Great Motorcycle Rides in North Carolina – The Pisgah Triangles Map
Great Motorcycle Rides in North Carolina – Pisgah Triangles motorcycle map – At least 4 variations, the 3rd is my favorite.
Great Motorcycle Rides in North Carolina – The Pisgah Triangles are some of the best motorcycle rides in the world. You’ll see spectacular views, wonderful waterfalls, and ride curves and twists that go on and on and on!
US 276 and NC 215 are two of the finest motorcycle rides you’ll find. Both roads run south from Waynesville / Maggie Valley forming a large upside-down “V”. Connections between these two long roads make 4 triangle shaped rides. Ride a short fun loop or have an all day adventure!
Complete your triangle with – The Blue Ridge Parkway, US 64, East Fork Road,
or SC 11
Great Motorcycle Rides in North Carolina – Pisgah Triangles – Looking Glass Falls on US 276 is one of the most visited roadside waterfalls in North Carolina
Roll into Waynesville or Maggie Valley and ask someone to direct you to the best and most scenic motorcycle rides and their finger will point you to the jagged southern horizon. Home to the highest and best section of the Blue Ridge Parkway, two of the roads that lead out of town and climb to the mile high mountaintops are drop-dead beautiful and filled with the curves and switchbacks that make a biker come alive.
The Pisgah Triangles is a name I use to describe this collection of great motorcycle rides in western North Carolina as so much of it is through the wilderness of the Pisgah National Forest. These are four good options for rides, though are are several others, including some excellent unpaved forest roads for you adventure bikers. There are also roads which lead out to even more fabulous riding not shown on this map.
Great Motorcycle Rides in North Carolina – Pisgah Triangles – NC 215 is the lesser known leg of the Pisgah Triangles, crossing the parkway midway. It’s a popular rest stop in the middle of the wilderness.
Any of these 3 roads – the Blue Ridge Parkway, US 276, and NC 215 are great motorcycle rides you never, ever, tire of enjoying on your motorcycle vacation trip. It’s the first place we local bikers head to as well. Here are 4 outstanding North Carolina motorcycle loop rides you can choose from to get the most out of your precious time while out motorcycle touring in the Blue Ridge.
Great Motorcycle Rides in North Carolina – Pisgah Triangles – Cradle-of-forestry is one of several stops on US 276, along with Pink Beds, Sliding Rock, Looking Glass Falls, Blue Ridge Motorcycle Campground, Jukebox Junction, …
While you could blast through the shortest loop in less than 3 hours, chances are you won’t. There are so many great views you can’t help but stop and admire them along the ride. The first of the Pisgah Triangles is the first motorcycle ride I recommend to visitors after the Blue Ridge Parkway – it’s that good.
Great Motorcycle Rides in North Carolina – Pisgah Triangles -NC 215 – Cathedral Falls is hidden just off the road, but is worth the stop as there are 4 other waterfalls with just a short walk.
The second of the loops climbs to the Blue Ridge Parkway, then down into the next valley near Brevard and Rosman. If you want to include a few roadside waterfalls in your motorcycle tour, this is the way to get in some good ones and enjoy some more great curvy sections of road. I usually avoid using US 64 through Brevard and the traffic on the 4-lane, as the 3rd loop is so much nicer.
Great Motorcycle Rides in North Carolina – Pisgah Triangles – US 276 junction with the Blue Ridge Parkway. As both NC 215 and US 276 connect, you can always hop up and take a quick break with the best of views.
The third loop is just a little tricky as you jump from backroad to backroad, but it is such a nice and scenic motorcycle ride it is worth the effort and one of my favorite motorcycle rides of all. Dodging south of US 64 gets you off the four lane and on to some great rides along trout rivers and streams. Hard not to come back smiling from this one!
Great Motorcycle Rides in North Carolina – Pisgah Triangles – The climbs up to the highest section of the Blue Ridge Parkway then down to the next valley are packed with switchbacks, curves, and twists that are so much fun to ride!
The longest loop takes you into South Carolina to the very edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains, follows a long straight section of the Foothills Scenic Highway (SC 11), then comes back into North Carolina and a wonderfully twisty ride. The plunge into South Carolina from Caesar’s Head State Park is one you’ll remember!
Great Motorcycle Rides in North Carolina – Pisgah Triangles – Chances are you’ll miss this view plunging down from Caesar’s Head State Park into South Carolina and US 276 carves through the tight switchbacks.
Shortest loop 50 miles. 3 hours, more with stops.
Longest loop 120 miles – All day ride
Routes:
Loop 1 – use Blue Ridge Parkway. 50 miles, 2 -3 hours or more.
Starts in Waynesville – Leave downtown Waynesville on US 276 south to reach the top point of the Pisgah Triangles.
6.3 mi Continue straight at traffic light on US 276.
20.8 mi Turn left to follow ramp to the Blue Ridge Parkway at Wagon Road Gap.
20.9 mi Turn left at stop sing onto the Blue Ridge Parkway (towards Cherokee).
31.9 mi Exit the Blue Ridge Parkway at NC 215.
40 mi Turn Left at stop sign onto NC 215 (towards Canton). NC 215 becomes Lake Logan Rd.
49.9 mi End of loop 1 in Bethel. 6.3 miles back to Waynesville on US 276.
Loop 2 – Use US 64. 90 miles, 3-5 hours
Starts in Waynesville – Leave downtown Waynesville on US 276 south
6.3 mi Pass through the traffic light in Bethel.
20.8 mi Pass under the Blue Ridge Parkway
35.3 mi Turn right @ traffic light onto US 64.
47.8 mi Turn Right onto NC 215 (Parkway Road).
64.8 mi Pass under Blue Ridge Parkway
90+ mi. Follow directions for loop 1 return to Waynesville
Loop 3 – Use East Fork Rd / Wilson Rd. 100 miles, 5 -7 hours
Starts in Waynesville – Leave downtown Waynesville on US 276 south.
35.3 mi Turn right @ traffic light onto US 64. Move into the left lane.
35.4 mi Turn left @ traffic light onto Ecusta Rd. Follow 1.6 miles to next traffic light at Old Hendersonville Highway.
37 mi Turn right, go about 200 yards, then turn left onto Wilson Rd. Follow Wilson Rd to US 276 (Greenville Highway
40.7 mi Turn left @ stop sign onto US 276 (Greenville Highway).
46.1 mi Turn right onto East Fork Road.
54.6 mi Turn left to stay on East Fork Road. Watch for gray metal barn on left near this turn. Follow East Fork Road to US 178 (Pickens Highway).
58.3 mi Turn right @ stop sign onto US 178 (Pickens Highway) and follow into Rosman.
59 mi Turn left @ traffic light when you enter Rosman to reach US 64.
60 mi Turn left at stop sign onto US 64
60.5 mi Turn right onto NC 215 (Parkway Road)
95.5 mi Turn left onto US 276 in Bethel. 6.3 miles to Waynesville.
Loop 4 – Use NC 11 – (Foothills Scenic Parkway)
Follow Loop 3 directions to mile 46.1. Continue south on Greenville Highway (US 276) into South Carolina.
58.1 mi Turn right @ stop sign onto SC 11. Follow 8.9 mi.
67 mi Turn right onto US 178 (Moorefield Memorial Highway). Follow 15.6 miles to Rosman.
Return to Bethel using Loop 3 directions. 120 miles.
Here’s a video that shows riding in the area:
This is it. These are the rides you should do. They have everything you come to the mountains for. This is bucket-list quality stuff. These are some of the best motorcycle rides in North Carolina. Don’t miss the Pisgah Triangles on your next trip.
You find these great motorcycle rides on America Rides Maps #6 – The Best Motorcycle Rides Near Smoky Park – EAST http://shop.americaridesmaps.com/6-The-Best-Motorcycle-Rides-Near-Smoky-Mountains-Park-EAST-NC017.htm
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Wayne Busch – Cartographer
Learn Total Control
– Wayne Busch lives in Waynesville, NC, where he produces the most detailed and comprehensive and 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
Wayne is an advanced motorcycle instructor for Total Rider Tech teaching Lee Parks Total Control Advanced Rider Courses. Isn’t it time you looked into advanced rider training to ride more confidently and safely? It can transform your mountain riding experience. Total Rider Tech
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