I've been there quite a few times. I have some family there (although I won't be visiting them, don't ask..LOL!)

but there are some sick *** roads through there..

The one I liked, everyone referred to as "Winding Staircase Road", I believe this is the actual road info here from theTail of the Dragon site..

"Nantahala Lake Road - Wayah Bald Road - Thunder Road This little known back road is not too far from the Dragon and Cherohala. It runs from the Nantahala River rafting put-in over the mountain into Franklin. There is very little traffic, some great mountain curves, and minimal enforcement . Catch this road on US 19 just a few miles north of the 129/19 intersection. Watch for all the kayakers and the bike route signs. The road runs along the Nantahala River with a number of small waterfalls as you climb to Nantahala Lake. Great curves here as you cross the river several times. The road is rather flat, but still twisting as you circle the lake. It then begins the final climb to Wayah Bald.

The downhill (if you're heading toward Franklin) is the real ride here - some 4 miles of real steep, tight corners and one switchback after another. After that the road levels again to the intersection at Murphy Road. Watch for deer along this section. [FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular]Take a right if you want to jump over to US 64, the 4-lane into Franklin. Take a left on Murphy Road and cruise the back streets into downtown. You can return to US 19 using SR 28 as detailed above."

This is one of the few roads I've ever been on where my tires were screaming at speeds as low as 15 mph... sick sick sick road... great nighttime trip.. and it's fairly close to Deal's Gap..

just an idea anyways... it'd be a good run after the midnight jaunt down the dragon...

 

I'm game for that ride . What would the miles be looping back to Fontana, roughly?

 

not a clue..LOL!.. gotta bust out my old maps this w/e and see... it's not bad though, not bad at all (maybe 60 at most..)