North Carolina Highway 281
Encyclopedia
North Carolina Highway 281 is a primary state highway
in the state
of North Carolina
. The highway runs north–south, connecting communities in western Jackson County
and scenic areas of southwest Transylvania County
. It is the only North Carolina state highway that changes numbers when crossing into South Carolina.
state line in Jackson County
, before quickly entering Transylvania County
. It overlaps with US 64 near Sapphire, then goes 2.5 miles (4 km) east where it splits and continues north to Lake Toxaway
. Continuing northwest, the highway becomes aggressively curvy, steep and narrow (with some locations with no road markings or lines). NC 281 crosses back into Jackson County
at Owens Gap (3590 ft (1,094.2 m), highest point on route), near Round Mountain to the northeast. The road widens again near the Tuckasegee River and passes by several lakes before ending in Tuckasegee
.
The overall route shows the very best of what the Nantahala National Forest
has to offer, but it is not recommended for commercial trucks, recreational vehicles or buses. In the winter, the highway can be considerably dangerous in snow and ice, and should not be attempted without proper equipment.
state line. It is named after the Whitewater Falls, which at 411 ft (125.3 m), are the highest east the of the Rockies. Various other falls can also be found along Horse Pasture River and multiple trails connect the area with rare shortia
found in the area. The byway is not recommended for recreational vehicles or buses.
to Tuckasegee
. Around 1982, NC 281 was extended southwest (overlapping US 64) onto secondary roads to connect travelers to the Whitewater Falls area. SC 130 was extended to the state line in 1987, creating the only non-continues highway number connection between the North and South Carolina.
!County
!Location
!Mile
!Destinations
!Notes
|-
|colspan=2|
|0.0
|
|South Carolina state line
|-
|rowspan=2|Transylvania
|rowspan=2|
|style="background:#ddffdd"|9
|style="background:#ddffdd"|
|style="background:#ddffdd"|West end of US 64 overlap
|-
|style="background:#ddffdd"|11.5
|style="background:#ddffdd"|
|style="background:#ddffdd"|East end of US 64 overlap
|-
|Jackson
|Tuckasegee
|36.6
|
|NC 281 ends
|-
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
in the state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. The highway runs north–south, connecting communities in western Jackson County
Jackson County, North Carolina
Jackson County is a county located in the southwest of the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of 2010, the population was 40,271. Since 1913 its county seat has been Sylva, replacing Webster.-History:...
and scenic areas of southwest Transylvania County
Transylvania County, North Carolina
Transylvania County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of 2010, the population was 33,090. Its county seat is Brevard.- History :The county was formed in 1861 from parts of Henderson County and Jackson County...
. It is the only North Carolina state highway that changes numbers when crossing into South Carolina.
Route description
NC 281 is a 36.6 miles (58.9 km) two-lane mountain highway that begins at the South CarolinaSouth Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
state line in Jackson County
Jackson County, North Carolina
Jackson County is a county located in the southwest of the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of 2010, the population was 40,271. Since 1913 its county seat has been Sylva, replacing Webster.-History:...
, before quickly entering Transylvania County
Transylvania County, North Carolina
Transylvania County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of 2010, the population was 33,090. Its county seat is Brevard.- History :The county was formed in 1861 from parts of Henderson County and Jackson County...
. It overlaps with US 64 near Sapphire, then goes 2.5 miles (4 km) east where it splits and continues north to Lake Toxaway
Lake Toxaway, North Carolina
Lake Toxaway is an unincorporated community in western Transylvania County, North Carolina on U.S. Route 64, and North Carolina Highway 281. It lies at an elevation of 2979 feet ....
. Continuing northwest, the highway becomes aggressively curvy, steep and narrow (with some locations with no road markings or lines). NC 281 crosses back into Jackson County
Jackson County, North Carolina
Jackson County is a county located in the southwest of the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of 2010, the population was 40,271. Since 1913 its county seat has been Sylva, replacing Webster.-History:...
at Owens Gap (3590 ft (1,094.2 m), highest point on route), near Round Mountain to the northeast. The road widens again near the Tuckasegee River and passes by several lakes before ending in Tuckasegee
Tuckasegee, North Carolina
Tuckasegee is an unincorporated community in Jackson County, North Carolina, United States. Tuckasegee is located at the intersection of North Carolina Highway 107 and North Carolina Highway 281 southeast of Forest Hills...
.
The overall route shows the very best of what the Nantahala National Forest
Nantahala National Forest
The Nantahala National Forest, established in 1920, is a national forest located in the American state of North Carolina. The word "Nantahala" is a Cherokee word meaning "Land of the Noonday Sun." The name is appropriate as, in some spots, the sun only reaches the floors of the deep gorges of the...
has to offer, but it is not recommended for commercial trucks, recreational vehicles or buses. In the winter, the highway can be considerably dangerous in snow and ice, and should not be attempted without proper equipment.
Scenic byways
Whitewater Way is an 9 miles (14.5 km) byway from near Sapphire to the South CarolinaSouth Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
state line. It is named after the Whitewater Falls, which at 411 ft (125.3 m), are the highest east the of the Rockies. Various other falls can also be found along Horse Pasture River and multiple trails connect the area with rare shortia
Shortia galacifolia
Shortia galacifolia is a rare plant of the Southern Appalachians in the family Diapensiaceae. It is a relict herb which long bewitched Asa Gray, the eminent American botanist, a saga detailed in the paper "Asa Gray and his quest for Shortia glaucifolia" [Arnoldia Vol. 2, 13-26. 1942]...
found in the area. The byway is not recommended for recreational vehicles or buses.
History
Established in 1930 as a new primary route, it went from Lake ToxawayLake Toxaway, North Carolina
Lake Toxaway is an unincorporated community in western Transylvania County, North Carolina on U.S. Route 64, and North Carolina Highway 281. It lies at an elevation of 2979 feet ....
to Tuckasegee
Tuckasegee, North Carolina
Tuckasegee is an unincorporated community in Jackson County, North Carolina, United States. Tuckasegee is located at the intersection of North Carolina Highway 107 and North Carolina Highway 281 southeast of Forest Hills...
. Around 1982, NC 281 was extended southwest (overlapping US 64) onto secondary roads to connect travelers to the Whitewater Falls area. SC 130 was extended to the state line in 1987, creating the only non-continues highway number connection between the North and South Carolina.
Junction list
{| class="wikitable"!County
!Location
!Mile
!Destinations
!Notes
|-
|colspan=2|
|0.0
|
|South Carolina state line
|-
|rowspan=2|Transylvania
Transylvania County, North Carolina
Transylvania County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of 2010, the population was 33,090. Its county seat is Brevard.- History :The county was formed in 1861 from parts of Henderson County and Jackson County...
|rowspan=2|
|style="background:#ddffdd"|9
|style="background:#ddffdd"|
|style="background:#ddffdd"|West end of US 64 overlap
|-
|style="background:#ddffdd"|11.5
|style="background:#ddffdd"|
|style="background:#ddffdd"|East end of US 64 overlap
|-
|Jackson
Jackson County, North Carolina
Jackson County is a county located in the southwest of the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of 2010, the population was 40,271. Since 1913 its county seat has been Sylva, replacing Webster.-History:...
|Tuckasegee
Tuckasegee, North Carolina
Tuckasegee is an unincorporated community in Jackson County, North Carolina, United States. Tuckasegee is located at the intersection of North Carolina Highway 107 and North Carolina Highway 281 southeast of Forest Hills...
|36.6
|
|NC 281 ends
|-
See also
- French Broad RiverFrench Broad RiverThe French Broad River flows from near the village of Rosman in Transylvania County, North Carolina, into the state of Tennessee. Its confluence with the Holston River at Knoxville is the beginning of the Tennessee River....
- Gorges State ParkGorges State ParkGorges State Park is a North Carolina state park in Transylvania County, North Carolina in the United States. The land, along Jocassee Gorges, was purchased by the state from Duke Energy Corporation in 1999. It is North Carolina's westernmost state park and one of the state's newest. The park is...
- Nantahala National ForestNantahala National ForestThe Nantahala National Forest, established in 1920, is a national forest located in the American state of North Carolina. The word "Nantahala" is a Cherokee word meaning "Land of the Noonday Sun." The name is appropriate as, in some spots, the sun only reaches the floors of the deep gorges of the...
- Toxaway RiverToxaway RiverThe Toxaway River is a waterway that flows south from headwaters in Transylvania County, North Carolina, into Lake Toxaway and over Toxaway Falls, after which it crosses into South Carolina and enters Lake Jocassee, the reservoir behind Lake Jocassee Dam....
- Tuckasegee River
- Whitewater RiverWhitewater River (Keowee River)The Whitewater River is a river that flows south from headwaters in Transylvania County, North Carolina, over Upper Whitewater Falls and Lower Whitewater Falls before crossing into South Carolina and entering Lake Jocassee, the reservoir behind Lake Jocassee Dam.In Lake Jocassee the Whitewater...