The Diamondback

Where can you find more than 190 steep, climbing curves in just 12 miles? The Diamondback - North Carolina's last alternate route!

Sweeping curves, amazing scenery and cool mountain breezes make the Diamondback, NC 226A, one of  WNC's last great mountain roadways.

The Diamondback, NC's 226A is loaded with switchbacks looping almost 360-degrees. Runs of S-curves climb and twist sharply as they snake through lush green forest in route to the Blue Ridge Parkway just above Spruce Pine, North Carolina. 

This heavily wooded trek, from Marion in McDowell County to Switzerland Inn, on the edge of Mitchell County, NC is an exciting and challenging drive. Two-lanes of smooth, well-marked pavement are flanked by rocky outcroppings, shear drop-offs and quick, tight hairpin curves.