Motorcycle Ride Planner · Routes · United States

Richard B. Russell Scenic Byway (GA-348 Hogpen Gap)

United States · GA-348

Crossing the highest paved mountain gap in Georgia at Hogpen Gap (3,480 ft), GA-348 links the alpine tourist town of Helen with Blairsville across the spine of the Blue Ridge. The road climbs at sustained 8-10% grades through deep deciduous forests with sweeping overlooks of Raven Cliff Falls and Dukes Creek. High-speed sweepers transition abruptly into 15 mph hairpin switchbacks with severe elevation drops. Pavement is pristine asphalt with excellent grip, but autumn brings dense wet leaf cover and fog.

Richard B. Russell Scenic Byway (GA-348 Hogpen Gap) runs 14.1 miles between Helen / Robertstown, GA and Choestoe / Blairsville, GA. We count about 110 corners along it, which is consistently bendy. Demanding, and not a road to meet in the wet.

Tank-bag quick reference

• StartHelen / Robertstown, GA34.7212, -83.7746
• High1,600 ft - 3,480 ftelevation range
• EndChoestoe / Blairsville, GA34.8021, -83.8967

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

Repair within reach

• 42 miWheeler's PerformanceRobbinsville, United States
• 43 miMountain Motorsports BufordBuford, United States

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

Somewhere to stop

• 13 miDale's General StoreSuches, GA
• 13 miTwo Wheels of Suches (TWoS)Suches, GA
• 17 miBourbon Street Grille & Historic Gold Rush SquareDahlonega, GA
• 42 miLynn's Place & Historic Robbinsville SquareRobbinsville, NC
• 50 miHistoric Tapoco Lodge & River TavernRobbinsville, NC

More in United States

• California Route 36 - '140 Miles of Curves'140 mi · 1800 corners
• Blue Ridge Parkway (Virginia Ridge & Peaks of Otter)176 mi · 620 corners
• Blue Ridge Parkway (Southern High Peaks Section)129 mi · 580 corners
• The Snake 421 (Holston Mountain Pass)33 mi · 489 corners
• Coronado Trail (The Devil's Highway)92 mi · 460 corners
• Lolo Pass (Lewis and Clark Highway)132 mi · 450 corners

Questions riders ask

How long does Richard B. Russell Scenic Byway (GA-348 Hogpen Gap) take to ride?

About 14 miles. At an unhurried pace with stops that is roughly 1 hour of riding, longer if you are stopping for photographs.

Where does Richard B. Russell Scenic Byway (GA-348 Hogpen Gap) start and end?

It runs between Helen / Robertstown, GA and Choestoe / Blairsville, GA. Either end works as a start; the route reads the same in both directions.

Is Richard B. Russell Scenic Byway (GA-348 Hogpen Gap) a twisty road?

We count about 110 corners across 14 miles, which is consistently bendy.

Is there a GPX file for Richard B. Russell Scenic Byway (GA-348 Hogpen Gap)?

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.