Wayah Road from US19/74 to US64, or the reverse route.
Scenery
Hard to keep your eyes on the road at times! The west end starts you going up a gorge tracing the stream with some waterfalls mixed in. Once you reach the peak (the AP trail crosses around here) there is a large lake at the top. Nice winding road around it then the fun begins; lots of tight curves and more elevation changes. Keep your eyes on the road: not much in guard rails protecting you from some rather large drop-offs! Eventually you "wind down" on some less technical roads and at a little gas station/convenience shop. IIRC, this station has REAL gas (no ethanol).
Drive Enjoyment
I'm rating this as a three. Some sections are real nice; some are dirty. The west side of the road is hard for me to read where it looks like there's loose gravel, but it's really not.
Tourism Opportunities
Not a whole lot between the two main roads. Take this drive for the scenery and the curves.
Have ridden this many times. It has it all. Great twisties. Steep grades. Switchbacks. Along the Nantahal River on the west side until you get to the lake at the top. Heavy forests on most of it. Great mountain homes set back in the woods. Often there is gravel in the curves from cars which can't stay on the hard pavement, so be careful. Lightly traveled. Mostly just locals and for the first 5 miles, trout fishermen. Getting to it is fun as well, as you ride alongside the lower river where all the kyaks and rafting companies try their luck on the whitewater. stop up top at the fire tower for a great 360 view, at the top of Wayah Bald. Beautiful country and ride. if it weren't for lots of gravel in curves a nice challenging ride. Really a five except for the gravel
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Deacon742
September 9, 2016
2 McR Points
Motorcycle Type : Cruiser
Road West to East. Roadway started of rough but after a few miles turned to new smooth blacktop. Nice surface with heavy gravel shoulders. road this fourth out of five rated roads today including the Dragon. Without a doubt this was my favorite. Lots of switch backs and hairpins. Would be a five except for gravel in a number of turns. Very little traffic on this gem.
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RacsoRider
September 8, 2014
0 McR Points
Motorcycle Type : Cruiser
Great scenic road with lots of turns and different elevations 3200 ft above sea level. Traffic is minimal, only local traffic. Great restaurant Lakes End Grill by the lake. Try the Monster Burger. This road has 28 miles of fantastic motorcycle riding. I enjoyed it better than Dragons Tail.