National Forest Scenic Byway
The National Forest Scenic Byways are roads that have been designated by the U.S. Forest Service as scenic byways. Many are also National Scenic Byways (NSB). The program was initiated in 1987.
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List
The following roadways were listed b ...
that traverses through the
Nantahala National Forest
The Nantahala National Forest ( /ˌnæntəˈheɪlə/), is the largest of the four national forests in North Carolina, lying in the mountains and valleys of western North Carolina. The Nantahala is the second wettest region in the country, after the ...
, in
Western North Carolina
Western North Carolina (often abbreviated as WNC) is the region of North Carolina which includes the Appalachian Mountains; it is often known geographically as the state's Mountain Region. It contains the highest mountains in the Eastern United S ...
. It features two river gorges, hardwood forests and countryside vistas.
Route description
The first part of this byway follows the combined route of
U.S. 64
U.S. Route 64 (US 64) is an east–west United States highway that runs for 2,326 miles (3,743 km) from Nags Head in eastern North Carolina to just southwest of the Four Corners in northeast Arizona. The western terminus is at U.S. Route 1 ...
Highlands, North Carolina
Highlands is an incorporated town in Macon County in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located on a plateau in the southern Appalachian Mountains, within the Nantahala National Forest, it lies mostly in southeastern Macon County and slightly i ...
to
Franklin, North Carolina
Franklin is a town in and the county seat of Macon County, North Carolina, United States. It is situated within the Nantahala National Forest. The population was reported to be 4,175 in the 2020 census, an increase from the total of 3,845 tabula ...
Cullasaja River
The Cullasaja River () , from the North Carolina Collection's website at the
waterfall
A waterfall is a point in a river or stream where water flows over a vertical drop or a series of steep drops. Waterfalls also occur where meltwater drops over the edge of a tabular iceberg or ice shelf.
Waterfalls can be formed in several wa ...
s, including:
*
Bridal Veil Falls Bridal Veil Falls, Bridalveil Falls or Bridalveil Fall is a frequently-used name for waterfalls that observers fancy resemble a bride's veil:
Australia
* Bridal Veil Falls, Leura, in the Blue Mountains National Park, New South Wales
* Govetts Le ...
, actually from a tributary creek
*
Dry Falls
Dry Falls is a scalloped precipice with four major alcoves, in central Washington scablands. This cataract complex is on the opposite side of the Upper Grand Coulee from the Columbia River, and at the head of the Lower Grand Coulee, northern ...
, which visitors can walk behind without getting wet
* Quarry Falls, also known as Bust-Yer-Butt Falls
*
Cullasaja Falls
Cullasaja Falls () , from the North Carolina Collection's website at the
...
, the major cascade of falls
From Franklin, the Mountain Waters Scenic Byway follows SR 1442 to the west, climbing through Wayah Gap (elevation: 4,180 ft) on the way to
Nantahala Lake
Nantahala Lake () , from the North Carolina Collection's website at the and then to the community of Aquone. From Aquone, SR 1442 follows the
Nantahala River
The Nantahala River () , from the North Carolina Collection's website at the
Beechertown, where it joins U.S. 19/ 74, which the byway follows to its ending point in the community of Lauada. The route from Aquone to Lauada features the
Nantahala Gorge
The Nantahala River () , from the North Carolina Collection's website at the
Blue Ridge Parkway
The Blue Ridge Parkway is a National Parkway and All-American Road in the United States, noted for its scenic beauty. The parkway, which is America's longest linear park, runs for through 29 Virginia and North Carolina counties, linking Shenand ...
*
Cherohala Skyway
The Cherohala Skyway is a 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 ...
*
Foothills Parkway
The Foothills Parkway is a national parkway which traverses the foothills of the northern Great Smoky Mountains in East Tennessee, located in the southeastern United States. The 72.1-mile (114 km) parkway will connect U.S. Route 129 (U.S. ...
North Carolina Bicycle Route 2
The following is a List of bicycle routes in North Carolina. These routes are designated by the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation Division.
State U.S. Bicycle Route 1
The North Carolina por ...