Caesar's Head and US 276 Ride

CAESAR’S HEAD and U.S. 276: One of the best views in the region is only a short ride south of Brevard on U.S. 276. Caesar’s Head State Park, located a few miles across the South Carolina border, features a rocky overhang with an observation deck providing 180-degree views of Table Rock and Upstate South Carolina.

As you head south from Brevard and reach the state line, a quick detour into Camp Greenville will take you to “Pretty Place,” an outdoor chapel with more stunning views.

U.S. 276 briefly joins S.C. 11, also known as the Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway, at the bottom of the mountain. Following the base of the Blue Ridge Escarpment, Highway 11 offers the best access to many of the roads climbing the ramparts of the Blue Ridge Mountains. U.S. 276 veers north on Greer Highway to twist its way up to Caesar’s Head State Park and the Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area. Nearly halfway down the mountain, a pull-off area offers riders a spot to explore Bald Rock Heritage Preserve. This large, flat outcropping of rock features views nearly as good as Caesar’s Head above and makes a great spot for a roadside break.

Along the route are few short passing lanes, many of them in the middle of a few sharp turns. It may take a bit of nerve and confidence to overtake if traffic is heavy. Atop the escarpment, Caesar’s Head State Park usually bustles with visitors, many of them on two wheels. The gift shop tempts you take home a souvenir and of course the view from the rock never fails to imprint a lasting memory. The curves are tight and the riders waiting at the summit are usually welcoming.

The details and photograph of this ride were graciously provided by Michael E. Gouge a seasoned motorcyclist here in Western North Carolina.