Sights from the Ride – The Ocoee River Rise

Posted on November 21, 2019 by Wayne Busch

A motorcycle ride through the scenic Ocoee River Gorge in northeast Georgia takes you on a winding road with views of the lakes and the rushing river which cascades into it.

A series of dams control the flow on the river. During the daytime the dams increase the water released and the river rises allowing rafters and kayakers time to enjoy the whitewater rapids. When the floodgates open the boaters will ride along on the wave of water that pours down the canyon.

One of the best places to see this dramatic event is from a footbridge spanning the river above the Ocoee Whitewater Center where Olympic competitions were once held. we stopped one morning on our motorcycle travels to watch.

You’ll find the Ocoee River Gorge and the Whitewater Center on America Rides Maps –

#9 The Best Rides in the North Georgia Mountains

100 Great Motorcycle Rides in the Southern Blue Ridge

Posted by Wayne Busch, America Rides Maps

America Rides Maps cover hundreds of great motorcycle rides in the Blue Ridge Mountains. You can order them at America Rides Maps

Sights from the Road – Bible Covered Bridge in East Tennessee

Posted on October 30, 2019 by Wayne Busch

10/30/2019

Easy-to-see Bible Covered Bridge near Greeneville is a good stop on your motorcycle ride in East Tennessee.

Bible Covered Bridge, east Tennessee

When your motorcycle finds Warrensburg Road (TN 349) in East Tennessee you’re in for an enjoyable ride. The road is big and in good shape, a little hilly, and has some nice twisty sections along the creek. It’s a pleasant way to pass through the are near Greeneville avoiding the traffic on the more prominent roads.

Bible Covered Bridge, east Tennessee

Along the way you’ll pass the easy-to-spot Bible Covered Bridge where Bible Branch Road turns off from TN 349. Once you cross the creek a gravel parking lot connects to that road. The covered bridge spans the creek.

Bible Covered Bridge, east Tennessee

The Bible Covered Bridge straddles Little Chuckey Creek connecting the Bible farm with Warrensburg Road. In 1923, the E.A. Bible family hired A.A. McLean to build this bridge to improve access to the main road from their farm. At the time, it had no side windows. In 1940, Greene County purchased it for $750. The Greene County Heritage Trust rehabilitated it, including a new exterior covering with three pedimented windows on each side, also roof bracings and a shingle roof. in 1975 it became a historical structure. Restoration of the bridge was completed in the fall of 2004 by the Greene County Highway Department with the help of a grant from the Tennessee Department of Transportation. The bridge retains the original wooden and steel truss members from 1923, the original concrete substructure, the original floor. Sources: https://bridgehunter.com/tn/greene/bible-covered/ , https://www.tnvacation.com/local/greeneville-bible-covered-bridge

Bible Covered Bridge, east Tennessee

This area of East Tennessee is 15 minutes north of the mountains found along the border with North Carolina. It’s not a highly scenic area, there are not a lot of reasons to stop your motorcycle ride. The Bible Covered Bridge is one of them. You can’t ride across the bridge, but it is an easy place to visit, close to parking, perfect for a short break and some photos of a historic sight.

Wayne Busch – AMERICA RIDES MAPS

Article by Wayne Busch, America Rides Maps

We produce detailed maps of the best roads to enjoy on your motorcycle travels in the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains.

Get the maps at AmericaRidesMaps.com
Source: America Rides Maps Blog on Miles-by-Motorcycle.com

An Iconic Wayah Road Motorcycle Stop Reopens –

Posted on September 28, 2019 by Wayne Busch

9/28/2019

Located at the corner of Wayah Road and Old Murphy Road just west of Franklin, Loafer’s Glory is back.

Loafer’s Glory

In an area with such notable motorcycle rides as the The Dragon and the Cherohala Skyway, Wayah Road ranks highly as another curvy cruise. It climbs from the upstream end of scenic Nantahala Gorge along the whitewater river to reach alpine Nantahala Lake which feeds the flow. The ride then crosses Wayah Bald for several miles before it plunges down the east side of the mountain through a series of winding switchbacks. When the 30 mile ride ends, Loafer’s Glory sits on the corner, a convenient spot for a break.

Junction Wayah Rd and Old Murphy Rd

Loafer’s Glory was once a popular stop for the kayakers, rafters, hikers, and of course the riders that enjoy this beautiful area of the Nantahala National Forest. It closed for a while, then reopened only to close again. Now, it gets another start. The gas pumps remain idle but the store provides cold drinks, ice cream, and snacks. Riders can get a T-shirt or a sticker as a souvenir of their Wayah ride.

Loafer’s Glory

While there’s not much to it, Loafer’s Glory makes a good rest stop, a place to savor the ride and make strategy for the next. Glad to see it back.

Loafer’s Glory

See Interactive Map

Wayne Busch – AMERICA RIDES MAPS

Article by Wayne Busch, America Rides Maps

We produce detailed maps of the best roads to enjoy on your motorcycle travels in the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains. Get the maps at America Rides Maps.com
Source: America Rides Maps Blog

An Overlooked Attraction in Highlands for your Motorcycle Ride

Posted on September 2, 2019 by Wayne Busch

9/2/2019

An easily overlooked spot in Highlands, NC – The Will Henry Stevens Covered Bridge at the Bascom Art Center makes a great stop on your motorcycle ride to see the waterfalls.

Will Henry Stevens Covered Bridge at the Bascom Art Center

Will Henry Stevens Covered Bridge – Highlands, NC

We’ve ridden past this roadside attraction for years yet it never registered as a place to stop on our motorcycle rides to see the fabulous waterfalls in the Cullasaja River Gorge. I suppose it’s because I’m so eager to get out of the congestion in Highlands, NC. The roads surrounding the upscale town are outstanding but traffic crawls through the popular picturesque community. Reaching the edge of town the twists and turns ahead are so tempting yet a stop at the Bascom is time well spent and adds to the ride.

As you head west from Highlands towards the Cullasja Gorge to see the 4 big roadside waterfalls on NC 28 / US 64 you’ll find the Will Henry Stevens Covered Bridge on the right. The road it covers leads to the Bascom Art Center, a collection of historic restored horse farm buildings which house the art and museum. It’s a one-way ride entering through the bridge, a short paved road loops you back to US 64 from the parking area at the museum.

Will Henry Stevens Covered Bridge – Highlands, NC

Bascom Art Center – Highlands, NC

The covered bridge is exquisite, worth the stop to see. It’s not original, the timbers were brought from New Hampshire then reconstructed at the site from a bridge dating from 1807. The beams are secured with hammered wooden pegs, it’s truly a work of lost craftsmanship. You’ll find an appreciation for historic preservation throughout the Bascom Art Center in the barns and stables now hosting the artists and their work.

Bascom Art Center – Pottery

Bascom Art Center – Taking some home(

Bascom Art Center – Gallery

The Bascom Art Center is worth the time for a visit. You’ll find artists in residence producing beautiful pottery and crafts and a gift shop if any catch your eye. The three story museum in the largest building features collections from historic South Carolina, Japanese calligraphy, woodworks, and other eclectic exhibits. A short walking trail loops from the gallery through the grounds.

Bascom Art Center – exhibits

The Will Henry Stevens Covered Bridge & Bascom Art Center make a nice addition to your waterfall ride passing through Highlands, NC. Be it a quick stop to snap some photos or a more extended visit to the art center, this is a nice scenic addition to your motorcycle adventures. Explore the map below to discover more and download a GPS track of the loop ride.

The Easy Waterfall Ride (https://miles-by-motorcycle.com/51999/maps/52025/the-easy-waterfall-ride)

Wayne Busch – AMERICA RIDES MAPS

Article by Wayne Busch, America Rides Maps

We produce detailed maps of the best roads to enjoy on your motorcycle travels in the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains. Get the maps at AmericaRidesMaps.com
Source: America Rides Maps Blog

Motorcycle Destination – Bell Mountain, Georgia

Posted on August 13, 2018 by Wayne Busch

It didn’t take long once the approach road was paved for this Georgia scenic attraction in Hiawassee to get noticed.

Bell Mountain is a rocky outcropping overlooking Lake Chatuge in Hiawasse, Georgia. I’ve read that it is the scars and remnants of a somewhat sketchy and ultimately failed mining effort in 1963.

It’s reported a local resident bought Bell Mountain to protect it from further abuse then gave it to the town when he died. The town turned a local eyesore into an attraction.

As to the graffiti at Bell Mountain – I think it’s just a fad that caught on. Most anything that can be tagged with spray paint has been marked. The rocks, the stairs, the walkways, tree stumps….

Some find this painting an insult. I find it unique and quirky. The views from the boardwalks at the top of the stairs are grand, it’s worth the effort to go up.

It takes less than 10 minutes to ride from US 76 in Hiawassee to the top of the mountain. Shake Rag Road starts off curvy then gets very steep, narrow, and tight. Only one car can pass at a time in places, be alert.

Bell Mountain is a nice place to take a break on a ride passing through Hiawassee. The views that overlook the town, Lake Chatuge, and the surrounding mountains are some of the best you’ll find in Georgia.

Wayne Busch – America Rides Maps

Wayne Busch searches out the most entertaining roads in the Blue Ridge Mountains then records them on a series of maps which span the Blue Ridge Mountains.

There are more great motorcycle roads in the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains than anywhere else. I highlight the best roads then show you the best ways to connect them together into rides. More than a decade of searching has discovered more than 1000 good roads to enjoy. We continue to search so you may enjoy.

Review the maps, order online here – AmericaRidesMaps.com

This area is detailed on:

Map #9 – The Best Rides in the North Georgia Mountains

Map – 100 Great Motorcycle Rides in the Southern Blue Ridge

Source: America Rides Maps Blog @ Miles-by-Motorcycle.com
https://miles-by-motorcycle.com/51999/blog/60676/motorcycle-destination—bell-mountain–georgia

Two Blue Ridge Parkway Attractions at Roanoke, VA

Posted on August 11, 2018 by Wayne Busch

It’s too easy to ride past two great Blue Ridge Parkway attractions at Roanoke – Mill Mountain and Roanoke Mountain. Both are just south of the city and worth a visit. The Park Service roads which lead to them are well marked.

Roanoke Mountain Loop Road at Milepost 120.3 is on the east side of the parkway. The 3.75 mile single lane one-way paved road winds up then down the mountain to reconnect with the Blue Ridge Parkway. There is an overlook at the top of the mountain but the better view is from the Mill Mountain Overlook on the climb up. It takes about 20 minutes to ride it though I always stop at the overlook.

Mill Mountain is home to the famous Roanoke Star which looms above the city. You reach it via the Mill Mountain Parkway at Milepost 120.5. Mill Mountain Parkway is virtually identical to riding the Blue Ridge Parkway, gently curving and climbing to the spur road (Mill Mountain Spur, Prospect Rd SE) that leads to the park at the top. Just walk around the corner from the parking lot and you stand beneath the largest star in the world overlooking the city below.

A zoo, gardens, and visitor center are nearby. It takes about 10 minutes to ride from the parkway to the star. Beyond the spur road, Mill Mountain Parkway becomes JP Fishburn Parkway leading into the city.

Both of these attractions offer better views than you’ll find from the parkway as well as a unique experience.

This area is detailed on America Rides Maps Map #2 – The Roads of Roanoke and Beyond

Wayne Busch – America Rides Maps

Wayne Busch searches out the most entertaining roads in the Blue Ridge Mountains then records them on a series of maps which span the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Review the maps, order online here – AmericaRidesMaps.com

Source: America Rides Maps Blog @ Miles-byMotorcycle.com
https://miles-by-motorcycle.com/51999/blog/60608/two-blue-ridge-parkway-attractions-at-roanoke–va–

Great Motorcycle Rides – Is it a Waterfall or Not?

Posted on March 30, 2018 by Wayne Busch

NC 28 / US 64 between Franklin and Highlands, North Carolina is well known for 4 beautiful roadside waterfalls.

Few notice there is a 5th waterfall, at least that’s what the sign says.

Sequoyah Falls is located just outside Highlands. Truth is it’s not a natural waterfall, rather the spillover from the dam on Lake Sequoyah.There’s an unpaved pull off, a sign and a plaque here and it does make a nice place for a stop on your motorcycle ride.

Is it a waterfall? You decide while you savor this beautiful spot on your motorcycle tour of the Blue Ridge. Enjoy!

You’ll find this road and 99 other outstanding motorcycle rides in the area on map – 100 Great Motorcycle Rides in the Smoky Mountains

100 Great Smoky Mountain Motorcycle Rides Map

Do you like riding to see waterfalls? You might also like –

Smoky Mountain Waterfalls Motorcycle Ride

Wayne Busch – America Rides Maps

Wayne Busch searches out the most entertaining roads in the Blue Ridge Mountains then records them on a series of maps which span the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Review the maps, order online here – AmericaRidesMaps.com

Source: America Rides Maps Blog @ Miles-by-Motorcycle.com
https://miles-by-motorcycle.com/51999/blog/53982/great-motorcycle-rides—is-it-a-waterfall-or-not-

Two Waterfalls off the Cherohala Skyway

Posted on December 8, 2017 by Wayne Busch

Motorcycle Riders can visit two nice waterfalls near the Tennessee end of the Cherohala Skyway

The Cherohala Skyway is one of the best motorcycle rides in the Smoky Mountain area. Bald River Falls is near the Tennessee end of the Skyway. A Forest Service road sign marks the start of River Road which winds upstream to the base of the large waterfall.
Most riders find their way to Bald River Falls and get the nice photo from the bridge. Few know there is another waterfall just a short ride up the road – Baby Falls.

Baby Falls are smaller but still impressive. You’ll find more parking, picnic tables, bathrooms, and easy access to the falls. It’s a nice spot for a break, better than the roadside parking at the bigger waterfall.

Don’t miss Baby Falls, it’s the better place for riders to take a few minutes break. You’ll find it this area covered on several America Rides Maps.

Wayne Busch – America Rides Maps

Wayne Busch searches out the most entertaining roads in the Blue Ridge Mountains then records them on a series of maps which span the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Review the maps, order online here – AmericaRidesMaps.com

100 Great Motorcycle Rides in the Smoky Mountains

100 Rides in the Southern Blue Ridge

The Best Motorcycle Rides South of GSMNP

The Best Motorcycle Rides North of GSMNP

Dual Sport Ride Map Near the Dragon and Cherohala Skyway

Posted on November 15, 2016 by Wayne Busch

Dual Sport Ride Map Near the Dragon and Cherohala Skyway

The Best Unpaved Motorcycle Roads WEST of Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the third motorcycle ride map of the unpaved roads and trails from America Rides Maps.

This new map details the great dual sport rides near the Dragon at Deals Gap, North Carolina, along the long stretch of the Cherohala Skyway, and near Tellico Plains, Tennessee. Enjoy the legendary Tail of the Dragon AND take your adventure bike out in the woods on the same day of great motorcycle rides. ADV Riders will love these detailed maps.

This motorcycle ride map features the great motorcycle roads found near the Nantahala Gorge, as well as the great riding off road riding around Franklin, North Carolina. Enjoy roadside waterfalls, mountain top views, and miles and miles of superb unpaved riding.

Discover motorcycle rides in the vast wild and scenic areas of the Nantahala and Cherokee National Forests on Forest Roads and accessible trails.

America Rides Maps has also produced dual sport motorcycle ride maps of the great adventure rides east of Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the superb roads near the Blue Ridge Parkway south of Smoky Park. They are sold individually and as a 3 map set.

See this new map and the others here –

http://americaridesmaps.com/products/the-best-unpaved-roads-west-of-smoky-park

Motorcycle Loop ride near Floyd, VA

Posted on August 5, 2015 by Wayne Busch

Motorcycle Loop ride near Floyd, VA

Downtown Floyd, VA

This motorcycle loop ride near Floyd, Virginia intersects the Blue Ridge Parkway at two points. You can do either half (north or south of the parkway) or the whole 34.3 miles.

The small and historic town of Floyd, Virginia is located about 5 miles from the Blue Ridge Parkway, about 160 miles into the 469 mile ride. Noted for it’s celebration of local music, the picturesque shops, and a few very good places to eat and stay, Floyd makes a nice layover on your Blue Ridge Parkway motorcycle tour.

Southern Virginia Countryside

This motorcycle loop ride gives you a nice taste of the variety of great roads found in the southern Virginia region which surround the town of Floyd. Rolling hills, pastoral farms, lazy rivers and streams predominate the landscape. You’ll find both relaxed cruising, tight and twisty climbs, and tiny little back roads sneaking through the hills. It’s an opportunity to slip into town and refuel your bike and belly, or make a spicy diversion off the relaxed riding of the park road.

Shooting Creek Road

Directions (clockwise):

Starting in downtown Floyd where VA 8 and US 221 cross, follow US 221 north 2.5 miles to reach Shooting Creek Road (VA 860).

Shooting Creek Road is a tiny back road which leads out through the farmland then into the woods as it traces along the waterway. If you watch for unpaved VA 690 at a sharp curve, you’ll see the Pine Creek Mill, a nice stop for a photo.

Pine Creek Mill

Shooting Creek Road crosses Franklin Pike then continues south to reach the Blue Ridge Parkway. It is poorly marked at the parkway. Cross the park road and continue south to reach VA 40.

VA 40 has both easy cruising and some very tight curves as it takes you east to Woolwine to meet VA 8.

VA 8 will take you north climbing to reach the Blue Ridge Parkway at Tuggles Gap. You’ll find both easy cruising and some exciting hairpins are you reach the crest. Pass under the parkway and continue back into Floyd.

Click for full size

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Wayne Busch

– Wayne Busch lives in Waynesville, NC, where he produces the most detailed, comprehensive, up-to-date motorcycle pocket maps of the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains to help you get the most of your vacation experience. See them here – AmericaRidesMaps.com

Smoky Mountain Motorcycle Rider

The Best Motorcycle Rides in the Mountains

Category Archives: Roadside Attractions

Sights from the Ride – The Ocoee River Rise

Sights from the Road – Bible Covered Bridge in East Tennessee

An Iconic Wayah Road Motorcycle Stop Reopens –

An Overlooked Attraction in Highlands for your Motorcycle Ride

Motorcycle Destination – Bell Mountain, Georgia

Two Blue Ridge Parkway Attractions at Roanoke, VA

Great Motorcycle Rides – Is it a Waterfall or Not?

Two Waterfalls off the Cherohala Skyway

Dual Sport Ride Map Near the Dragon and Cherohala Skyway

Motorcycle Loop ride near Floyd, VA