Routes
Hellbender 28
Bryson City, NC
22 miles along Fontana Lake with hairpin turns and drop-offs through Great Smoky Mountains.
The Hellbender 28 (North Carolina State Route 28 North) follows 22 miles from Johnson Gap in Stecoah, NC to Deals Gap, winding along the banks of Fontana Lake through the Great Smoky Mountains. The road features hairpin turns, narrow sections with drop-offs, and sweeping curves through dense forest. Heading north from Bryson City (accessible via US-74, then turning onto NC-28), riders climb through the mountains for 20 miles before reaching Fontana Dam, which impounded the lake during World War II. The lake scenery and narrow roadway work together to create one of the most technically rewarding rides in western North Carolina. Elevation changes are constant throughout.
The Route
Open in Google Maps →- Bryson City, NCStart
- Stecoah
- Bryson City
- Fontana Dam
The Ride
Hairpin turns and drop-offs; sweeping curves along lakeside terrain
Rider Stops Near This Route
Dealers, bars and campgrounds from our atlas near this route's home base — real distances, not ads.
Campgrounds
Ridge Top Motel and Campground
Campgrounds
Bryson City Cabin Rentals
Bars & Saloons
Unplugged Pub
Campgrounds
Carolina Mountain Vacations
Bars & Saloons
Derailed Bar & Lounge
Bars & Saloons
Derailed of Bryson City
Dealers
Motor Harley-Davidson Cycles
Bars & Saloons
Mountain Layers Brewing Company
Dealers
Smoky Mountain Harley-Davidson Outpost
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north-carolina