Located at the corner of Wayah Road and Old Murphy Road just west of Franklin, Loafer's Glory is back.
In an area with such notable motorcycle rides as the The Dragon and the Cherohala Skyway, Wayah Road ranks highly as another curvy cruise. It climbs from the upstream end of scenic Nantahala Gorge along the whitewater river to reach alpine Nantahala Lake which feeds the flow. The ride then crosses Wayah Bald for several miles before it plunges down the east side of the mountain through a series of winding switchbacks. When the 30 mile ride ends, Loafer's Glory sits on the corner, a convenient spot for a break.
Loafer's Glory was once a popular stop for the kayakers, rafters, hikers, and of course the riders that enjoy this beautiful area of the Nantahala National Forest. It closed for a while, then reopened only to close again. Now, it gets another start. The gas pumps remain idle but the store provides cold drinks, ice cream, and snacks. Riders can get a T-shirt or a sticker as a souvenir of their Wayah ride.
While there's not much to it, Loafer's Glory makes a good rest stop, a place to savor the ride and make strategy for the next. Glad to see it back.
A classic ride out of Nantahala Gorge, Wayah Road climbs along the whitewater river up to Nathahala Lake, crusies along the top of the ridge, then plunges down the steep slopes to roll out across a valley. Loafer's Glory is a popular stop at the Franklin, NC end of the ride. There is a nice pulloff at the waterfalls on the climb up.
Article by Wayne Busch, America Rides Maps
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