Dual-Sport & Adventure Routes in North Carolina

North Carolina is a haven for dual-sport riders with its blend of intense mountain terrain and beautiful coastal routes. Whether you’re looking for something challenging and adrenaline-packed or smooth and scenic, you’ll find more than enough fantastic routes in our state.

These are some of the best dual-sport spots in the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains, and along the awe-inspiring Atlantic coast.

Hitting the Mountains

For some incredible panoramic views and dramatic drops, you can’t do much better than the North Carolina mountains. Along these routes, you’ll face significant terrain variation: clay, rock steps, paved connectors, and some narrow forest-service roads. They’re a great option for anyone looking for a challenge or just some unforgettable views.

Be sure to carry navigation tracks or GPS maps on your adventures, as many of the forest roads in NC close seasonally without warning.

South East Backcountry Discovery Route (SEBDR)

The SEBDR runs 1,300 miles from Florida up to Damascus, Virginia. The segments in North Carolina offer some of the best rides of them all:

• Hot Springs to Newland: Follows River Road along the French Broad River; includes creek crossings and fire-service roads.
• Newland to Grandfather Mountain: Goes through Pisgah National Forest, with twisty dirt roads, an alternate “harder” route down White Oak Road, and spectacular views near Grandfather Mountain.

“Gravelhala” Dual-Sport Loop (Fontana/Andrews Area)

This over 240-mile loop runs through Gravelhala, an iconic adventure route in the Great Smoky Mountains area. It offers a mix of forest gravel roads and scenic switchbacks. Highlights include stops at Buck Bald, Joanna Bald, and Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest.

Western NC Forest & Gravel Roads (near Haywood/Linville)

For a more scenic and serene ride, you’ll find a ton of incredible loops in the Western NC mountains, including:

• Waterfall Ride Loop: Start on US 19 in Maggie Valley and head west to begin this legendary loop past six gorgeous waterfall views.
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park Loop: Start on US 19 in Maggie Valley and head west once more to cruise through one of the most beautiful natural wonders in the country.
• Copperhead Loop: Begin your ride on US 276 South in Waynesville for 89 miles of winding roads flanked by waterfalls, with two chances to hop on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

These routes are not simple one-road loops. Be sure to use the detailed guide from the Visit Haywood site to map out your rides.

Exploring the Coast

Switch gears and head east to the Atlantic coastal areas of our state, where adventure riders can relax and take in some scenic beauty. You’ll find mixed surfaces along the way, including sand roads and coastal lowlands. A lighter gearing setup is recommended.

Outer Banks Scenic Byway (NC12)

The most iconic of all NC’s coastal routes. The Outer Banks Scenic Byway runs along NC12 for around 138 miles. This route takes you through barrier islands, marshes, and dunes, with some iconic lighthouses to spot along the way.

Pamlico Scenic Byway

A 127-mile route blending waterfront towns and wildlife refuge areas. You’ll start in Washington and proceed through Bath, along with some rural lowlands, marshes, and forested regions. This route offers fewer open beach views and more tidal rivers and slow scenic roads. It can be great for spotting local wildlife.

NC 343 Through Coastal Camden County

NC’s 25.5-mile Highway 343 starts in Old Trap at the intersection of SR 1104 and SR 1100 and runs along parts of the Pasquotank River and Dismal Swamp Canal. This route is a calmer ride with plenty of paved, low-traffic rural roads. You’ll cruise through barrier islands and marshland, as well as some quaint coastal towns.