The Cherohala Skyway: An Epic 2 Day Run to a Motorcycle Mecca

Start of the Skyway

There this road in East Tennessee that I can't get out of my mind. So it's a two-day motorcycle ride to get it done. All the stars aligned; the weather, the time off. It was a perfect 2 days. So it's a ride to the motorcycle mecca that surrounds the Great Smoky Mountian National Park. The Cherohala Skyway is the destination. It was constructed in 1996 as a link between Tellico Plains, Tennessee, and Robbinsville, North Carolina.

 

Cherohala Skyway 

"The Cherohala Skyway is a 43-mile National Scenic Byway and National Forest Scenic Byway that connects Tellico Plains, Tennessee to Robbinsville, North Carolina in the southeastern United States. Its name is a portmanteau of Cherokee and Nantahala, the two national forests through which it passes."

The Smokies

On the way there, I'm going to take the scenic route that crosses the Cumberland Plateau. This takes me on some of my favorite roads in Tennessee. Two of my favorite are US Highway 70 and TN State Road 30. All these roads are fantastic Motorcycle Roads in their own right. I arrive in Tellico Plains for the start of the Skyway. I stop to take it all in. I get some pictures, and then it begins.

2 Day Route

After riding the Skyway, I have to say this is my favorite type of motorcycle road. Lots of twisting turns, but you do get a break every so often with a straightaway or two—also, some long fast gradual turns. In my opinion, it's a much more enjoyable road to ride than the Dragon. After getting to Robbinsville, North Carolina, its another hour to Cherokee, my stop for the evening.

On the Skyway

The next day its rinse and repeat for my journey back home. Today it's the Dragon, this road is a test, a technical route. Sure it fun, but about halfway through, I'm thinking I wish I was on the Skyway. This is my third time on the Dragon, and I know there are a lot of great motorcycle roads in Tennessee. There are a lot out there that I have yet to ride. To me, there are some better, more technical roads up by the Cumberland Gap; the Tennessee Lost Highways are much better.

The Dragon

So I get home with my ich scratched and the Cherohala Skyway under my belt. In a few months, Terri and I plan to travel back out to East Tennessee in the fall to ride some more of these roads and to see the leaves change. I really can't get enough of this.