Overall Route Rating
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4.08 out of 5 Rider Rating 4.08
26 Reviews

Wayah road

Motorcycle Route Author

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By Ridden (22 McR Points) on Oct 05, 2011

Rider Reviews

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Papi&Nene
4 McR Points
July 10, 2015
We went from 64 to 74, I would recommend heading…
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Shiftless
2 McR Points
January 16, 2012
This is one of my favorite rides. About halfway…
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Written Directions

Wayah Road from US19/74 to US64, or the reverse route.

Scenery

Hard to keep your eyes on the road at times! The west end starts you going up a gorge tracing the stream with some waterfalls mixed in. Once you reach the peak (the AP trail crosses around here) there is a large lake at the top. Nice winding road around it then the fun begins; lots of tight curves and more elevation changes. Keep your eyes on the road: not much in guard rails protecting you from some rather large drop-offs! Eventually you "wind down" on some less technical roads and at a little gas station/convenience shop. IIRC, this station has REAL gas (no ethanol).

Drive Enjoyment

I'm rating this as a three. Some sections are real nice; some are dirty. The west side of the road is hard for me to read where it looks like there's loose gravel, but it's really not.

Tourism Opportunities

Not a whole lot between the two main roads. Take this drive for the scenery and the curves.
 

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Moe-Moe
October 12, 2012
17 McR Points
Motorcycle Type : Cruiser
I recently came across this road by accident while on a trip to the Smokies with my father (our 1st father-daughter trip!!). We hit all of the "classic" roads in the area, but I'd still have to say this one was our favorite and will be a "must ride" every time I return to the area. There is quite a bit of shifting involved and has some very tight, blind, decreasing radius turns but all in all we loved it, we felt like OWNED the road. We didn't see one vehicle until we were taking a photo opp at a bridge.
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Akumu
November 23, 2019
3916 McR Points
Motorcycle Type : Sport - Touring
On motorcycles this is a good road, with a bit more of a cruise feel. I'm thinking in a hot car this would be more fun. That said it is a fun route, the road can be slim, the surface can be 'meh' in spots, their can be patches of light gravel, and the temperature will drop, or rather, it did for us as we headed east into Franklin. I haven't went on it but CR 711 is supposed to be very fun, as well, and it's about halfway through Wayah. Perhaps head up it for 5 - 10 miles or so and turn back around, down it and then back on to Wayah. Good road, but watch yourself.
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rtcoker
January 26, 2020
197 McR Points
Motorcycle Type : Sport - Touring
Have ridden this many times. It has it all. Great twisties. Steep grades. Switchbacks. Along the Nantahal River on the west side until you get to the lake at the top. Heavy forests on most of it. Great mountain homes set back in the woods. Often there is gravel in the curves from cars which can't stay on the hard pavement, so be careful. Lightly traveled. Mostly just locals and for the first 5 miles, trout fishermen. Getting to it is fun as well, as you ride alongside the lower river where all the kyaks and rafting companies try their luck on the whitewater. stop up top at the fire tower for a great 360 view, at the top of Wayah Bald. Beautiful country and ride. if it weren't for lots of gravel in curves a nice challenging ride. Really a five except for the gravel
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1 riders found this road review useful