Hebron Valley... What a View!!

Culpeper County, VA, US

Route Overview

Culpeper Cycling

Everything cycling in and around Culpeper

47 mi.
2,765 ft.

This is one of our personal favorite rides. Its just long enough to "get away" but short enough your family won't miss you. Plus there's enough challenge in there so you deserve a beer afterwards. And in our opinion this ride has some of the best views around, there's a reason the Tour de Madison uses many of these same roads.

Route Details

We LOVE This Ride

We start this ride from our local bike shop, VeloConcepts, which has a huge parking lot and always has ample parking. Plus they have an in house cafe so you can fuel up before your ride.

The ride heads out of Culpeper through White Shop, as you exit White Shop on Merrimac Rd, be careful when you cross Rt. 29. There's lots of high-speed traffic and it's not always easy to get a clear view of oncoming cars. Once across 29 you continue on Merrimac for about 7 miles where it ends at Hudson Mill Rd.

The Climbing Begins

Once on Hudson Mill you are greeted with a nice little grinder up to the 120 degree turn onto Reva Rd. You are on Reva Rd for about a mile but save your legs because that hill you see is Duncan Trail and you are going up it. Luckily Duncan Trail isn't very long but the initial 10%+ grade will make you wish it was event shorter. Over the top you have a nice gradual downhill all the way until the left onto Oakland Rd.

At the end of Oakland Rd you make a right onto Ridgeview Rd which is a short section and ends with a left onto Novum Rd. (which becomes) Arrington Mtn Rd. The "climb" up Arrington Mt Rd. is about a mile long but beware, the climb doesnt really start until about a mile in... don't be fooled by the series of short hills before the white mailbox at about 17.2 miles (and yes that begins the Strava segment).

Up over the top you have a nice fast downhill, just becareful as you approach the intersection of Hoover Rd. it's hard to get a good view of the oncoming traffic from the East (left) until you are almost in the middle of the intersection.

You then follow Towles Rd to the end, but enjoy the view... you deserve it. Once you make the left onto Hebron Valley Rd you'll see why we think this ride as one of the best valley views. As you cross over Hebron Church Rd you now have to deal with the hardest climb on the whole route, while the climb is not very long it's quite steep and just long enough to make you beg for it to end. Over the top don't get too excited because you have yet another grinder up to the Rt. 29 crossing.

Cross over 29 and ride the wide shoulder on this busy road for about 100 yards and make your first right at the church onto Lilliards Ford Rd. Once again you have a series of hills to deal with but once you make the left at the end most of the hard hills are done for the remainder of the ride.

Time to Refuel at Brightwood General Store

Cross over 29 once again and follow Ridgeview Rd past your mandatory stop at Brightwood General Store. The owner Dave is a huge supporter of cycling and even made bike racks in the gravel parking lot. So show him some love and but some water and snacks (as a side note, they have the best BLT within 50 miles).

Once your bottles and tummy are filled follow Ridgeview Rd all the way back across Hoover Rd again. Note, Ridgeview Rd make takes various left forks and even a left turn and so watch the road signs and follow the cue sheet, the road doesnt always follow like you think it should.

This Looks Familiar

After you cross Hoover Rd again it's about 3/4 of a mile until you make a left onto Oakland Rd, which is the start of the return route on which you came. At the bottom of the descent you make a right onto Duncan Trail, this time you get to climb UP the long climb and descend the short steep section. You can decide which is worse!

At the bottom of Duncan Trail make the right back onto Reva Rd and make the 120 degree left onto Hudson Mill Rd, and then a right onto Merrimac Rd, which you follow all the way to 29. Cross over 29 into White Shop, retracing your "steps" all the way back to the Tennis Center.

Post Ride

This one was a long one, so you definetely deserve a food or more. So why not head over into 18 Grams Coffee Lab for some lunch or post-ride refreshments.

Other routes by Culpeper Cycling