Western North Carolina Motorcycle Touring

Featured Rides

Blue Ridge Parkway: 255 Miles | North on Parkway from Asheville: 211 Miles | South on Parkway from Asheville: 212 Miles | Hot Springs To Mt Pisgah: 129 Miles | Chimney Rock/Flat Rock/Black Mountain: 114 Miles | Cherohala Skyway: 51.8 Miles | Tail of the Dragon: 12 Miles | Moonshiner28: 117 Miles

Nestled in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains and intersected by one of the most famous scenic highways in the world, the Blue Ridge Parkway, Asheville North Carolina is quickly becoming the hub for motorcycle enthusiasts. Riders from all over the world are finding the eclectic attitude, fantastic cuisine, culture and nearly two dozen microbreweries the perfect amenities to highlight the best mountain motorcycle touring roads in the country. If you’re looking to find a true world-class motorcycling experience, the beauty of western North Carolina and the Smoky Mountains should be on top of the list.

Blue Ridge Parkway– Experience America’s Favorite Drive

There are a number of great reasons why the Blue Ridge Parkway is so popular to the hundreds of thousands of motorcyclists who make the journey each year… sweeping curves and awe-inspiring views that lead through quaint mountain towns and attractions. The Blue Ridge Parkway Welcome Center is located right on the edge of Asheville and provides a complete history of the scenic road along with the many attractions and local culture of western North Carolina.

The Linn Cove Viaduct at mile post 304 is the engineering marvel of the Blue Ridge Parkway and one which you’re sure to recognize. This 1,234 foot-long s-curve bridge hugs the spectacular Grandfather Mountain and was one of the last sections of the Parkway to be complete.

At mile post 305 don’t miss the 2,500 acre nature preserve of Grandfather Mountain. The preserve boasts the famed Mile High Swinging Bridge from which you can capture a selfie unlike another. The park is also known for its wildlife, hiking trails and a Nature Museum and another great attraction to explore.

Julian Price Memorial Park at mile post 297 along with its neighboring Moses H. Cone Memorial Park make up the largest public recreational area along the Blue Ridge Parkway. This is just one of the many stops you can enjoy a picnic lunch as you bask in the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

To complete your trip north, we suggest making Blowing Rock your final destination. The town of Blowing Rock is actually named for the actual Blowing Rock, a formation of rock cliff 4,000 feet above sea level, overhanging Johns River Gorge 3,000 feet below. This is one of the oldest attractions along the Parkway. The town of Blowing Rock welcomes in guests with galleries, restaurants and shopping.

Rather than back-tracking on the parkway, you may choose to follow Rt 321 to the town of Boone which is home to Appalachian State University. From Boone, circle back through the quaint mountain town of Banner Elk and stop in for a visit to Sugar Mountain Resort or Beech Mountain Resort which offer a variety of events and activities to enjoy during the spring, summer and fall months. Your trip back to Asheville will take you through the towns of Spruce Pine and Burnsville via Rt. 19.

As you head south on the Parkway from the Arboretum, you’ll experience a number of historic tunnels that have been carved through this mountainous terrain making for an exciting addition to the many scenic overlooks, trail heads and picnic spots.

At mile post 408, you’ll arrive atop Mt Pisgah and the historic Mt Pisgah Inn. The original Inn was opened in 1919 and was a retreat for thousands of travelers who would escape the heat of the lowlands. Development of the modern Pisgah Inn began in 1960 and the original Pisgah Inn was dismantled in 1990 for safety concerns. The Inn’s main attraction is its dining room that features a southern facing wall of windows which frame an incredible view of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

At mile post 411, Highway 276 intersects the Parkway giving motorcyclists new options:

Continue south on the Parkway to mile post 469, you’ll arrive at the Cherokee Indian Reservation. Experience the rich culture of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians. Here you’ll find the Museum of the Cherokee Indian, the fascinating Qualla Arts & Crafts Mutual Inc., the renovated Oconaluftee Indian Village and the fabulous outdoor drama, Unto These Hills.
From Mile Post 411 south on 276, you’ll enjoy a winding two lane road through Pisgah Forest. Stop in The Cradle of Forestry, which commemorates the beginning of forestry conservation in the United States. Here, in 1898, chief forester for George Vanderbilt’s Biltmore Estate, founded the Biltmore Forestry School, the first forestry school in America.

Further down 276 you’ll come to Looking Glass Falls, a beautiful 60 foot waterfall where visitors can pull off and view from the road’s lookout area. You can also take a quick detour off 276 to the Pisgah Forest Fish Hatchery to see how they farm trout that fill the area’s many blue ribbon trout streams.

Head down into the quaint mountain town of Brevard, NC. Spend the afternoon shopping, grab some locally made Gelato at Kiwi Gelato or take a tour of the Oskar Blues East Coast Brewery.

From Brevard, you can head West on Rosman Highway which is another great 30 mile ride that goes through the beautiful Lake Toxaway leading to the beautiful town of Highlands and Cashiers. Circle back toward Asheville on Route 107 north, a great winding road that leads to the town of Cullowhee and home to Western Carolina University.

As you head back toward Asheville on us Rt. 23 east, you won’t want to miss the town of Maggie Valley and The Wheels through Time Motorcycle Museum. This is a must see for anyone who loves vintage American motorcycles featuring the world’s premier collection of more than 300 rare motorcycles.

But one of the main attractions of Hot Springs are the natural hot mineral baths of Hot Springs Resort Spa. This is where the town namesake rises up from the aquifers below and fills tubs with healing mineral waters that are piped into Jacuzzi tubs and drained and sanitized following each use for guests to enjoy. Rent one of their mineral baths for an hour or two and relax your muscles from the mountain ride.

After some time explore the town, head south on 209 for a twisting and turning mountain road that winds through farmlands and drops you down into the town of Lake Junaluska. From there you can visit the quaint town of Waynesville on your way south on 276 which climbs up into the Pisgah National Forest and intersects the Blue Ridge Parkway. Head back north on the parkway stopping to visit the Pisgah Inn and enjoy the scenic Mt. Pisgah. Then head back north on the Parkway into Asheville to enjoy the many shops, breweries and eclectic ambiance of this great mountain town.

As you arrive in the town of Chimney Rock, you’ll notice a number of locations that welcome bikers touring the area. Grab a bite at one of the many restaurants, tour Chimney Rock Park or just stroll along the scenic river walk. Further down Rt 70 you’ll find Lake Lure. This scenic mountain lake offers pontoon boat tours where you’ll experience a unique perspective of Hickory Nut Gorge and its beautiful rock cliffs that line the banks of Lake Lure.

Follow Rt. 9 south out of Lake Lure, another scenic mountain route connecting you to 176 north which leads into the town of Flat Rock. Flat Rock is a quiet little community where you can visit the home of the Pulitzer Prize winning author and poet, Carl Sandburg. This is a beautifully maintain historic home run by the National Park Service to provide a complete history lesson of the amazing life of Carl Sandburg. Explore the hiking trails that wind throughout this sprawling estate and farmhouse.

From Flat Rock follow Rt 64 East to Bat Cave. Apple orchards line Rt 64 which intersects Rt 74 at Bat Cave. Follow Rt 9 North to Black Mountain. Black Mountain is a quaint mountain town with an eclectic mix of shops, restaurants and coffee shops. After spending time exploring Black Mountain, it’s a short 20 minute ride back to Asheville.

The Cherohala Skyway is a wide, paved 2-laned road maintained by the Tennessee Department of Transportation and the North Carolina Department of Transportation. The elevations range from 900 feet above sea level at the Tellico River in Tennessee to over 5400 feet above sea level at the Tennessee-North Carolina state line at Haw Knob.

With 318 curves bordering the Great Smoky Mountains and Cherokee National Forest, Tail of the Dragon has no intersecting roads or driveways to hamper your travels, just continuous 11 miles of curves throughout some of the most scenic mountains in the east. But beware… The Tail of the Dragon is also not for the faint of heart. With tight turns and thousands of bikers and sports car fans visiting each year, it takes a well-seasoned rider to navigate the Tail of the Dragon. If you can ride it, we guarantee, this will be a ride to remember!

The other 'must see' when touring the Tail of the Dragon is Lake Fontana Village. The Fontana Lake Dam, at 480 feet high, is the tallest dam in the Eastern United States. At the time of construction, in the early 1940s, Fontana dam was the fourth highest dam in the world. A ride across the scenic Fontana Lake Dam is a photo opportunity that few can claim!