Modified Gauntlet, Suches GA

The Modified Gauntlet is our big north Georgia day. It strings together some of the most famous motorcycle roads in the North Georgia mountains, with a stop at one of the best-known rider hangouts in the Southeast. It’s a long day in the saddle, but it’s the kind of ride people plan whole trips around.

The loop heads west out of the North Carolina mountains and crosses into Georgia near Warne, then rolls past Nottely Dam and the lake country around Blairsville. From there, it climbs into the Chattahoochee National Forest to Suches and Two Wheels of Suches, a motorcycle campground and gathering spot where riders from all over the country stop to swap stories. It’s a natural break before the toughest part of the day.

From Suches, Wolf Pen Gap Road delivers the tightest, most technical riding on the loop, with a steady stream of curves through deep forest as it climbs and drops over the ridges. The loop then works south and east toward Cleveland before turning north on the Richard B. Russell Scenic Highway, which climbs back over the Blue Ridge with long sweepers and big mountain views. The alpine-style town of Helen sits just off the route if you want a detour for food or a cold drink. The final leg on GA 180 passes near Brasstown Bald, Georgia’s highest peak, before you head back into North Carolina for the ride home.

At about 287 miles, this is a full day, so start early and plan your fuel stops, since services are spread out in the national forest. Wolf Pen Gap Road and the Russell Scenic Highway have tight corners, steep grades, and changing elevations, and gravel and debris can collect in the curves, especially after rain. Watch for cyclists, slow traffic, and wildlife, ride within your experience, and leave plenty of daylight for the trip back.