How long does Cherohala Skyway (NC-143 / TN-165) take to ride?

About 43 miles. At an unhurried pace with stops that is roughly 1 hour of riding, longer if you are stopping for photographs.

Where does Cherohala Skyway (NC-143 / TN-165) start and end?

It runs between Robbinsville, NC and Tellico Plains, TN. Either end works as a start; the route reads the same in both directions.

Is Cherohala Skyway (NC-143 / TN-165) a twisty road?

We count about 185 corners across 43 miles, which is consistently bendy.

Is there a GPX file for Cherohala Skyway (NC-143 / TN-165)?

Yes. The GPX is free, there is no account, and the planner will build a route that includes this road alongside others nearby.

Motorcycle Ride Planner · Routes · United States

Cherohala Skyway (NC-143 / TN-165)

United States · NC-143 / TN-165

43Miles

185Corners

4.3Per mile

6.5/10Difficulty

A high-altitude National Scenic Byway traversing the crest of the Unicoi Mountains from Robbinsville through Nantahala National Forest into Cherokee National Forest at Tellico Plains. Unlike the ultra-tight Dragon, the Cherohala offers sweeping high-speed radius sweepers and panoramic overlook views ascending past 5,390 feet at Santeetlah Gap and the Unicoi Crest. Weather can change violently within miles, dropping temperatures 15-20°F with sudden dense fog or high crosswinds along the ridgeline. Pavement is exceptionally wide and smooth, making it one of the premier grand touring runs in the Appalachians.

Cherohala Skyway (NC-143 / TN-165) runs 43 miles between Robbinsville, NC and Tellico Plains, TN. We count about 185 corners along it, which is consistently bendy. Committed riding: real corners, real consequences.

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Tank-bag quick reference

StartRobbinsville, NC35.3237, -83.8076
High900 ft - 5,390 ftelevation range
EndTellico Plains, TN35.3629, -84.3038

T-CLOCS before you go: tyres and wheels, controls and cables, lights and electrics, oil and fluids, chassis and stand.

Repair within reach

3 miWheeler's PerformanceRobbinsville, United States
31 miSmoky Mountain Harley-DavidsonMaryville, United States
34 miDual Sport TouringFriendsville, United States
46 miWaynesville Cycle CenterWaynesville, United States

Straight-line distance from the start of the route, not driving distance.

Somewhere to stop

0 miLynn's Place & Historic Robbinsville SquareRobbinsville, NC
10 miHistoric Tapoco Lodge & River TavernRobbinsville, NC
15 miDeals Gap Motorcycle Resort & The Tree of ShameRobbinsville, NC
40 miWheels Through Time Motorcycle MuseumMaggie Valley, NC
42 miJoey's Pancake HouseMaggie Valley, NC

Questions riders ask

How long does Cherohala Skyway (NC-143 / TN-165) take to ride?: About 43 miles. At an unhurried pace with stops that is roughly 1 hour of riding, longer if you are stopping for photographs.
Where does Cherohala Skyway (NC-143 / TN-165) start and end?: It runs between Robbinsville, NC and Tellico Plains, TN. Either end works as a start; the route reads the same in both directions.
Is Cherohala Skyway (NC-143 / TN-165) a twisty road?: We count about 185 corners across 43 miles, which is consistently bendy.
Is there a GPX file for Cherohala Skyway (NC-143 / TN-165)?: Yes. The GPX is free, there is no account, and the planner will build a route that includes this road alongside others nearby.

Where these numbers come from

Distances and corner counts come from the route's own geometry, not from ratings or votes. Nothing here is crowdsourced and nobody paid to appear.