Enjoying the Ride: WNC'S guide to Motoring through the Blue Ridge Mountains

If you’re not totally jaded by the endless assortment of Internet click-bait “listicles” touting the best places to travel, you maybe noticed that CNN recently named Asheville # 3 in its “Top Ten Towns to Visit in 2025.” “Thanks” to Helene, Western North Carolina leads more of these travel lists than ever. But CNN reporter Coy Wire started his AVL day with an even more trending topic. “The best way to explore the Asheville area is on two wheels,” he said. “Let’s go!” Donning a helmet and tossing his leg over a motorcycle, he wound his way along the Blue Ridge Parkway, to Biltmore, and on through Pisgah National Forest to slip down Sliding Rock.

Post-Helene publicity or not, CNN’s piece nailed a timely angle—our mountains have become one of the nation’s top travel destinations for motorcyclists and sports car enthusiasts.

The appeal of riding or driving WNC’s endless curves is long and storied, reaching back to early movies, like Robert Mitchum’s 1958 flick Thunder Road, about the lore of Appalachian moonshiners, and the 1971 cult road film Two-Lane Blacktop. The most isolated forbidding roads, now favored by enthusiasts of fast bikes and cars, were once chosen by hill folk running illicit liquor from stills in misty hollows across state and county lines to a thirsty region. One of those is nicknamed Moonshine 28, from Deals Gap to Highlands.

^{Motorcycle Ride on The Blue Ridge Parkway. Even when they used winding roads, not all the moonshiners got away (left).}

The 1930s start of the Blue Ridge Parkway and later scenic road projects added national park and dedicated tourist routes to the wildly curving back roads that gave the North Carolina mountains their one-time moniker “the Lost Province.” Today, WNC’s national parks, forests, and oversupply of still-bewildering byways have become such a magnet for bikers and high performance auto owners that mountain marketing organizations (among them the Haywood County Tourism Development Authority) actually target ads to “motor tourists.”

(Left) Motor tourist postcard. (Right)The Tail of the Dragon curves sharply through the mountains.

One such now-named and legendary byway is called the “Tail of the Dragon,” US 129 from Deals Gap, near Robbinsville, to Tabcat Bridge, Tennessee. Whether you try to run these routes in record time, as some people do, there’s an element of challenge involved and a wealth of souvenirs to be bought and pictures to be taken that celebrate being a “Dragon Slayer.” There’s a growing impact on tourism too, with dedicated bike and motoring resorts, restaurants, and vacation rentals along the way. At some popular locations, you’re likely to see photo-op monuments to your motorized conquest, such as a massive metal sculpture of a dragon with a motorcycle wrapped in its tail, or a highway sign festooned with bike parts culled from crash sites.

Those aside, almost any banked curve makes an irresistible location for a photo if you want to prove you “tamed the beast.” All you need is a little online research ahead of time or just to pull-off at roadside pop-up tents you might notice where freelance photographers, today’s modern Mathew Bradys of motoring adventure, are ready to document your conquest (KillBoy.com is one example).

Along with a diverse list of these mountain motoring experiences, the Maggie Valley landmark, Dale’s Wheels Through Time Museum is a major attraction that draws visitors from every state and many countries. Founded by the late Dale Walksler, and operated now by son Matt, this huge collection of American motorcycles, antique motor memorabilia, and one-off classic autos is likely the most interesting motor museum in the state, and more highly-rated, according to Tripadvisor, than Charlotte’s NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte or any other North Carolina transportation museum.

^{(Left) The Wheels Through Time Museum in Maggie Valley depicts motorcycle history. (Right) Motorcyclists nearing the Haywood Overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway.} 

The bottom line, despite the popularity and commercialization of these “named” routes, “the beauty of Western North Carolina,” says Bob Kelemen, a Charlotte Harley and BMW rider who's been scouring WNC’s roads for decades, “is that almost any, or at least many mountain roads are as good or better than the famous named rides.”

Kelemen touts a favorite of his, NC 181 from Morganton to Linville Falls. “Many of these roads are a century or more old and started as trails, and that’s what makes for an exciting ride. They’re unpredictable, unforgiving” he says. “You’re alive when you’re riding through it, just don’t mess up!”

To ensure he doesn’t, Kelemen swears off music. “Let your engine be your sound track. Mountain rides are a real experience, no distractions needed. There are so many roads with no names waiting to be discovered,” he says. “Just don’t ask me to tell you!”

Here’s a look at some of Western North Carolina’s best places to weave your way through fall, including tempting spots to eat, sleep, and some nuts and bolts cautions to consider.

List of Roads

Blue Ridge Parkway

The Drive: Locals just call it “The Parkway,” but this iconic national park road is the apex of the American drive. The East’s highest elevations, endless overlooks, tunnels, spectacular views around every bend, “and big sweepers,” or flowing curves, says Bob Kelemen, a Charlotte Harley and BMW rider who’s been scouring WNC’s roads for decades. “The Parkway is simply the best, from Maine to Georgia, it’s got it all.”

North or south of Asheville, you’ll find some of the best motorcycle and sports car touring in the country—one more distinction elevating our region to national attention.

Length: North Carolina’s 252 Parkway miles are more than half the 469-mile total shared with Virginia.

End Points: VA state line to Cherokee

Best NC Sections: From Blowing Rock to Craggy Gardens (includes the Linn Cove Viaduct and Mount Mitchell State Park, just off the Parkway road, with the East’s highest peak). From Asheville to Cherokee, Richland Balsam Overlook’s 6,047 feet is the highest point on the Parkway itself.

The Rattler (NC 209)

The Drive: From the vicinity of Waynesville, The Rattler runs rural NC 209 north through the mountains past tiny crossroad settlements like Luck, Trust, and Bluff (hence some calling this The Gambler). The goal is North Carolina’s best Appalachian Trail town, Hot Springs, where the hot tubs of Hot Springs Resort and Spa are soothing after hiking a stretch of the AT or taking a windy bike ride.

Length: About 33 miles one way (66 roundtrip), and if you loop south back to Trust on NC 25 and 63, the circuit is 90 miles.

End Points: I-40 exit 24 near Waynesville to Hot Springs and back.

Copperhead Loop (Forest Heritage Scenic Byway)

The Drive: This US Forest Service Byway creates a Pisgah loop around the Shining Rock Wilderness, crossing the Blue Ridge Parkway twice amid high alpine scenery, and touching nationally significant forest recreation sites like the Cradle of Forestry, Sliding Rock and Looking Glass Falls. This circuit of NC 215, US 276 and 64 also links a bunch of classic mountain towns.

Hit the brakes for roadside trails and sights galore, including Sunburst Falls, pictured in a Haywood County motorcycle tourism ad. That illustrates this byway’s status as “one of the top motor tours in a county where research confirms scenic driving is our number one draw,” says Tourism Development Authority Social Media Manager Amie Newsome.

Length: 89 miles

End Points: Starts/ends are many, from Brevard and Rosman, to Waynesville/Maggie Valley.

The Tail of the Dragon (US 129)

The Drive: Among motorcycle and sports car enthusiasts, this may be the most famous wild ride in the country. Known for its sculpture of a motorcycle-devouring dragon near the start and 318 continuous curves, it’s a legendary stretch of road. Those squiggles wind with uninterrupted intensity along the wilderness bordered western boundary of the Great Smoky Mountains, America’s most visited national park.

Length: 11 miles

End Points: Near Deals Gap to Tabcat Bridge, TN

The Diamondback (NC 226A)

The Drive: Little Switzerland has for generations been a favorite summer spot with a dramatic view down from the Blue Ridge Parkway. Starting near Marion, a diamond-shaped loop of twisting back roads dubbed The Diamondback climbs up and around this noteworthy watershed. Choose either side of the lower loop, and the Parkway offers a 10-mile add-on at the top, with views of Mount Mitchell, for a 40-mile descent of nearby NC 80, another twister. This is an alternate plummet from, or climb to, the Parkway “known to some” as The Devil’s Whip, and “excellent for advanced riders.” (NC 80 is still closed after Helene but is being repaired).

Length: About 40 miles for the Diamondback, 80 for up and down Devil’s Whip. Many combinations.

End Points: From near Marion to Little Switzerland, the Parkway, and back.

Cherohala Skyway (NC 143 / TN 165)

The Drive: This twisty road opened in 1991 after taking 34 years to build. It’s both a National Scenic Byway and a National Forest Scenic Byway linking Tennessee’s Cherokee National Forest and the Nantahala in North Carolina. There’s Blue Ridge Parkway-rivaling scenery from many overlooks and high elevations, including Santeetlah Scenic Pull-off picnic area at 5,400 feet. This ride also makes it easy to visit the towering timber of the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest near Robbinsville.

“The Cherohala is my number one road, period,” says Dean Lyons, past director of Sugar Mountain’s ski patrol, motocross bike racer, stunt man, actor and a longtime moto driver for cameramen covering national bicycle races. “I’ve been doing fifty in a full lean for ten solid seconds, then another ten seconds in the opposite direction—and how are you not going in a circle! Great ride!”

Length: 43 miles

End Points: Robbinsville to Tellico Plains, TN

GET CONNECTED

A bunch of these “named” routes have become a cottage industry of websites, dining spots, accommodations and more, all catering to motor enthusiasts. This list is just a start. You could mix and link many of these rides and the web offers plentiful encouragement to do so. For example, the Land of the Waterfalls Loop—which covers 12 falls over 288 miles—also passes through Rosman, Waynesville, the Nantahala and DuPont Forests, among others. landofthewaterfallsloop.com

Dining & Lodging

These exciting drives pass many a mountain town with endless options for memorable meals and places to stay. This handful of motor sports-friendly spots to refuel and rest are where the action is.

Blue Ridge Parkway

North of Asheville/ Doughton Park at Milepost 241.1

Grab a bite at Bluffs Restaurant for a “way back” experience. Opened as the Parkway’s first restaurant in 1949, the roadside eatery eventually closed, as other Parkway concessions have, but thanks to intervention by the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation this taste of the Parkway past is open again (think “fried chicken”). bluffsrestaurant.org

South of Asheville/ Mount Pisgah at Milepost 408.6

Pisgah Inn is North Carolina’s official “national park lodge,” a long-standing Parkway concession perched at the crest of Blue Ridge with dramatic vistas from newly updated motel-style rooms and a suite. There’s a gift shop and adjacent Country Store with grocery and camping supplies (the Parkway’s highest campground is just across the road). The restaurant menu spans country-style and more upscale fare (with grab and go options from the Grazing Deer Cafe). pisgahinn.com

Tail of the Dragon

Deal’s Gap is the Southern terminus of the Dragon and the Deal’s Gap Motorcycle Resort is a logical place to pause. The resort has motel-style rooms, a campground, grill, and gas station, and the Dragon Tree of Shame, decorated with debris from motorcycle mishaps on the road. dealsgap.com

Another hotspot for photos is the Tail of the Dragon statue located opposite the resort at the Tail of the Dragon T-shirt Shack. Both businesses sell a long list of souvenirs celebrating WNC’s named rides. tailofthedragonstore.com

Close to Robbinsville, Two Wheel Inn is highly rated by bikers. A motorcycle garage sits beside each room. twowheelinn.com

Tapoco Lodge is one of the most distinctive places to stay near Robbinsville. The 100-year old lodge was built to house workers during the construction of local hydroelectric projects and it’s now part of the Enthusiasts Collection of boutique hotels. Suites, rooms and three cabins are available along with breakfast in the lodge and the Tapoco Tavern for lunch and dinner. tapoco.com

Copperhead Loop

This ride passes all kinds of dining and lodging spots in adjacent towns, but where US 276 crosses the Blue Ridge Parkway, the lofty, more isolated Pisgah Inn is just 3 miles north on the Parkway.

The Rattler, NC 209

Hot Springs Resort and Spa has a campground with various categories of sites as well as a variety of rental cottages (two night minimum) with access to hot spring fed jetted pools. nchotsprings.com

The Diamondback

The Switzerland Inn (Parkway Milepost 333.9) is a pillar of the Little Switzerland travel experience. This newly renovated resort at the top of the tour has a number of dining spots. The upscale Chalet Restaurant adjoins the Terrace Bar, both with panoramic views. There’s also a pub; all serve a signature moto cocktail called the Diamondback Venom. Accommodations range from rooms and cottages, and conveniently for groups, the Diamondback Motorcycle Lodge is an eight-room guesthouse with shared common area, motorcycle themed decor, and covered parking for bikes just feet from amenities at the main inn. There’s also a pool and adjoining shops. switzerlandinn.com

Safety and Etiquette on a Mountain Moto Tour

Curves

Sadly, Blue Ridge Parkway news releases regularly announce motorcycle fatalities on the Parkway—running off the road, hitting wildlife, accidents with cars. The National Park Service even posts a special motorcycle safety sign at tricky spots. It shows a bike and rider flying off the road—evidence that some of the old road’s twists are simply banked in the wrong direction (as in “off camber curves” or “decreasing radius curves”).

Wet

These mountains are well watered. Even when the rain stops (or hasn’t started . . . yet), the mix of shade and sun serves up surprise slipperiness when least expected. In shoulder seasons that can be a glaze of early ice (or wet autumn leaves).

Wildlife

Bear in mind that all these roads are surrounded by forests and parks and prone to wildlife sightings and crossings and full of curves with limited sight distances.

Much of the above argues against doing what many do on these roads—drive to purposely tempt traction. Best advice, take it slow(er), stay scrupulously on your side of the road, and never pass in no passing zones.

Get Out of the Way

You might want to lay her low in the curves, but “regular” motorists may not have your spirit or technology. If an obvious aficionado appears on your bumper (bugs on teeth, six figure vehicle), just pull over at the next opportunity (Parkway overlooks make this easy). And if you’re the one zipping up from behind, same advice, pull off and let the other citizen relax and use their road. After all, there are speed limits and recklessness endangers everyone.