Cycling Scenic West Virginia - Wikel Loop

General Description

This ride centers on the community of Greenville and could have been named the Greenville Loop, but you have to work so hard to get to Wikel, it seemed a more appropriate name. The high point of the ride is at Wikel. With the exception of the climb from route 122 to Wikel, riding the route in a clockwise direction is delightful. HOWEVER, you do have the climb to Wikel. From state 122, you climb 520 feet in the next 1.7 miles. That is an overall average of 5.7% grade, however, a mile of the climb averages over 11% with ramps up to 15%. But with the exception of this one climb, the rest of the route is easier in a clockwise direction.

Riding the route in a counter clockwise direction, you avoid the one long, steep climb to Wikel, but add some other short steep climbs getting to Wikel and also between Lillydale and Greenville.

Start: Riding in a clockwise direction, Greenville is a convenient place to start. I park at the old school house out Schoolhouse Road. Another place to start would be at the vocatonal-technical school on Co. 219/17 at the southern end of the loop.

Riding in a clockwise direction from Greenville, you start upgrade on state 122, but quickly bare left onto Co. 23/4. 23/4 is worn tar and chip surface, so be careful on any down hills. After 3.5 miles on 23/4 you come to the Lillydale covered bridge. After riding thru the bridge, you have an easy climb and then a steep descent to Lillydale (more a name on a map then a community). 23/4 merges into 219/11.

You take a sharp right onto 23/5 and you have smooth ride on good pavement downstream along Back Creek to state 122 again. Going left on 122, you pass the Creekside resort and take a right after 0.9 miles onto 23/7 Hunters Springs Road. You start out with a gentle climb before you hit the wall for the climb to Wikel. Continuing straight at the intersection at the top of the climb, you are then on Co. 219/17 and immediately begin what is primarily a descent all the way back to Greenville. Take time to enjoy some of the vistas as you descent from Wikel.

After passing the vocational technical school, you take a right past the old church onto Co.. 25. This is a beautiful road down the valley formed by Cooks Run. Taking a sharp right at the intersection of 23/3, you cross a medal deck bridge over Indian Creek for a final short climb up to Greenville. To the left at the end of the bridge, you can walk down to the old Cooks Mill.

This slides how follows the route in a clockwise direction

Items of Interest Along the Route

Cook's Old Mill is located on the route in Greenville. The mill is privately owned, but visitation of site is welcome if you don't litter.

Saltpeter Cave: One of Monroe County's geological features is Haynes Cave, a former saltpeter mine. Strange bones were discovered by the miners at the end of the 18th Century, and mailed to Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson's study of the animal, the Megalonyx jeffersonii was arguably the birth of American paleontology. It is now the official West Virginia state fossil. The cave is privately owned and has been gated to control the spread of white nose syndrome.

Water and Food

There is a convenience store in Greenville on state route 122.

Lodging and Camping

The Creekside Resort & Spa is on Route 122 along the route.

Monroe County Lodging
Camping is available at Bluestone State Park and the Bluestone Wildlife Management Area. Wildlife Management areas usually feature primitive camping.

Moncave Lake State Park has camping in the Eastern end of the county.

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.

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