Moonshiner 28 / Copper Head / 178 Loop

This is the big one. The loop strings together some of the best riding in three states: mountain curves in North Carolina, foothill highway in South Carolina, and the southern half of Moonshiner 28 heading north through Georgia and the North Carolina high country. Plan on a full day, and don’t rush it.

The ride starts on NC 215, climbing from Bethel Valley past Lake Logan and over the Blue Ridge Parkway on one of the most technical roads in the region, then dropping down toward Rosman. From there, US 178 winds south through the mountains and out into the South Carolina upstate, where the terrain softens and the road opens up. SC 11, the Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway, carries you west along the edge of the mountains past orchards, farm stands, and long ridge views on the way to Walhalla.

Walhalla is the southern end of Moonshiner 28, and riders traditionally pick it up at the Last Chance Bar. The road runs all the way north to the Tail of the Dragon at Deals Gap, but this loop follows it as far as Bryson City. NC 28 earned its name from moonshine runners who used these back roads to move their product north and stay ahead of the law. Heading north, the road crosses a corner of Georgia and climbs into Highlands, then descends toward Franklin through the Cullasaja Gorge, past some of the region’s best-known waterfalls, including Bridal Veil Falls, Dry Falls, and Cullasaja Falls. The final stretch from Franklin to Bryson City follows the Little Tennessee River through a quiet valley, with tight curves that come quickly near the end.

With this much distance and elevation change, preparation matters. Fill up whenever you have the chance, since services thin out on the rural stretches. Bring layers, because the high country around Highlands and the Parkway crossing can be much cooler than the South Carolina foothills. The Cullasaja Gorge section has narrow shoulders and steep drop-offs, and waterfall pull-offs can be busy in summer and fall, so watch for stopped cars and pedestrians. Ride within your experience and give yourself plenty of daylight.