Starting from the National Radio Observatory visitors center, this route meanders through Deer Creek Valley, offering fantastic views over neighboring farmland to the mountains west and east of town. The rolling terrain is perfect for pacelining, but the scenery will beg you to take your time. Near the end of the ride, the route slips in through the seldom-used back gate of the NRO for an up-close tour of the telescopes. Back at the visitors center, hungry cyclists will find refuge in the cafeteria and snack bar, while curious ones will find a dearth of artifacts and educational displays about the history and science of radio astronomy.
-Mapped by David Orlando
Position Format:
Datum:
Tracks
Green Bank, WV: National Radio Observatory
Distance: 25.55 mi
Points: 456
Calories: none
Total Time: none
Speed: 0.0 mph
Pace: 0:00 / mi
Active Time: none
Speed: 0.0 mph
Pace: 0:00 / mi
#
Distance
Instruction
Distance to next
1
0.11 mi
Turn Left - WV 28/92
Then go 2.14 mi
2
2.26 mi
Turn Right - County Hwy 5/1
Then go 0.11 mi
3
2.37 mi
Turn Right - County Hwy 5/1
Then go 0.35 mi
4
2.71 mi
Turn Left - Pine Grove/County Hwy 5/1
Then go 1.99 mi
5
4.70 mi
Straight - Markwood Run Road/County Hwy 5/2
Then go 0.49 mi
6
5.19 mi
Turn Left - N. Fork Rd./County Highway 6/1
Then go 1.35 mi
7
6.54 mi
Turn Right - Clyde Gillispie Rd./County Hwy 6/4
Then go 2.11 mi
8
8.65 mi
Turn Left - WV 6/North Fork Rd./Back Draft Rd.
Then go 5.78 mi
9
14.43 mi
Straight - WV 8/Sheets Rd.
Then go 1.66 mi
10
16.08 mi
Turn Right - WV 92
Then go 0.84 mi
11
16.92 mi
Straight - WV 92/28
Then go 6.03 mi
12
22.95 mi
Turn Left - WV 2/Hosterman Rd.
Then go 0.61 mi
13
23.56 mi
Turn Left - Continue on Hosterman
Then go 0.34 mi
14
23.90 mi
Bear Right - Hosterman Rd.
Then go 0.21 mi
15
24.11 mi
Turn Right - Service road
Points of Interest
Deer Creek Valley
Location: 38.419435, -79.788551
The roads in this part of the state are quiet.
Deer Creek Valley
Location: 38.400604, -79.814644
Many turns in the road ahead
Allegheny Mountains
Location: 38.370463, -79.819107
The Alleghenies separate Virginia and West Virginia.
Quiet farms
Location: 38.354042, -79.859619
Deer Creek Valley is flanked by quiet farmland.
Rest stop
Location: 38.360234, -79.882622
Other than Green Bank, the convenience store in Dunmore is the only place along the way for a pit stop.
Green Bank Elementry School
Location: 38.425084, -79.824257
Turn left at the school and pass through the gate to the back entrance of the Observatory to access the service road.
Telescope views from the road
Location: 38.427706, -79.828463
The Green Bank Telescope from the road
Robert C Bryd Green Bank Telescope
Location: 38.433153, -79.839792
The Robert C Byrd Green Bank Telescope is the largest movable telescope in the world.
Robert C Bryd Green Bank Telescope
Location: 38.433153, -79.839792
Observatory service road
Location: 38.438397, -79.835157
Except for observatory staff, the road is close to car traffic.
The service road offers the best views of the telescopes and the surrounding mountains.
Observatory service road
Location: 38.438397, -79.835157
Observatory service road
Location: 38.438397, -79.835157
The Green Bank Solar System
Location: 38.436918, -79.828034
Along the service road, each planet is placed to scale relative to its position in the Solar System. Pluto is way out there.
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