23.1 miles:
33 minutes
This scenic byway's name comes from two national forests, the Cherokee and the Nantahala. The two-lane road climbs to elevations topping 5,000 feet as it winds through eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina, with 15 scenic viewpoints along the way looking out over lushly forested mountains. October, the peak of fall foliage season, is a great time to visit.