Cycling Scenic West Virginia - Monitor Loop

  • State Route 3
  • Neff Orchard Road
  • Charles Boothe Road
  • Givens Road
  • Givens Road
  • Stringtown RoadLooking SW toward Peters Mountain
  • Stringtown Road
State Route 31 Neff Orchard Road2 Charles Boothe Road3 Givens Road4 Givens Road5 Stringstown Road6 Stringtown Road7

Monitor Loop

Overview

Length: 16.8
Climbing: 1,200
Rating: 1.4
Climbing:Per Miles: 75 Ft.

This is a short little loop that goes around the karst plateau in central Monroe County. No climbs to speak of, but a constant rolling terrain still gives you 75 feet of climbing per mile. Like all the Monroe County rides, this one provides great pastoral scenery. This route can also be combined with Muddy Creek Mtn - Sinks Grove Loop, or Lewisburg-Sinks Grove-Blue Sulphur Springs Loop for additional miles.

Location: This ride is in central Monroe County. Start is the Vernon Church on U.S. 219, 1.5 miles north of the Rt. 3, 219 intersection in Pickaway.

PDF Map and Turn List

Facebook slide show of the route.

General Route Description

This route loops around the karst plateau in central Monroe County. With an altitude variance of only 308 feet, there are no significant climbs on the route. The worst climb is the steep 1/10 of a mile on Route 11 to the Hillsdale-Tollgate Road that starts from a stop sign. Through there are no major climbs, the route is far from flat, as the karst terrain is constantly rolling.
Traffic is light to moderate with the exception of 1.1 miles on U.S. 219, which it the major traffic route thru the county.
There are no stores along the route, but there is a store in Pickaway at the intersection of U.S. 219 and Rt. 3.

From start to Rt. 219. Leaving from the Vernon Church, you have 0.3 miles before making a left on Charles Boothe Rd. (219/4), a narrow country road, and immediately begin the rolling terrain that is featured on the route. After 0.8 miles, you take a right on Givens Rd. (11/1) and continue riding thru beautiful farm county. At the end of Givens Rd. you intersect the Hillsdale Rd. (11) and you make a right and begin a very steep climb from a standing start. After only 0.1 miles you reach the top and take a right on Tollgate (219/5). This section has some nice vistas before dropping down to the intersection with 219.

219 to Sinks Grove: After making the right onto Rt. 219, you have 0.8 miles on this major route where you can expect some traffic, before taking a left on Stringtown Rd. (3/6). Stringtown is a pleasant rolling ride with some pretty farms. Taking a left at the end of Stringtown Rd. onto State Rt. 3, you have one mile to the intersection with Cty. 5 in Sinks Grove. Rt. 3 is two lane road and you can expect moderate, but not heavy traffic.

Sinks Grove to Monitor: After taking the right onto Cty. 5 in Sinks Grove, you make another quick right just past the Bob and Bob store in "downtown" Sinks Grove onto the Nickols Mill Rd. (5/3). After 1.6 miles, you take a right onto Neff Orchard Rd. (5/1). This is a real pleasant section of the ride as you have some nice vistas, without a lot of climbing. You will pass around the Morgan Orchards, which is a good place to pick your fruit in season. Though the map indicates you are switching to different routes on this section, you are following the only paved road, until the intersection with Moore Rd (219/2) where you bare right for the last 0.4 miles to the finish.

Click on the route number in the window below and download GPX file from the right hand column of Bikemap.net route.

Route 1,995,127 - powered by www.bikemap.net

Food-Water Sources:
There are no stores along the route, but there is a convenience store in the middle of the loop in Pickaway at the intersection of Rt. 3 and Rt. 219.

Items of Interest Along the Route:

The karst terrain with the numerous sinkholes (see map) is the major geographical feature of the ride.

There are several beautiful old farm houses on the route..

The Morgan Orchard is a great place to buy or pick your own fruit in season.

Lodging and Camping

Monroe County Lodging
Camping is available close to the ride at Moncove Lake State Park.
Willow Bend Bed and Breakfast

Local Sources

Nearest Bike Shops:
Hill and Holler Bicycle Works,121 East Washington Street, Lewisburg, WV

Food - Water Sources: There are no stores directly on the rough, however, there is a convenience store within the circle of the route at the junction of Route 3 and U.S. 219 in Pickaway,

There are a couple restaurants in Union and in Alderson.

Disclaimer

The listing of routes on this site is not a guarantee of the safety of the route. Cycling has inherent risks and riders skills vary. Traffic conditions vary by time of day, season and local events. Road conditions can vary and change and may change dramatically over one winter season. Riders need to ride within their capabilities and be alert for road hazards and traffic at all times.

Copyright Notice:

This site, maps, photos and all materials created for this site are copyright of the author unless otherwise noted. They may NOT be posted on other sites or reproduced for sale or profit, without specific permission of the author. However, the maps and turn lists may be down loaded for personal, non profit use.

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