An easily overlooked spot in Highlands, NC - The Will Henry Stevens Covered Bridge at the Bascom Art Center makes a great stop on your motorcycle ride to see the waterfalls.

 

 

We've ridden past this roadside attraction for years yet it never registered as a place to stop on our motorcycle rides to see the fabulous waterfalls in the Cullasaja River Gorge. I suppose it's because I'm so eager to get out of the congestion in Highlands, NC. The roads surrounding the upscale town are outstanding but traffic crawls through the popular picturesque community. Reaching the edge of town the twists and turns ahead are so tempting yet a stop at the Bascom is time well spent and adds to the ride.

 

 

 

As you head west from Highlands towards the Cullasja Gorge to see the 4 big roadside waterfalls on NC 28 / US 64 you'll find the Will Henry Stevens Covered Bridge on the right. The road it covers leads to the Bascom Art Center, a collection of historic restored horse farm buildings which house the art and museum. It's a one-way ride entering through the bridge, a short paved road loops you back to US 64 from the parking area at the museum.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The covered bridge is exquisite, worth the stop to see. It's not original, the timbers were brought from New Hampshire then reconstructed at the site from a bridge dating from 1807. The beams are secured with hammered wooden pegs, it's truly a work of lost craftsmanship. You'll find an appreciation for historic preservation throughout the Bascom Art Center in the barns and stables now hosting the artists and their work.

 

 

 

 

 

The Bascom Art Center is worth the time for a visit. You'll find artists in residence producing  beautiful pottery and crafts and a gift shop if any catch your eye. The three story museum in the largest building features collections from historic South Carolina, Japanese calligraphy, woodworks, and other eclectic exhibits. A short walking trail loops from the gallery through the grounds.

 

 

 

 

 

    

The Will Henry Stevens Covered Bridge & Bascom Art Center make a nice addition to your waterfall ride passing through Highlands, NC. Be it a quick stop to snap some photos or a more extended visit to the art center, this is a nice scenic addition to your motorcycle adventures. Explore the map below to discover more and download a GPS track of the loop ride.

 

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Article by Wayne Busch, America Rides Maps

We produce detailed maps of the best roads to enjoy on your motorcycle travels in the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains. Get the maps at America Rides Maps.com