Where does The Rattler (NC-209 Waynesville to Hot Springs) start and end?

It runs between Lake Junaluska / Waynesville, NC and Hot Springs / French Broad River, NC. Either end works as a start; the route reads the same in both directions.

Is The Rattler (NC-209 Waynesville to Hot Springs) a twisty road?

We count about 290 corners across 36 miles, which is relentless.

Is there a GPX file for The Rattler (NC-209 Waynesville to Hot Springs)?

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

The Rattler (NC-209 Waynesville to Hot Springs)

United States · NC-209

36Miles

290Corners

8.1Per mile

8.0/10Difficulty

Carving 36 miles through the remote agricultural heart of Madison and Haywood counties, NC-209 is nicknamed The Rattler for its serpentine layout. Starting near Waynesville, it climbs through Betsy's Gap and drops into the tiny outpost of Trust (home to the legendary Trust General Store), before attacking Ferguson's Ridge with technical downhill switchbacks into the historic Appalachian Trail town of Hot Springs. Pavement is exceptional with continuous medium and tight radius bends and far less traffic congestion than US-129.

The Rattler (NC-209 Waynesville to Hot Springs) runs 36 miles between Lake Junaluska / Waynesville, NC and Hot Springs / French Broad River, NC. We count about 290 corners along it, which is relentless. Demanding, and not a road to meet in the wet.

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Tank-bag quick reference

StartLake Junaluska / Waynesville, NC35.5298, -82.9734
High1,325 ft - 3,400 ftelevation range
EndHot Springs / French Broad River, NC35.8929, -82.8276

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

Repair within reach

1 miWaynesville Cycle CenterWaynesville, United States
24 miEurosport AshevilleAsheville, United States
49 miWheeler's PerformanceRobbinsville, United States
55 miSmoky Mountain Harley-DavidsonMaryville, United States

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

Somewhere to stop

5 miJoey's Pancake HouseMaggie Valley, NC
6 miWheels Through Time Motorcycle MuseumMaggie Valley, NC
46 miLynn's Place & Historic Robbinsville SquareRobbinsville, NC
50 miDeals Gap Motorcycle Resort & The Tree of ShameRobbinsville, NC
51 miHistoric Tapoco Lodge & River TavernRobbinsville, NC

Questions riders ask

How long does The Rattler (NC-209 Waynesville to Hot Springs) take to ride?: About 36 miles. At an unhurried pace with stops that is roughly 1 hour of riding, longer if you are stopping for photographs.
Where does The Rattler (NC-209 Waynesville to Hot Springs) start and end?: It runs between Lake Junaluska / Waynesville, NC and Hot Springs / French Broad River, NC. Either end works as a start; the route reads the same in both directions.
Is The Rattler (NC-209 Waynesville to Hot Springs) a twisty road?: We count about 290 corners across 36 miles, which is relentless.
Is there a GPX file for The Rattler (NC-209 Waynesville to Hot Springs)?: 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.