With the steep Black Mountain Range reflected in the rearview mirror at Marion, drivers ease into an equally beautiful though very different countryside while traveling south on the South Mountain Scenery Scenic Byway. This country route, State Road 226, meanders through cornfields and apple orchards, past significant Civil War and Revolutionary War sites en route to its conclusion in Metcalf. It skirts the South Mountains State Park, giving access to wandering trails and abundant camping spots.
Length: 33 miles
Drive Time: 45 minutes
For a detailed driving route and map, download the NC Department of Transportation’s Scenic Byways guide.