Recommended Driving Tour of Graham County

A driving tour of the entire county would leave Robbinsville and take highway 143 West out to the Cherohala Skyway. Tour up to the North Carolina lookouts and perhaps take a hike on Hooper Bald or up to Huckleberry Knob. Come back down the Cherohala and take a left on 1127 to Joyce Kilmer for a walk among the giant poplars. Leaving there you can take a left for a short ride up to Maple Springs overlook.

Coming back down from Maple Springs take a left at the 4-way stop and circle Lake Santeetlah. A left at the next stop sign will take you out to 129. Take 129 West and drive along the Cheoah River to Tapoco. The Tapoco Dam is where Harrison Ford jumped in the movie The Fugitive. Keep heading West on 129 and you will enter the world famous touring road known as The Tail of the Dragon. The more cautious tourists might want to turn right on 28 and visit Fontana Dam. Continuing East on 28 will bring you to Stecoah, a beautiful hidden valley. Here you can return to Robbinsville by taking 143 over Stecoah Gap or keep heading east on 28 to 19.

A right on 19 will bring you to Kim's, which serves a great cup of coffee, hand dipped ice cream, herbal teas, or fruit smoothies. Highway 19 then passes the Nantahala whitewater rafting, always a good place to sit and watch the rafters on a hot summer afternoon. Continue south on 19 and take a right onto 129 to bring you back to Robbinsville. Taking the big loop would definitely be a long day, so be prepared.

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