Cherohala Skyway

Stretching 43 miles from Robbinsville, North Carolina to Tellico Plains, Tennessee, the Cherohala Skyway delivers a spectacular ride across the southern Appalachian Mountains. With long, sweeping curves, lofty elevations, and endless layers of forested ridges, this scenic highway is a paradise for road trippers, motorcyclists, and anyone seeking crisp mountain air and uninterrupted natural beauty. Named after the Cherokee and Nantahala National Forests it traverses, the Cherohala Skyway offers a soaring adventure through some of the most pristine terrain in the southeastern United States.

Completed in 1996 after 34 years of planning and construction, the Skyway was North Carolina’s most expensive scenic highway project at the time, with a staggering $100 million price tag. The result was worth every penny. Drivers gain access to one of the most majestic and serene corridors in the region, climbing to elevations over 5,400 feet and descending into the remote backcountry of Tennessee.

1. The Road That Touches the Sky

The journey begins at Santeetlah Gap in North Carolina at an elevation of 2,660 feet. From here, the road climbs and winds through dense forests, passing overlook after overlook with panoramic mountain views that stretch for miles. These high ridgelines often ride above the clouds. Weather here can change swiftly, with summer afternoons sometimes shrouded in mist or chilled by a brisk breeze, even in July. Bone-chilling temperatures and thick fog are not uncommon, so layers are essential.

The highway’s design is graceful and deliberate, with gentle, sweeping curves that make it popular among motorcyclists and sports car enthusiasts. The rhythm of the road, the clean scent of pine, and the hush of wilderness make this drive a sensory experience. There are no traffic lights, gas stations, or commercial intrusions along the entire route. Civilization disappears behind a curtain of trees, and what remains is the sound of wind and the occasional call of a hawk overhead.