Favorite Twisties in our region

[lancer360]

Ok, I haven't seen a thread on this so I thought I would start one. List your favorite twisties in our area that you love to drive. Please list the name of the road, the starting/ending location, and the best direction to drive it (if there is one).

Tail of the Dragon US 129
www.tailofthedragon.com/
Starts: Intersection of 28 and US 129 north west of Robbinsville, NC.
Ends: Near Chilowee Lake
Best Direction: Both
maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=35.465284,-83.919926&daddr=35.523844,-83.992882&hl=en&geocode=%3BFQQNHgIdzl7--g&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=0&sz=13&sll=35.469898,-83.90379&sspn=0.095766,0.222988&ie=UTF8&ll=35.488629,-83.872032&spn=0.191487,0.445976&z=12

Pisgah Highway 151
Starts: Intersection of US 23 and 151 West Southwest of Asheville, NC
Ends: Blue Ridge Parkway
Best Direction: Uphill to the Blue Ridge Parkway
maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=N+Carolina+151+N%2FMt+Pisgah+Hwy%2FPisgah+Hwy&daddr=N+Carolina+151+S%2FMt+Pisgah+Hwy%2FPisgah+Hwy&hl=en&geocode=FVQKHQId8I8R-w%3BFceuHAIdCKMR-w&mra=ls&sll=35.455706,-82.711773&sspn=0.047891,0.111494&ie=UTF8&ll=35.447666,-82.718382&spn=0.047896,0.111494&z=14

Ceasar's Head Highway 276
Starts: Intersection of 8, 11, and 276 west of Cleveland, SC
Ends: Brevard, NC
Best Direction: Uphill from SC to NC
maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=S+Carolina+11+N%2FS+Carolina+8+E%2FCherokee+Foothills+Scenic+Hwy&daddr=35.136237,-82.637472&hl=en&geocode=FbQjFwIdloMT-w%3B&mra=mi&mrsp=1,0&sz=13&sll=35.093507,-82.618904&sspn=0.096212,0.222988&ie=UTF8&ll=35.106007,-82.608604&spn=0.096197,0.222988&z=13

Balsam Grove NC 215 (This is a Monster of 32 miles!!!!)
Starts: Intersection of US 64 and NC 215 just west of Rosman, NC
Ends: Intersection of US 276 and NC 215 east of Waynesville, NC
Best Direction: from south to north
maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=N+Carolina+215+N%2FParkway&daddr=35.274774,-82.919312+to:Cruso+Rd%2FUS-276+N&geocode=FdQ-GAId1vsP-w%3B%3BFRY-HQIdPkkP-w&hl=en&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=11&via=1&sll=35.307281,-82.794342&sspn=0.400646,0.891953&ie=UTF8&z=11

Hell Bender (Baby Dragon) NC-28
www.hellbender28.com/
Starts: Intersection of US 74 and NC 28 southwest of Bryson City, NC
Ends: Franklin, NC
Best Direction: South into Franklin
maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=U.S.+74+%26+N+Carolina+28,+Bryson+City,+NC+28713&daddr=35.18129,-83.383276&hl=en&geocode=CcQgzuiXEx-0FVW9GwIdpNMF-ynTuSCrCzZZiDFq4fwKHdjiEQ%3B&mra=mi&mrsp=1&sz=15&sll=35.183069,-83.390393&sspn=0.024027,0.055747&ie=UTF8&ll=35.28094,-83.433609&spn=0.400777,0.891953&z=11

Thunder Road NC 1310 (Don't follow to close as there tends to be a bit more gravel than other roads, but this one should not be missed)
Starts: Intersection of Patton Road and 1310 west of Franklin of US 64
Ends: at US 74 in Beecher Town, NC
Best direction: east to west
maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Patton+Rd&daddr=Wayah+Rd&hl=en&geocode=FYZ4GAIdEI8G-w%3BFWI7GgIdIhwD-w&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=0&sz=15&sll=35.158232,-83.464594&sspn=0.024034,0.055747&ie=UTF8&ll=35.215893,-83.573685&spn=0.20055,0.445976&z=12

Roan Mountain NC 261/TN 143
Starts: Intersection of NC 226 and 261 in Bakersville, NC
Ends: at US 19E in Roan Mountain, TN
Best direction: North to Roan Mountain
maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=N+Carolina+261+N&daddr=TN-143+N&hl=en&geocode=FRSNJQId7loa-w%3BFQZcKAIdbKob-w&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=0&sz=17&sll=36.014984,-82.157789&sspn=0.005945,0.013937&ie=UTF8&ll=36.088506,-82.107697&spn=0.380094,0.891953&z=11

Rough Ridge/Blowing Rock/Grandfather Mountain (Blowing Rock) US 221
Starts: Intersection of US 221 and NC 105 in Linville, NC
Ends: Intersection of US 221 and US 321 in Blowing Rock, NC
Best Direction: Both ways
maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=US-221+N&daddr=Valley+Blvd&hl=en&geocode=FahmJgIdmMEe-w%3BFf9tJwIddtAh-w&mra=mi&mrsp=0,1&sz=16&sll=36.072412,-81.86456&sspn=0.01188,0.027874&ie=UTF8&ll=36.100989,-81.758537&spn=0.190017,0.445976&z=12

Pisgah Forest US 276 (Be carefull, lots of swimmers, hikers, etc on the side of the road)
Starts: Intersection of US 276 and US 64 just north of Brevard, NC
Ends: Intersection of US 276 and Blue Ridge Parkway
Best Direction: unknown
maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=US-276+S%2FUS-64+W&daddr=Cruso+Rd%2FUS-276+N&hl=en&geocode=FeE7GgIdSQgS-w%3BFRvBGwIdW7YQ-w&mra=ls&sll=35.36893,-82.790179&sspn=0.023972,0.055747&ie=UTF8&z=12

Singecat Ridge NC 80
Starts: Intersection of NC 80 and US 70 just west of Marion
Ends: Intersection of NC 80 and Blue Ridge Parkway
Best Direction: North to the Blue Ridge Parkway
maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=US-70+E&daddr=Buck+Creek+Rd%2FN+Carolina+80+N&hl=en&geocode=FUSeIAIdoNUb-w%3BFabRIQIdtkMa-w&mra=ls&sll=35.765423,-82.15795&sspn=0.023853,0.055747&ie=UTF8&ll=35.734251,-82.119198&spn=0.09545,0.222988&z=13

Jonas Ridge NC 181
Starts: Intersection of NC 181 and US 70 in Morganton, NC
Ends: Intersection of NC 181 and Blue Ridge Parkway
Best Direction: North to the Blue Ridge Parkway
maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=N+Green+St&daddr=N+Carolina+181+N&hl=en&geocode=Fcx0IQId1Ich-w%3BFRdAJQIda3Ie-w&mra=ls&sll=35.997452,-81.888742&sspn=0.011892,0.027874&ie=UTF8&z=11

Blue Ridge Parkway (Strictly for sight seeing DON'T SPEED FEDERAL OFFENSE!!!!)
Starts: Intersection of Blue Ridge Parkway and US 441 in Ravensford, NC
Ends: Intersction of Blue Ridge Parkway and US 221 in Rutherwood, NC
maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=US-441+S&daddr=US-221+N&hl=en&geocode=FcbDHQIdFe0I-w%3BFYWeJgIdMWIf-w&mra=ls&sll=36.088991,-81.819477&sspn=0.023756,0.055747&ie=UTF8&z=10

Wards Gap Road
Starts: Intersection of Bradshaw Road and Old NC 18 near Camp Creek, NC
Ends: Intersection of Wards Gap Road and Old NC 18 north of Ramsey, NC
Best Direction: South to North
maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Bradshaw+Road+and+Old+NC+18&daddr=35.583827,-81.587563+to:Old+N+C+18&hl=en&geocode=FXTLHgIdopQj-ylHFvYqVCpXiDH727UqhTUpYQ%3B%3BFfMvHwIdIFkj-w&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=14&via=1&sll=35.585991,-81.555719&sspn=0.047814,0.111494&ie=UTF8&z=14

Little Switzerland NC 226A
Starts: Intersection of NC 226, NC 226A and Blue Ridge Parkway east of Little Switzerland, NC
Ends: Intersection of NC 226 and NC 226A north of Woodlawn, NC
Best Direction: North to South
maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=N+Carolina+226+Alt+S&daddr=N+Carolina+226+Alt+S+to:35.811305,-82.043881&hl=en&geocode=FWgOIwIdOv8b-w%3BFYO3IgIdMFUb-w%3B&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=2&sz=16&via=1&sll=35.814472,-82.045512&sspn=0.011954,0.027788&ie=UTF8&ll=35.828252,-82.065639&spn=0.095616,0.222301&z=13

Moorefield Highway US 178
Starts: Intersection of US 178 and SC 11 just east of Sunset, SC
End: Intersection of US 178 and US 64 in Rosman, NC
Best Direction: North to Rosman
maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=S+Carolina+11+S%2FCherokee+Foothills+Scenic+Hwy&daddr=35.148828,-82.830906&hl=en&geocode=FYjkFQIdfTkR-w%3B&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=13&sll=35.14574,-82.765331&sspn=0.100361,0.222988&ie=UTF8&ll=35.072155,-82.769279&spn=0.200904,0.445976&z=12

Brushy Mountain Road NC 1001
Starts: Intersection of US 421 and NC 1001 (Brushy Mountain Rd/Oakwoods Rd.) in Wilksboro, NC
Ends: Intersection of NC 1001 and NC 1446 (Brushy Mountain Rd and Linneys Mill Rd)
Best Direction: Unknown
maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Brushy+Mountain+Rd&daddr=Sulphur+Springs+Rd&hl=en&geocode=FchZJwIdrs0p-w%3BFcjJJQId4ikr-w&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=0&sz=14&sll=36.123455,-81.11043&sspn=0.049571,0.111494&ie=UTF8&ll=36.085731,-81.099701&spn=0.198378,0.445976&z=12

[tedebayer]

GREAT JOB!!!!

We must have passed each other a bunch'a times!!!


EXALT + 1 for documenting this!!!

[dstan]

to add to Chris' great list

the north part of 276
start in brevard
go to the blue ridge parkway

hwy 80 north of Marion NC
start in marion at hwy 70
go up to the parkway

[lancer360]

Thanks dstan! I added yours to the list. Keep them coming folks!

Hey Rich, how about making this a sticky!

[dstan]

ok chris Here is a good one from what I recall

181 starting in morganton going up to 221 near grandfather mountain.

and dont forget the Blue Ridge Parkway
just keep close to the 45 mph limit

I have some cool dirt roads too

[lancer360]

Got them added! Thanks Dstan!

[markt]

Old NC 18 up to Morganton. Start at NC10 & NC18 near the Lincoln/Cleveland County lines. Go north on NC18 about a half mile and turn left, there's a sign to go to South Mountain St. Park, go past tomato company. ignore second turn to SMSP(it comes along after a few twisties) and continue on to Morganton. In all it's 13 miles, 114 turns...if anyone's counting...south to north.

226A from BRParkway at Little Switzerland to 226, north to south, careful if you're doing this Sunday morning as there is a church that has parking on both sides of the road about 3/4 of the way thru, you'll notice it starts to flatten out

If you take 181 out of Morganton(good restroom stop on the north end of Morganton @ Bojangles) to BRP then go south BRP (Linville Gorge is another good stop(lots of coffee on the way up))to 226A, I do this as my "regular run", less than 4 hours door2door, best on Sunday morning leaving Bessemer City about 7...top down...

[dstan]

Mark I agree the 226a is a blast up or down it
not much traffic at all

[lancer360]

Mark,

I added yours to the list. Please check the first one you listed though as Vale was nowhere near South Mountain or Old NC 18. The closest towns I saw were Laurel Hill, Camp Creek, and Ramsey.

226A is a blast! I ran that with a bunch of Caymen's. Definitely watch out for church goers on Sunday morning.

[markt]

lancer360 said:

Mark,

I added yours to the list. Please check the first one you listed though as Vale was nowhere near South Mountain or Old NC 18. The closest towns I saw were Laurel Hill, Camp Creek, and Ramsey.

226A is a blast! I ran that with a bunch of Caymen's. Definitely watch out for church goers on Sunday morning.

Modified, Vale is a bit east of the intersection, 5-10 miles or so

[178 above SC 11]

You can't leave out hwy. 178 above SC 11 up to Rosman.

[lancer360]

Got it!

[lilgunny]

Boy I'm Lucky,
Lots of these roads are in my backyard. Hwy 178 - 3 miles, Hwy 276 - 4 miles, Hwy 215 - 6 miles. One of my other favorites is Hwy 281 from intersection of Hwy 64 in Lake Toxaway South to Hwy 11 in South Carolina (then West on Hwy 11 to either Hwy 178 or 276 north to home. Lots of other fine roads in this area also to many to list. ;D
LilGunny

[trickbrick]

Wow... this is a great list! Gonna have to check some of these out!

[lancer360]

Aimee,

We drove right by you at the end of June. We did the run over Ceasar's head on our way up for our kayak trip and drove right by the school in downtown Brevard. I had Anna's neice in the car and she was scared big time and I was only doing about 50% of what the car could do. After that one run, she got back in the Honda Element with Anna and wouldn't ride with me again! Pretty funny! I hope your summer is going well!

[clint]

Actually, there's been a thread about this before; it's been a couple or few years; it may have been on the old forum even...

Hmm, I wonder if it's all right to talk about this, the "encouraging enthusiastic driving on public roads" and all.. and yet...

Great! Now everyone knows about what I've called my "home course" in times past, NC 80 south off the Blue Ridge. Lancer360/Chris refers to it as "Buck Creek NC 80", but I prefer "Singecat Ridge" NC 80, since the best part of it is going up the Singecat Ridge, a "spur" ridge of the Blue Ridge, as it meets the Blue Ridge. It's definitely the mountain road I've visited the most. I'd even began naming some of the turns and/or sections: The Corrector Sr., The Corrector Jr., The Citadel (see if you can tell which one that is), Drift Bait, "Check It!!" (I love Yotsuba-chan! ;D) and The Singecat Serpentine (possibly the most dangerous section, but not -obviously- so; go into it too fast, though...)

I would proceed with due caution on Hwy. 151. I consider it the 2nd most dangerous paved road in NC. It's -very- narrow, the pavement is not very grippy, and there are -many- sections that have -no- shoulder, i.e. cliff drop-offs, even on the outside of turns. What's the #1 most dangerous NC paved road you ask? It's so bad I'm not going to tell you! I will -never- drive it again, even though I was going uphill in first gear; no, I don't mean first gear wound out, I mean -crawling-!! If you go off at all on this road, it's CERTAIN DEATH!

I still know -many- other NC roads not mentioned so far, but I'm not going to tell you because a): I don't want us to run into each other, and b): I'm a greedy SOB about this. ;D Although you'd have to get up pretty early to meet me. When I did this, I'd go -early- Sunday morning. I time it so I arrive "in theater" (at the start of the intended 'fun roads') right about dawn; and be gently cruising back for home at least by 9-9:15, when the most die-hard of the church-going locals, God bless 'em, are just heading out for Sunday schools. This is harder to stick to the further west I go, of course (I live in Charlotte), and you have to get up even earlier...

I haven't done this as much the past couple years; when you think some things, it gives you pause. I've stopped on some of these roads, initially to enjoy the view, but if you look down in some spots, you start thinking: "Hm, if someone, like say, me, were to go off there in their car, it would be pretty bad" ;D Also, though I've had no real "close calls" with animals (or people, on cars, -and- bicycles) I've seen quite a variety at medium-to-close range, enough to make you wonder if you might meet them at worse spots and times...

I'm not saying I'll never go to mountain roads again, but I've definitely learned some cautious steps. Picking and choosing roads, avoiding certain times of the year, certain combinations of weather conditions, looking up weather radar before leaving, making slow 'scouting' runs of roads first, examining their condition, etc. In a couple of these cases, I almost learned the "hard way" <gulp>. Ask me about it sometime...

[lancer360]

I liked your name better so I changed it! ;D Most of the names were picked from nearby landmarks that are listed on the map so if you know of a better name let me know.

I agree with your assessment of 151. It is very tight with no shoulder or guard rails. On a positive note, traffic is very light on it because of that. You do have to watch for leaves on the road and often piles of wet leaves. Since it is completely shaded by trees these piles of wet leaves can often be there for days after a rain storm.

[dstan]

Clint said:

Great! Now everyone knows about what I've called my "home course" in times past, NC 80 south off the Blue Ridge. Lancer360/Chris refers to it as "Buck Creek NC 80", but I prefer "Singe cat Ridge" NC 80, since the best part of it is going up the Singe cat Ridge, a "spur" ridge of the Blue Ridge, as it meets the Blue Ridge. It's definitely the mountain road I've visited the most. I'd even began naming some of the turns and/or sections: The Corrector Sr., The Corrector Jr., The Citadel (see if you can tell which one that is), Drift Bait, "Check It!!" (I love Yotsuba-chan! ;D) and The Singe cat Serpentine (possibly the most dangerous section, but not -obviously- so; go into it too fast, though...)

Clint i wanted to reply on this particular road to find out some things.
first off please know I am no way being negative or disrespectful
My first statement is that Hwy 80 south to Marion is called Buck Creek Road.
when you pull off the Parkway onto Hwy 80 the Ridge you see at the pull off is Singe cat getting its name from a Big forest fire and the fire fighters finding a badly singed cat, IIRC they took the cat in and kept it.

I am thinking the The Citadel is what us locals call the Asphalt curve hence the big pile of Asphalt at the side of the road, a very sharp 180 with a huge increase of elevation.
If you are local please PM me so we can run Our favorite road together.

Thanks
Dave from Buck Creek X trout farmer ;D

[trickbrick]

lancer360 said:

Aimee,

We drove right by you at the end of June. We did the run over Ceasar's head on our way up for our kayak trip and drove right by the school in downtown Brevard. I had Anna's neice in the car and she was scared big time and I was only doing about 50% of what the car could do. After that one run, she got back in the Honda Element with Anna and wouldn't ride with me again! Pretty funny! I hope your summer is going well!

Chris,
LOL that's great!!! I bet it was fun . I try to be nice when people are in the car with me too, to not scare them too much. I did get to go on 151 on a piano studio outing, following my private piano teacher... and we got some crazy pictures of him! Lol...let's just say he likes to cut corners! If there had actually been traffic on that road I would have been quite worried... as it was I just couldn't believe it ... and started laughing.

It's fun so far! I'm playing in a recital (SOLO stuff yay!) either next week or the week after, and must admit, I'm quite worried/scared about it! The music is not nearly to the caliber of letting other humans hear it yet......... so I have my work cut out for me!

How did that trip go, btw? Tons of fun?

Even though I really like it here a lot...I think I'm glad I don't live here for only ONE reason. (Ok two.) I would go through tires too fast and I would really want a sportier car lol.

;D

[lancer360]

Whats wrong with a sportier car? ;D I don't think I would be able to keep my license very long if I lived near those roads though.

The trip was a blast. We had a lot of fun. We are hoping to do some more kayaking if we can find some time off. I still in Singapore, but I have a flight home on Saturday. Should give me just enough time to get the car and trailer prepped for VIR. When do you come back to autocross with us?

[bobselise]

Nice list Chris! I spend a lot of time on these roads on the weekends. I think you've just about covered all of my favorites. I have run 221 quite a bit lately since it's close to home for me and a lot of fun.

Good warning on Thunder Road - that's where my rear window got shattered while I was driving behind another Elise.

[trickbrick]

lancer360 said:

Whats wrong with a sportier car? ;D I don't think I would be able to keep my license very long if I lived near those roads though.

The trip was a blast. We had a lot of fun. We are hoping to do some more kayaking if we can find some time off. I still in Singapore, but I have a flight home on Saturday. Should give me just enough time to get the car and trailer prepped for VIR. When do you come back to autocross with us?

Hehehe... Nothing is wrong with a sportier car, other than the fact that it would probably drive me crazy to have to sit in class and study/practice with a sporty car sitting there, just waiting to be driven! ;D

Cool...have fun at VIR!!! My contract here in Brevard ends on August 6th...so I am hoping to be back autocrossing after that! I'm definitely going home to Alabama sometime before school begins, since I think I've seen my fam. for a total of about 8 days this entire year....

[philip1]

Who would like to get together and run some of these roads some weekend? I know none of these roads and I love twisties. PM me or make a public invite.

[trickbrick]

I'm up in Brevard NC until August 6, so any of the roads near Asheville/Brevard area -- I'm game ;D

[philip1]

I don't know if Cleo is up to a long trip just yet but hopefully soon

[trickbrick]

Ah -- I totally understand! I have decided that I will be coming up to the Brevard area more often, now that I know it's less than 3 hrs. from my new home... so there will be plenty of more opportunities for that. Which of these favorite twisties are you near?

[jbyrd]

Brushy Mountain Road - South from US 421 in Wilkes County, NC.

Where legends are born.

[lancer360]

jbyrd said:

Brushy Mountain Road - South from US 421 in Wilkes County, NC.

Where legends are born.

Got it! Thanks JByrd!

[jbyrd]

You can almost say that Brushy Mtn Road is the birthplace of nascar

[Sisko99]

I've driven Brushy Mountain road twice. I got left by an Elise up there.....ask Bob. He was there...for a little while anyway.

Great road though. Only issue I've got with it is that there are houses off of it...which could mean Granny coming out to get the morning paper as you come zooming by. Could turn into a bad thing, thus you have to be quite careful.