Explore : The Cherohala Skyway
Everyone’s heard of the Tail of the Dragon and its infamous “318 Curves in 11 Miles”. The Dragon seems to be the go-to driving destination for a ton of car and motorcycle enthusiasts due to all the curves and the tangible atmosphere surrounding the location. The Dragon gets all the spotlight for driving destinations in the area, but there are so many lesser known roads that often get overlooked simply because of how popular The Dragon is. One of these roads is the Cherohala Skyway in Tellico Plains, and today we’re going to focus on this diamond in the rough.
Buried in the heart of East Tennessee in the sleepy small town of Tellico Plains is the entrance to the Skyway. On the edge of town, you’ll see the road leading towards the mountains: that’s how you know you’re in the right place. At the beginning of the Skyway, there are a few businesses that are always great places to stop in for lunch or a quick break after you’ve been driving for a few hours. Among these are the Tellico Beach drive-in and Ironworks Grille, both solid places to stop in and grab something to eat or hang out for a minute on your way up the mountain. Once you pass the last one, you’re on your own: nothing but the open road and the amazing scenery ahead for miles and miles!
The skyway itself is about 40 miles long and stretches through East Tennessee and into Western North Carolina running along ridge tops and through valleys the entire way. The diversity of the environment around you means that not only is the road itself incredibly fun, but the scenery you’re surrounded with is constantly changing and is something incredible. One minute, you’ll be in a valley with the forest and rock walls, and the next minute you’ll be riding along the mountaintops with views of the mountains for miles and miles. The road itself is full of elevation changes and a variety of turns from the tight and technical to the longer sweepers. Make sure to stop at some of the paved pull-offs along the way because some of them provide views that are absolutely breathtaking!
Once you get to the end of the Skyway, you’ll find yourself in the backcountry of North Carolina on roads that are more residential, giving you a minute to take a break and relax. Here, you can connect onto Hwy 129 just outside of Robbinsville which will take you straight to the Tail of the Dragon. Because of this, you can make a loop that covers the Tail of the Dragon, the Cherohala Skyway, and all the fun connecting roads in between! Not only does this loop give you a huge variety of roads to drive, it also gives you a few options for stops along the way. I recommend stopping at Tapoco Lodge for lunch or dinner if you’re doing this loop!
The Cherohala Skyway makes for a great drive with plenty of things to keep everyone entertained. For the driver who loves to focus on the actual driving and the road itself, it offers a fun route with plenty of areas to stop and take a break, and for the driver who likes to take it a bit slower and enjoy the scenery and relax, you’ve got some breathtaking views that are almost impossible to find anywhere else! If you’ve not made this trip before, I highly recommend you get out and try it! If you have, it might be time to revisit the area! This road is fun to drive even if you’ve done it a thousand times before, so come visit!
Whether you’re a local to the area or just visiting, I can’t recommend the Cherohala Skyway enough! It’s one of the best roads in the area to drive if you’re looking to stick to the mountains but don’t want to deal with the traffic on the Tail of the Dragon or want something a little different. When I first started driving for fun, I’d often take off to the skyway with a few friends and run to the North Carolina state line before turning around and heading home for the night. Although I have a bit of a history with this road, I can safely say that even without a sentimental lens over it, you’re sure to find beauty in this route and it’ll be a trip worth taking.
