The Cherohala Skyway climb from the Lake Santeetlah offers a scenic and sustained road biking ascent on a beautiful paved National Scenic Byway. Starting from around 2,660 feet near the lake, you'll climb approximately 11 miles, gaining about 2,730 feet to reach the Santeetlah Overlook at 5,390 feet, with a consistent average gradient around 4.7%. As you ascend through the Nantahala National Forest, the scenery transitions from views near the lake to expansive vistas of dense Appalachian forests and deep valleys from numerous overlooks along the way. Be prepared for the continuous uphill effort and the remoteness, as there are no services directly on the Skyway.