Question Re: Smoke Hole Road in WV

[Scratch33]

I'm heading out WV this weekend for a little FUGAWI ride.  Looking at Mapquest, I see two apparently separate 'Smoke Hole' Roads running through Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area:

• The first Smoke Hole Rd. originates from Route 220 north; just before Jake Hill Rd.  It goes northward and appears to dead end just inside Grant Co.
• The second Smoke Hole Rd. is much longer and originates from Routes 28/55, west of Cabins.  It runs south, turns into Public Road 74, then Public Road 79, then appears to dead end as well.

Though both roads run parallel to each another at one point, Mapquest does not show them as connecting.

So which one is the famous Smoke Hole Road?

[garry]

There is just one Smoke Hole Rd. They really do connect in the middle. MapQuest does not reflect reality. Just follow the pavement and you can't get lost.

EDIT: here's a screenshot from DeLorme Topo USA 6.0 showing it correctly...

[Scratch33]

Thanks Garry; that wouldn't be the first time MapQuest got it wrong.

[vatrader01]

Hey, Garry, Thanks for this clarification. I've been trying to figure out where this road is for about 3 years, using on-line maps. I will be on that trail on Thursday now that you have clarified that it really does run through, and is paved. I've meant to ask at the store at Seneca Rock if they knew "which" Smoke Hole road ran all the way through. I wanted to know bad enough I was gonna buy a Dual Sport bike to go back in there and find out. Damn, there went my excuse to buy that bike. Actually, I'm real bent over what Dual Sport to get. KTM? BMW? KLR? AARRGGHH?  Never rode dirt bikes, so I have no experience there to draw from. There must be more than just paved roads....

[Mr Bill]

So which one is the famous Smoke Hole Road?

Street atlas shows it going through and Garmin don't.

Just follow the signs at the two intersections.

One way says "Dead End" don't go this way

Other way will say "To highway" go this way

I had fun on that road a coupla weeks ago.  Southern part can get narrow.  Some corners don't have good views around them, but....well lookey here

Northern section
http://billbrunell.com/PP%202007%20AUTO%20PLAY/dscf1278.avi

Southern section
http://billbrunell.com/PP%202007%20AUTO%20PLAY/dscf1277.avi

[sprint_st]

I went in search of Smoke Hole Rd about three weekends ago.  I had looked for it on three versions of Streets and Trips and MapSource. All had it wrong but DeLorme Topo 4 and 6 both had it right.  So did the WV state produced road map.  I went from South to North.  It did get better the further North you went but it was NOT a two lane road, maybe 1.5 or in places 1.75.  IMO, it's OK but if you want to push on it, have your effects in order.  I probably won't run it again because it's more of a distraction from other places.

[Corbeau]

I know I went on it during Scott's All-you-can-eat-buffet, 400+miles of twisties at the Nat'l in 06.

But dayum if I can recall exactly what it's like. I seem to recall a goat path going over/around a mountain, no yellow line in the middle of the questionable tarmacadam, and that fairly early in the day. Am I right?

[garry]

As Rod says, it's a narrow, occasionally dirty, road with lots of blind corners. Pavement is in very good shape for such a remote road, but there will be some bumpy sections. Not one to attack. Take it easy, enjoy the scenery...

[Scratch33]

Found & rode Smoke Hole Rd. last weekend along with a couple other nice roads; including Back Mountain Road (CR-1) that we started on in Edray on Route 219 and rode north & east up to Cass.

[luvtoride]

Smokehole is definitely one of my favorite roads... although not one to ride your extreme limits on. I have managed to squid thru there pretty well... for me, anyway. I'm no road racer.

IMO, this road is good ridden in either direction.

Heidi