Fall Color Driving Tour #1

I went out on an expedition into North Carolina today to map out a potential “nice fall foliage tour”. Here’s the route I took, which is not recommended for sports cars, but any normal sedan will do fine. Four wheel drive is not required.

Off the mountain via Katydid. Left onto Lowery, right onto Cutcane, left onto Dean Road, right onto Spur 60.

Take Spur 60 to Hwy 19/129 North/East, through Murphy, and on into Andrews, NC. I continued all the way to the Nantahala Outdoor Center, only because I’ve never been there. It’s a gorgeous drive if you want to head that far, with plenty of photo ops. If not, (or if you do, back track and then) head east onto Wayah Road (if you do this directly, you’ll be making a right, if you’re back tracking from the NOC, it’ll be a left.) Wayah Road runs along the Nantahala Creek (more great photo ops) and up to Lake Nantahala. Once a few more leaves are down, there will be some stunning panoramas. Just past the lake be on the watch for Forest Service road 437 on the right – brown marker. This road is in excellent condition – 1 small tree was down, but I think even a sedan could “take it” – it was only 4-5” in diameter. Otherwise, extremely well maintained and extraordinarily scenic. At the 7 mile mark (check your odometer when turning onto FS 437) there is a house that looks like it’s going to drop down onto the road, and just before that is a nice, fairly high, waterfall on your left. At 10 miles is a lovely photo op of the creek. At 12 miles you’ve reached the end of FS 437 and will make a right onto Hwy 64 West. This is a fairly heavily traveled road, but the trees and mountains are very pretty. As you start the 9% down grade (you’ll see the sign warning the truckers), there is a scenic view pull off to the right. If you’re not traveling 90 miles an hour you’ll have plenty of time to make the turn off. I, however, missed it….

Continue on Hwy 64 West through Hayesville, and keep an eye out for Old Hwy 64 WEST on your left…it’s probably 20 miles at least from where you exit FS 437. Take Old Hwy 64 West as it winds through some beautiful farm country, and then when you see signs for the John C Campbell Folk School, take ‘em. You’ll be turning LEFT onto Brasstown Road. Stop in at the Folk School if you wish – they have a fall festival the weekend of the 3rd. There are some lovely photo ops here with old barns, buildings, etc.

Continue on Brasstown until it dead ends at Martin Creek Road. Hang a LEFT. Martin Creek Road is also very scenic with some gorgeous horse farms. It will dead end at 19/129, just on “our side” of Belleview Home Furnishings, one of my favorite stores ever! So, if it’s open and you want to check out some great stuff and great prices, make a right and it is just down the hill. Otherwise, hang a left and you’ll soon cross back into Georgia.

Couple of options here:

Option 1: Continue on 19/129 into Blairsville. On the way you’ll pass Rountree’s on your right – my other favorite shopping haunt that offers AMAZING home décor items at prices that almost make you feel guilty. Stop in and say hey to Laurel and her amazing dog, Dancer, who smiles when she gets excited. When you’ve loaded up the car with deals, make a right out of the parking lot and continue into Blairsville. Hang a right onto Hwy 515, and go 16.2 miles to Loving Road on the right and come back home.

Option 2: At the traffic light where Granny’s Cottage sits on your right (this would be before Rountree’s), make a right onto Hwy 325. Take Hwy 325 over the dam at Lake Notelly (more photo ops) and continue to Loving Road on the right (just across from the little white church – drive slow, take your time, keep your eyes peeled. If you miss it, no big deal, 325 will take you to Hwy 515 and you can hang a right and come in via Loving Road from the 4-lane). If you don’t miss the turn, enjoy the drive along Loving Road to Old Loving Road and come on back to your cabin for a delicious dinner.

Or, just buy a map and a compass and make up your own itinerary! “Give me a map and a compass, and I will rule the roads!”

Copyright 2010 Above the Rest Luxury Cabins.