This makes a nice all day ride, covering about 250 miles. Roads are generally good and through lightly populated areas, except for the stretch between Morganton and Copper Hill. On all but the hottest days, pack warm gear, because some parts of the Cherohala Skyway are above 5000 feet elevation. Although pavement is generally excellent along this entire route, as with all mountain roads, there are many blind curves, some with decreasing radii, and always the possibility of sand or gravel, or worse, an oncoming truck, perhaps towing a trailer, on your side of the double yellow line. Ten tenths riders don't survive long in the mountains.
Turn left from T.W.O. and take highway north 60 toward Morganton, and across 76, continuing past Copper Hill and eventually to Tellico Plains, TN. The road north from Copper Hill splits at least twice, and the route number changes in Tennessee from 60 to 68, so it's possible to get lost, but in general, the main thrust is pretty obvious.
It's about 90 minutes to Tellico Plains. Stop for lunch at the Tellihala Cafe. Fill your gas tank, too, while in Tellico Plains because there are no service stations along the Cherohala Skyway. Take the Cherohala Skyway eastward from Tellico Plains. About 3-4 miles after leaving Tellico Plains, a road branches off to the right toward Bald River Falls. This makes a nice little side detour; it's about 5 miles back to the falls, along a road that gets narrower and narrower. It's paved, but not freshly. This is a slow, take in the view route. After stopping at the waterfall, return to the Cherohala Skyway and continue east to its high point (a few miles past the NC border), and stop at the Hooper Bald rest area on the right, complete with picnic tables and toilets. Rest a while and take in the view, then turn around and ride the skyway back to Tellico Plains -- it feels like a different road in the other direction.
Back at Tellico Plains, turn right on 68, go a quarter mile or so, then turn left onto highway 39. Drive about 6 miles, then bear left at the next fork in the road (I think this is route 310). Eventually this road crosses a river and dead ends. Turn left again on 411 (stop at the general store for a break). Continue on 411 until it forks, then take the right hand fork, which dead ends at 64 at the Ocoee River. Turn on 64. Stop at the Olympic whitewater center (about 10 miles) for a break.
Continue eastward on 64 until it intersects 68, then turn right, and take 68/60 south to Copper Hill, Morganton, and Suches. Try to get back before dark, as there are many deer in this area.
Copyright © Selden Deemer, 2006