains, through Stoney Creek and on into the bucolic Shady Valley, where you can plan a break and pick up some souvenirs at the US-421 Country Store.
It is said that “The Snake Ride” has 489 bends, 3 mountains, 1 valley packed into 33 miles!" The southern portion of the snake is not included in this route. We continue to the extraordinary Backbone Rock, with outcroppings, hiking trails and great photo opportunities. One of these is the Backbone Rock Waterfall, there is a small parking lot on the right side of the road from where you can take a nice photo of the Backbone Rock Tunnel, the shortest tunnel in the country.
Continue to Damascus, home of the Virginia Creeper Trail, where you can plan a lunch break. Through peaceful Mountain City, the drive continues along beautiful Watauga Lake.
We make a brief stop at Carter Mansion, the oldest standing frame house in Tennessee, dating back to the mid to late 1770s and built by John Carter and his son Landon, the Carter Mansion is located about three miles from Sycamore Shoals (our next stop).
The final stop is a visit to the Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area, which protects land that was the site of several important historical events that took place in the late 18th century. From here it is a 15-minute drive to the end point.
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Disclaimer
Use of this GPS route is at your own expense and risk. The route has been carefully composed and checked by a MyRoute-app accredited RouteXpert for use on TomTom, Garmin and MyRoute-app Navigation.
Changes may nevertheless have occurred due to changed circumstances, road diversions or seasonal closures. We therefore recommend checking each route before use.
Preferably use the route track in your navigation system. More information about the use of MyRoute-app can be found on the website under 'Community' or 'Academy'.
Changes may nevertheless have occurred due to changed circumstances, road diversions or seasonal closures. We therefore recommend checking each route before use.
Preferably use the route track in your navigation system. More information about the use of MyRoute-app can be found on the website under 'Community' or 'Academy'.
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