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Wayah Road: Franklin to Nantahala Gorge, Nantahala National Forest, North Carolina
Photo: Juggar · CC BY-SA 4.0

Drives North Carolina Asheville and the Blue Ridge

Wayah Road: Franklin to Nantahala Gorge

Wayah Road, Rainbow Springs Road · Franklin → Beechertown

Intense28 mi55 min3,400 ft climbHigh point ≈ 4,100 ftOne way
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The drive

Wayah Road is a Forest Service scenic byway road through Nantahala National Forest. It is part of the Mountain Waters Scenic Byway, which runs from Highlands to Almond through two river gorges and hardwood forest. Westbound from Franklin, the byway turns off at Old Murphy Road and follows Wayah Road, the state road numbered SR 1310, past Wayah Gap and Nantahala Lake.

The drive ends at US 19/74 at Beechertown, on the Nantahala River. It is 27.8 miles and takes about 55 minutes, with three twisty stretches and about 3,400 feet of climbing.

Along the way

  1. Franklin (Old Murphy Road)
  2. Nantahala Lake
  3. Beechertown (US-19/74)
Elevation
3,400 ft of climbing · high point ≈ 4,100 ft
FranklinBeechertown
Curves
Mostly moderate, with three twisty stretches
FranklinBeechertown
GentleHairpins

Good to know

  • Wayah Bald is reached by a gravel Forest Service road that turns off Wayah Road at Wayah Gap.
  • The Forest Service lists no fee for the byway.
  • The Nantahala Ranger District office, (828) 524-6441, is open Monday to Friday.

Open all year, weather permitting. Roads close for snow, fire, storms and repairs: before you set off, check NCDOT DriveNC: traffic and road conditions.

Questions about this drive

How long does Wayah Road from Franklin take?

Wayah Road from Franklin to US 19/74 at Beechertown is 27.8 miles and takes about 55 minutes.

Is Wayah Road part of a scenic byway?

Yes. Wayah Road is part of the Mountain Waters Scenic Byway in Nantahala National Forest, which the Forest Service says runs from Highlands to Almond.

What you get in the app

Turn by turn, on this roadSpoken directions along the exact route. Carve never reroutes you onto a faster one.
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Distance, time, elevation, curves and intensity are from Carve's route. Checked 2026-10-28.

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Map of Wayah Road: Franklin to Nantahala Gorge, from Franklin to Beechertown