It then turns southeast in an upgraded 10 km four-lane stretch to the town of Asenovgrad,[2][3] where it intersects with the second class II-58 road.

[2] After the town, the road enters the Rhodope Mountains through the valley of the river Chepelarska reka, passing near Asen's Fortress and Bachkovo Monastery, and following the valley for 59.3 km through the villages of Bachkovo, Narechenski Bani and Hvoyna, as well as through the town of Chepelare.

[2] At the intersection for the Pamporovo ski resort it passes though the Pozhen Saddle (1,430 m) and after a steep descend to the village of Sokolovtsi[2] it reaches the valley of Byala reka, a tributary of the Cherna.

From there, the II-86 continues south through the Byala reka valley, passing through the village of Bostina and reaching the Ustovo neighbourhood of the city of Smolyan.

From Ustovo the road turns east and for 16.8 km follows the valley of the Cherna through the villages of Vlahovo, Podvis, Rovina, Taran and Ravnishta, then turns south through Srednogortsi,[2] crosses a short watershed and enters the valley of the river Arda.