To mark the 10th anniversary of Blue Ridge Motorcycling Magazine, Editor-in-Chief Michael E. Gouge offers his list (in no particular order) featuring 10 of the favorite roads and road trips he’s covered in the last decade as a correspondent. A few of them are on blueridgemotorcyclingmagazine.com. Others appeared only in print. Feel free to explore them on your own.
• U.S. 64 Murphy to Manteo: Every schoolboy in North Carolina learns the phrase “Murphy to Manteo.” A road sign at the state line indicating Manteo, 563 miles — add several more if you take the old road all the way. It’s a long, two-day journey, but U.S. 64 takes you through the Cullasaja Gorge, the Hickory Nut Gorge and countless small towns on its way to the Atlantic Ocean. You’ll see the real charm of The Old North State, something you miss from Interstate 40.
• Moonshiner 28 from South Carolina to the Tail of the Dragon: This famous route known for its terminus at the Tail of the Dragon holds more scenic wonders and wonderful twists on the lesser-known southern portion. Starting in Walhalla, South Carolina, the road climbs the Blue Ridge Escarpment passing the not-be-missed Stumphouse Tunnel and Issaqueena Falls. Scenic stops on Moonshiner 28 include Highlands, Franklin and Fontana Dam. N.C. 28 ends at Deals Gap Motorcycle Resort on U.S. 129. Relax and enjoy lunch in the Dragon’s Den Grill as you watch the gathering of cool bikes and sports cars outside.
• Cherohala Skyway to Lookout Mountain: The Cherohala attracts thousands of riders each year for the stunning scenery, peaceful mountain curves and remote beauty. At its western terminus in Tellico Plains, Tennessee, long-distance riders may want to head east to find U.S. 11. Head south on this old highway, made obsolete by Interstate 75, which offers plenty of relics from the golden-age-of motoring and lots of Americana and See Rock City signs. In Chattanooga, climb Lookout Mountain to the scenic highway and ride the ridgeline to Cloudland Canyon and onward to Fort Payne, Alabama.
• Blue Ridge Parkway/Skyline Drive: A list of favorite rides isn’t complete with the bucket-list trip of riding the 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway from end-to-end then adding another 105 miles to complete Skyline Drive. Beginning at the southern terminus in Cherokee, North Carolina, the Blue Ridge Parkway offers stunning vistas and meandering curves that incorporate and accentuate its namesake mountain chain. Arriving in Virginia, the views become more pastoral and less grand but still manage to fill a motorcyclist’s soul with the natural beauty of the region. Plan your gas and lodging stops, since you won’t find much civilization on those ridgetop routes.
• French Broad River to TVA lakes: One of the world’s oldest rivers runs north through Western North Carolina and East Tennessee. Ancient footpaths have become paved roads following the river on almost its entire route. Start at the Blue Ridge Parkway’s milepost 423 where you turn south on N.C. 215. The small roadside creeks will become the French Broad River near Rosman. Twist your way along a myriad of backroads through Asheville, Marshall and Hot Springs all the way over the Appalachian Mountains to Tennessee where the TVA’s Douglas Dam restrains the French Broad. Downstream near Knoxville, the French Broad will join the Holston River to become the Tennessee River. There are 29 TVA dams along this river, and several more along tributaries, so enjoy lakeside touring along the way.
• The Snake and Backbone Rock: U.S. 421 runs from Boone, North Carolina, to Bristol, Tennessee, up and over a couple of mountain ranges. Shady Valley sits in the center at a crossroad that if you head north toward Virginia takes you through Backbone Rock, the skinniest tunnel you’ve probably ever ridden through. The Snake, as with most roads given a reptile-like name, offers some challenging twisties and open expanses as it crosses the Blue Ridge Mountains. Stop in the country store in Shady Valley for souvenirs and refreshments.
• U.S. 25E to the Cumberland Gap: From Newport, Tennessee, the old Dixie Highway splits into U.S. 25E and U.S. 25W. The eastern fork is the one for motorcyclists. U.S. 25E crosses Cherokee Reservoir and ascends the ridge where a stunning scenic overlook looks back the shimmering lake. Venturing onward, you’ll reach the famed mountain crossing linked to Daniel Boone and his pioneering legacy. As you enter Kentucky, the Cumberland Gap National Historic Park sits on the spot where three states meet. The drive to the Pinnacle Overlook is worth the trip.
• Ancient rock carvings: Hidden throughout Appalachian are traces of a long-lost past. Native tribes sometimes left mysterious rock carvings around the mountains. Linking these intriguing sites together in a motorcycle trip can give riders a deeper connection to our region. Starting in Manchester, Kentucky, the Red Bird Petroglyphs sit in a peaceful town park (after falling from a cliff onto Kentucky route 66). This large rock features several carvings attributed to the Cherokee. Other speculate they feature Old Word alphabet letters, sparking wild alternative-history theories. In Western North Carolina, several scenic routes take to you the famed Moon-Eyed People statue in Murphy, where the alien-like figures fuel the imagination. Near Cullowhee, Judaculla Rock may be an ancient star map, or just lines and dots carved by the Cherokee. Ride down to North Georgia to see Track Rock Gap, another site filled with ancient concentric carvings. Due to vandalism, the park closed to the public.
• West Virginia – New River Gorge and Seneca Rocks: The Mountain State features countless winding roads for the motorcycle traveler. Any tour of West Virginia should include a trip across the New River Gorge bridge, something that will fill your stomach with butterflies if you’re not a fan of heights. At the northern end of the bridge, a state park features a nice welcome center. You can ride the old road down into the gorge and cross the New River on the low bridge before climbing back up the opposite slope. Farther north, Seneca Rocks looks stunning, especially at sunset. This rocky ridgetop resembles something out of the Italian Dolomites rather the smooth, gentle hills of Appalachia.
• DeSoto’s trail: The Spanish Conquistador Hernando de Soto landed in Florida in 1539 and began an exploration of the Southeast on his quest for gold. His exact route is often debated, but reliable historic accounts have him visiting Georgia, the Carolinas, Tennessee and Alabama on his way to the Mississippi River, where he died of malaria. In 1540, he reportedly spent a month in Western North Carolina before crossing the Appalachian Mountains into Tennessee. Some sources say his 600-man expeditionary force crossed the French Broad River where the Biltmore Estate in Asheville sits today. Some historians say he crossed Pigeon Gap near Waynesville and ventured west to Franklin. The most popular theory is he followed either the Cane River or the Nolichucky River into Tennessee. No one can agree. His lust for gold probably had him sent out scouting parties in every direction, making most of the routes plausible. For motorcyclists, riding along any of the rivers flowing over the Blue Ridge Mountains to Tennessee is its own exploration of discovery.
— Michael E. Gouge
