Western North Carolina Scenic Drives
The Roads
Western North Carolina’s backroads wind through some of the most rugged terrain in the Eastern United States. The mountains here are old — part of the Southern Appalachian range, with peaks above 6,000 feet and river gorges cutting 2,000 feet below the ridgelines. The roads follow the rivers, climb through gaps, and cross between counties that were isolated from each other for most of their history.
Our scenic drive routes are based out of Franklin, NC in Macon County, at the heart of the Nantahala National Forest. From Franklin, you can reach the Cullasaja Gorge, the Highlands Plateau, the Tuckasegee River valley, and the Cherokee homeland along the Little Tennessee River — all within an hour’s drive.
Each route page includes full-length dashcam video, a GPX file from the actual drive, practical information (road conditions, drive time, fuel stops), and notes on the geography, history, and seasonal conditions along the way.
The Routes
Franklin to Highlands to Scaly Mountain — Half-day loop through the Cullasaja Gorge past four waterfalls: Cullasaja Falls, Quarry Falls, Dry Falls, and Bridal Veil Falls. The gorge road (US-64) climbs from 2,100 feet to 4,100 feet in 12 miles.
Driving the Bootlegger’s Highway — NC-28 from Bryson City through Cherokee sacred sites and bootlegger country to Cowee Mound in the Little Tennessee River valley.
Cullowhee to Franklin via Pine Creek Road — Lake Glenville at 3,500 feet (one of the highest-elevation lakes in the Eastern US) and narrow backroads between Jackson and Macon counties.
Cullasaja to Cullowhee Summer Drive — Quiet mountain roads through the WNC highlands — deep canopy, lush valleys, and temperature drops with elevation gain.
Franklin to Lake Chatuge and Hiawassee — US-64 west across the North Carolina-Georgia state line to Lake Chatuge, a TVA reservoir at the foot of Brasstown Bald (Georgia’s highest point).
The Region
Macon, Jackson, and Swain counties sit where the Blue Ridge Escarpment meets the Nantahala Mountains. Elevation ranges from around 2,000 feet in the river valleys to over 5,000 feet on the ridgelines. The vegetation shifts with altitude — tulip poplar and red maple in the valleys, northern red oak and yellow birch on the slopes, Fraser fir and red spruce on the highest peaks.
The Cherokee people lived in these mountains for thousands of years before European contact. Place names across the region — Cullasaja, Nantahala, Tuckasegee, Nikwasi — are Cherokee words. The Nikwasi Mound, nearly 1,000 years old, still stands in the center of Franklin.
All footage is captured with the setup described on our gear page. For longer, multi-day road trips — including Ireland and the American West — see all journeys.
