North Carolina Highway 209

North Carolina Highway 209 (NC 209) is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The highway runs north–south from Lake Junaluska to Hot Springs.

North Carolina Highway 209
Route information
Maintained by NCDOT
Length36.6 mi[1] (58.9 km)
Existed1921–present
Major junctions
South end
US 19 / US 23 / US 74 / US 23 Bus. in Lake Junaluska
  I-40 near Lake Junaluska
North end US 25 / US 70 in Hot Springs
Location
CountiesHaywood, Madison
Highway system
← NC 208→ NC 210

Route description

NC 209 is a 36.6-mile-long (58.9 km) two-lane mountain highway that begins at a busy intersection with US 19/US 23/US 74/US 23 Business in Lake Junaluska. Going north, it crosses over I-40 and through some valley farmlands. The road bends east at Max Patch Road and begins some curvy climbing on and around Hebo Mountain, entering Madison County at Betsy Gap (3,895 ft (1,187 m), highest point on route). Entering the Spring Creek Valley, it passes through the communities of Luck and Trust, before reaching Spring Creek; from there the remaining 10 miles (16 km) becomes an aggressively winding road, and is not recommended for commercial trucks. Once past all the twist and turns, travelers arrive in Hot Springs, where the highway ends at US 25/US 70.

From just north of where the highway crosses the Pigeon River to NC 63, NC 209 forms the eastern border of the Pisgah National Forest. North of NC 63, the highway is completely within the borders of the forest to its northern terminus.[1]

Scenic byway

NC 209 is part of one scenic byway in the state (indicated by a Scenic Byways sign).[2]

The Appalachian Medley is an 45-mile (72 km) byway from near Lake Junaluska to Walnut; it is known for several recreational areas, the Appalachian Trail, and its scenic mountain drive. NC 209 forms the main part of the scenic byway, connecting with US 25/US 70, in Hot Springs, where it continues the rest of the route.[2]

History

Established in 1921 as an original state route, it went from NC 10, in Lake Junaluska to NC 20, in Hot Springs.[3][4] In 1954, NC 209 was extended a .5-mile (0.80 km) south to its current southern terminus.

Junction list
CountyLocationmi[1]kmDestinationsNotes
HaywoodLake Junaluska0.00.0
US 19 / US 23 / US 74 / US 23 Bus. south – Waynesville, Sylva, Cherokee, Asheville		Exit 104 (US 74)
​3.76.0 I-40 – Asheville, KnoxvilleExit 24 (I-40)
MadisonTrust22.035.4 NC 63 east – Asheville
Hot Springs36.658.9 US 25 / US 70 – Marshall, Asheville, Newport
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References
  1. Google (July 4, 2011). "North Carolina Highway 209" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  2. "North Carolina Scenic Byways" (PDF). North Carolina Department of Transportation. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 20, 2012. Retrieved December 2, 2012.
  3. State Highway System of North Carolina (PDF) (Map). Cartography by NCDOT. North Carolina Department of Transportation. 1922. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
  4. State Highway System of North Carolina (PDF) (Map). Cartography by NCDOT. North Carolina Department of Transportation. 1930. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
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