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North Carolina
Department of Transportation
I - 2 6 Sc e n i c H i g h w ay
NCDOT
Located in some of North Carolina’s
highest terrain, the Interstate 26 Scenic
Highway in Madison County takes
motorists
straight through
the heart of the
Appalachian
Mountains and
offers stunning
views, as well as
engineering and
environmental
wonders.
Traveling
north from
Asheville, take Scenic view along I-26
U.S. 19/23
North to Mars Hill. This highway is also
designated as Future I-26. The byway
begins at Exit 9 (U.S. 19/23A North).
Originally called Pleasant Hill, this
area was first settled around 1790.
The community grew up around the
establishment of the French Broad Baptist
Academy in 1856. In 1859, the school
was chartered as Mars Hill College after a
Biblical reference in Acts to a location the
apostle Paul visited. The town itself did
not receive a charter until 1893,
changing its name to Mars Hill to reflect
the influence of the college. Further
information on the history of Mars Hill and
Madison County is available at the Mars
Hill College Rural Life Center, about onehalf mile from the highway.
Continue on I-26 West and pass Exit
9, where U.S. 19 departs the interstate.
Located two miles farther to the right,
is the first of two scenic overlooks along
the highway. In addition to sweeping
views of the
Madison County
landscape,
careful observers
will spot the Blue
Ridge Parkway
across the valley
and the tiny
California Creek
Church below
the highway.
Near the
overlook, but not
visible from the
interstate, is one of two wildlife passages
constructed underneath the highway.
These eight-foot by eight-foot concrete
culverts allow bears, deer and other
wildlife to safely cross the highway corridor
without entering the roadway.
Continuing westward, the highway
passes a N.C. Welcome Center, located
alongside the eastbound lanes. The
center was constructed to resemble a
typical mountain farmstead. In addition
to restroom facilities, travel information
and vending machines, the center
offers exhibits related to mountain life
and culture. Inside the welcome center,
travelers will find displays of local arts and
crafts as well as an exhibit outlining the
construction of this segment of I-26.
The second scenic overlook is also
located at the welcome center. From the
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point, Buckner Gap. At nearly 5,000 feet
above sea level, this is the highest elevation
on any interstate in North Carolina. Near
the top of Buckner Gap is one of NCDOT’s
first monarch butterfly sanctuaries, which
is not easily visible from the highway.
The unique wildlife habitat was created
to enhance the environment along the
highway’s roadsides.
At mile marker three, the highway
NC TN
To Flag Pond
Sams
Gap
Pisgah
National
Forest
Tra
il
observation point, visitors can view Mount
Mitchell, the highest peak east of the
Mississippi River, as well as Black Mountain,
Grandfather Mountain and the Blue Ridge
Parkway. Below the observation area,
visitors will find an educational display on
the chestnut tree, which is indigenous to
this area.
Passing the welcome center, the
highway climbs until it reaches its highest
an
hi
lac
a
p
Ap
W
26
213
213
Mars Hill
25
70
Fre
nc
19
Buckner
19
23
h
d
oa
Br
r
Rive
Weaverville
Asheville
240
40
40
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NCDOT
crosses the Laurel River
near the Wolf Laurel
community. This part of
the state is known for
winter ski resorts. At
235 feet, the Laurel River
bridge is the tallest in
North Carolina. Because
of its height and the
severity of winter weather
in North Carolina’s higher
elevations, the bridge
was designed with
N.C. Welcome Center on I-26
an automatic de-icing system. Careful
observers will notice several nozzles on the
bridge’s sides that are part of this system.
The highway’s second animal crossing is
also located 1.5 miles past the bridge.
At this point, I-26 approaches Sams
Gap and the Tennessee state line. At the
state line, there is a pull-off for truckers
that provide information about highway
safety and the runaway truck ramps
located along the highway’s eastbound
lanes. The Appalachian Trail runs under the
highway through an underpass at the state
line. A small parking lot was constructed
here for trail hikers. Though the scenic
highway ends at the Tennessee state line,
travel five miles to the first Tennessee exit
at Flag Pond to return to North Carolina.
Length: 9 miles
Drive Time: 15 minutes
County: Madison
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