How long does Copperhead Loop / NC-215 Mountain Pass take to ride?

About 32 miles. At an unhurried pace with stops that is roughly 1 hour of riding, longer if you are stopping for photographs.

Where does Copperhead Loop / NC-215 Mountain Pass start and end?

It runs between Rosman / French Broad River, NC and Lake Logan / Canton, NC. Either end works as a start; the route reads the same in both directions.

Is Copperhead Loop / NC-215 Mountain Pass a twisty road?

We count about 210 corners across 32 miles, which is consistently bendy.

Is there a GPX file for Copperhead Loop / NC-215 Mountain Pass?

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

Copperhead Loop / NC-215 Mountain Pass

United States · NC-215 / US-276

32Miles

210Corners

6.6Per mile

8.5/10Difficulty

NC-215 is a fierce, narrow mountain pass cutting straight across Pisgah Ridge at Beech Gap (5,300 ft) under the Blue Ridge Parkway. Combining with US-276 creates the fabled Copperhead Loop. The southern climb out of Rosman threads past French Broad waterfalls with steep 9% grades, while the northern descent drops alongside the West Fork Pigeon River toward Lake Logan. Zero shoulders, mossy rock cuts, and switchbacks that test ground clearance make NC-215 one of the rawest paved alpine passes in North Carolina.

Copperhead Loop / NC-215 Mountain Pass runs 32 miles between Rosman / French Broad River, NC and Lake Logan / Canton, NC. We count about 210 corners along it, which is consistently bendy. Demanding, and not a road to meet in the wet.

Plan a ride on it Download GPX Open in Google Maps 3D view

Tank-bag quick reference

StartRosman / French Broad River, NC35.1465, -82.8226
High2,200 ft - 5,300 ftelevation range
EndLake Logan / Canton, NC35.5323, -82.9082

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

Repair within reach

27 miWaynesville Cycle CenterWaynesville, United States
29 miEurosport AshevilleAsheville, United States
56 miWheeler's PerformanceRobbinsville, United States

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

Somewhere to stop

29 miWheels Through Time Motorcycle MuseumMaggie Valley, NC
29 miJoey's Pancake HouseMaggie Valley, NC
54 miLynn's Place & Historic Robbinsville SquareRobbinsville, NC

Questions riders ask

How long does Copperhead Loop / NC-215 Mountain Pass take to ride?: About 32 miles. At an unhurried pace with stops that is roughly 1 hour of riding, longer if you are stopping for photographs.
Where does Copperhead Loop / NC-215 Mountain Pass start and end?: It runs between Rosman / French Broad River, NC and Lake Logan / Canton, NC. Either end works as a start; the route reads the same in both directions.
Is Copperhead Loop / NC-215 Mountain Pass a twisty road?: We count about 210 corners across 32 miles, which is consistently bendy.
Is there a GPX file for Copperhead Loop / NC-215 Mountain Pass?: 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.