This is the shorter of two grand tour routes (about 275 miles). Your motorcycle riding muscles need to be in good shape for this ride, and you need to be on the road no later than 9:00 a.m. in order to be back before dark. Keep in mind that "mountain miles" are twice as long as interstate miles, so 275 miles is more like riding 600 miles on the interstate.
Take highway 180 (Wolf Pen Gap road) from Suches to 19/129 (11 miles). Turn left on 19/129, drive about 3 miles, then turn right on 180. Go one mile, then turn right on the Richard Russell Scenic Highway. At the end of the RRSH, turn left, go for about 2 miles on Alt 75, then right for one mile toward Helen, then turn left onto 356 just before reaching Helen.
Continue on 356 until it dead ends at 197, then turn left. Take 197 until it intersects 76, then turn right to Clayton. Gas up in Clayton. Continue on the same road, and bear right after leaving town. This is Warwoman Road. After 15 miles, Warwoman Road ends at 28.
Turn left on 28 and climb until you reach Highlands, NC. Beware "Keener's Curve" (ask him about it Saturday night). Turn left at the downtown stoplight in Highlands. A few blocks after the turn, there is a small shopping area on the left with a restaurant called the Fireside Restaurant. I've never had a bad meal there. Or, if you're not ready for lunch, continue on.
Take NC 28 north through Franklin, and continue onward toward Nantahala Gorge. At Lauada, Highway 28 dead ends at 19/74. Turn left and proceed along the Nantaha River gorge. The restaurant at the Nantahala Outdoor Center is right along the river, and is a nice place to stop. Their chili is exceptional -- even for someone who doesn't like chili. About 6 miles past NOC, turn left onto county road 1310, Wayah Bald Road, aka "Thunder Road." This will eventually lead back to 64. There is a gas station at the far end. Beware possible sandy spots around Nantahala Lake. At 64 turn left to Franklin, NC, then take 23/441 to Clayton.
Gas up in Clayton. Turn right at the Dairy Queen (or stop for a cone), go one block to the center of town, and turn left toward Tiger. Bear right at the fork in the road, and continue toward Lake Burton. This is a nice route in hot weather, as it is mostly shaded, and follows the shore of Lake Burton. However, there may be a lot of weekend traffic, and the road becomes very tight and slow in places before it ends at highway 197. Turn left on 197, then right on 356, toward Unicoi State Park.
Highway 356 ends at 17/75. Unless you enjoy kitsch, avoid Helen, and turn right. After approximately 1 mile, turn left onto Alt-75, go 2 miles, then right onto the Richard Russell Scenic Highway. There is another waterfall, Dukes Creek Falls, with a less strenuous path. The marked turnoff leads to another paid parking area; about a half mile further on is a free parking area (easily identifiable by cars parked along the road), which also has a trail that leads to the falls. Approach this area slowly, as there is usually heavy pedestrian traffic. There are several scenic turnouts at the higher elevations of the Richard Russell Scenic Highway -- stop and enjoy the view. After crossing the Appalachian Trail, the road descends steeply, then levels out into an upland valley before ending at highway 180. Turn left on 180, then left again where it intersects highway 129. One mile on the right is the Sunrise Grocery and gas station (which generally has the cheapest prices in the region). Fill up before continuing south for 2 miles on 129, then turn right onto highway 180. Highway 129 widens to include a passing lane just before the turnoff to 180; avoid the temptation to use the passing lane and build up a lot of speed or you will overshoot the turn.
Highway 180, also known as Wolf Pen Gap road, packs 125 turns into 11 miles. There are no legal passing areas on the eastern side of the mountain. There are two legal passing zones on either side of Lake Winfield Scott, on the western side of the mountain. At the very top -- Wolf Pen Gap -- there is a sharp and dangerous turn. It is marked 10 mph -- heed the sign. This road can be intensely enjoyable. It also claims many bikes, and often a few lives, each year. Know your limits. Past Lake Winfield Scott population density starts to increase as you approach the community of Suches. People in Suches are our neighbors, and we try to stay on good terms with them. Please observe speed limits through here, and watch out for cars and trucks coming out of driveways, as well as for children and other pedestrians. Highway 180 ends at 60, where a left turn takes you back to T.W.O.
Copyright © Selden Deemer, 2006