Indian Lakes Scenic Byway
Indian Lakes Scenic Byway is a State Scenic Byway in North Carolina. Within North Carolina it covers roughly 60 miles. The map below shows its route. Use “Plan a drive” to open it in the Road Sorties route planner — already routing along Indian Lakes Scenic Byway with scenic roads turned on, ready to add your own stops.
Indian Lakes Scenic Byway loops 75 miles through far western North Carolina, past Fontana Lake and the legendary curves of the Tail of the Dragon. The route runs from Almond to Tapoco on NC 28, then continues on US 129 to Topton, following NC Highway 28 and US 129 through the Nantahala National Forest and along the edge of the Great Smoky Mountains. It takes its name from a string of lakes along the way, most bearing Native American names, starting with Fontana Lake beside 480-foot Fontana Dam, the tallest dam east of the Rocky Mountains. Near Deals Gap, the byway briefly overlaps the Tail of the Dragon, a stretch of US 129 packed with more than 300 curves in just 11 miles that draws motorcyclists and sports car drivers from around the world. Further on, a bridge crosses within view of Cheoah Dam, nicknamed the 'Fugitive Dam' after the scene in the 1993 film where Harrison Ford's character leaps from it. Lake Santeetlah and the town of Robbinsville round out a drive that's as much about the water as the road.
- Almond to Topton
- 75 miles
- Fontana Lake and Dam
- Tail of the Dragon (300+ curves/11 mi)
- Cheoah Dam ('Fugitive Dam')
- Nantahala National Forest
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What is a State Scenic Byway?
State Scenic Byways are roads a state has formally recognized for their scenic, natural, historic or cultural value — each state's own curated collection of drives worth taking slowly.
Where to Stay along Indian Lakes Scenic Byway
5 campgrounds and RV parks sit within about 5 miles of Indian Lakes Scenic Byway.
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