1
2
3
4
5
6
7General Description:
This ride features 6 miles of ridge riding along Barkers Ridge with the remainder following streams. There are three climbs. One up to Barkers Ridge, and two "huffers" South of route 60 as you go from one drainage system to another.
Milton to Ona: After a small climb leaving Milton, you follow Cty. 15 into and out of the Mill Creek drainage and at the 4.1 mile mark, you make a hard right onto Cty. 9. You have a gradual ascent for 1.5 miles and then a steep climb for the nest .5 miles to Dudley Gap where you make a left of Cty. 11 at 6.1 miles. You continue climbing at an easier gradient on Cty. 11 for 0.3 miles before topping out on Barkers Ridge. The next 6.2 miles is typical rolling ridge riding across Barkers Ridge. Elevation along the ridge varies between 900 and 1,000 feet, compared to around 600 feet for the stream valleys, At 12.3 miles you bare left onto Cty. 1 and begin the long descent from Barkers Ridge and follow Edmonds Branch to Howells Mill. Between Howells Mill and Ona you have a couple small climbs and at 20.3 miles you arrive at Ona. Be careful crossing U.S. route 60. The convience store at this location is the only public source of food and water on the route.
Ona to Milton: Continuing straight across U.S. route 60, you follow Cty. 29, ascending up Fudges Creek. You have a little bump to get over and then fairly easy ascent along Fudge Creek that gradually gets steeper as you near Susannah Church. At about 26 miles you begin a steep half mile climb, topping out at 960 feet. The descent has a couple VERY SHARP turns, so control your speed!. After the descent and a nice rollout, you make a right onto Cty. 47/1. After only 0.3 miles, you take a left onto Cty 47. One half mile after turning onto Cty 47 you begin a steep, twisting ascent of the last major climb of the day. Fortunately, this climb is only 0.3 miles long going from 700 Ft. to 850 Ft.. The descent also has a sharp turn in it, so control your speed. You have a very nice roll out along Trace Creek till you arrive at Balls Gap at 32.4 miles. Take a left onto Cty. 25, you have a little bump to go over and then you are in the valley formed by the Mud River. At 35.2 miles, you take a left before crossing the bridge and follow 25/2 along the Mud River for the next 4.5 miles, till you intersect Cty. 25 again. Taking a left on Cty. 25, you arriving back at the starting point in 0.9 miles.
