State Route 97 (SR 97) is a primary
state highway in the U.S. state of
Virginia. Known as Pipers Gap Road, the state highway runs 9.16 miles (14.74 km) from
SR 89 in
Galax east to SR 608 and SR 620 next to the
Blue Ridge Parkway.
Route description
View south along SR 97 south of SR 608 in southwestern Carroll County
SR 97 begins at an intersection with SR 89 (Main Street) in the
independent city of Galax. The state highway heads east and immediately exits the city limits and enters
Grayson County. SR 97 parallels
Chestnut Creek until the highway enters
Carroll County, then follows Wards Mill Branch to its source near the hamlet of Pipers Gap. The state highway continues southeast to the hamlet of Drenn adjacent to Pipers Gap, the wind gap of the
Blue Ridge Mountains at the
Eastern Continental Divide. There, SR 775 (Chances Creek Road) continues straight while SR 97 turns south to its eastern terminus at the intersection of SR 608 (Mt. Carroll Road) and SR 620 (Lambsburg Road). SR 620 continues southeast under the Blue Ridge Parkway overpass to descend the eastern side of the Blue Ridge. SR 608 heads southwest to an intersection with the Blue Ridge Parkway.[1][2]