Part of N.C. 143 is signed over the Cherohala Skyway. The Skyway starts near the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest several miles west of Robbinsville and runs all the way west to Tellico Plains, Tennessee. At right is a 1998 Tennessee official map. 

The Skyway totals about 41 miles, and 18 miles in North Carolina. The Skyway is one of the few surface roads in North Carolina with mile markers.

N.C. 143 west of Robbinsville, which includes the Skyway, came later. From 129 west to the start of the Skyway, 143 was formerly known as SR 1127. As of mid-1999, some SR 1127 signs were still present. At Santeelah Gap (2660 feet), SR 1127 veers north towards the Kilmer Memorial Forest, and new 143 continues straight ahead.  

The North Carolina portion of the Skyway was opened on October 12, 1996. The Tennessee portion of the Skyway predates it by many years. 

The working name for the Skyway was the Tellico Plains-Robbinsville Scenic Highway. This name, as well as the SR designations, can still be found in some "current" publications. The name Cherohala comes from a portmanteau of the two national forests the Skyway traverses: the Cherokee in Tennessee and the Nantahala in N.C. It's pronounced "chair-oh-HAY-la", by the way. 

The Skyway was designated a National Scenic Byway in 1998.

Well, the road doesn't seem that terrible once you drive it. Heading west from Santeelah Gap, the Skyway wastes no time rising to 4000 feet, and it stays at least that high until it's well into Tennessee. Small brown signs indicate every 1000 feet in elevation. Also, most of the overlooks are named with similar signs (right). (The more I think about "No Name Gap", the less sense it makes.) 

Most of the views on the North Carolina side look north, into the Santeelah Creek valley. From the road, a few short trails lead to mountaintops and 360-degree views. The two best are probably atop Huckleberry Mountain (about 5500 feet) and Hooper Bald (about 5400 feet). The highest point on the Skyway in either state is near the 5390-foot Santeelah Overlook. The Tennessee side of the Skyway spends less time above 4000 feet, but lower down the road runs along the scenic Tellico River. Most of the best scenery is in North Carolina. 

The Skyway has a 45-mph limit in North Carolina, the same as on most of the BRP. The speed limit in Tennessee is only 30 mph, but is widely ignored. 

In some important ways, however, the BRP and the Skyway are very different. Whereas the BRP is owned and maintained by the National Park Service, the Skyway belongs to the NCDOT and TnDOT. The Skyway is also less accessible than the Parkway is, and not just because the Skyway is in an especially remote area -- it's an arduous trek just to get the Skyway in the first place. You either have to get to, then through, the town of Tellico Plains in Tennessee, or drive several miles of twisty backroads in North Carolina. Both states are addressing this problem. In North Carolina, 143 through Robbinsville is scheduled for upgrades in coming years, either by widening it or building a new bypass around town. In the longer term, nearby roads that access the Skyway will be upgraded as well. On the Tennessee side, a new 165 is currently under construction (as of late 1998/early 1999) that avoids residential areas of Tellico Plains. 

Whereas Tennessee maintains its half of the Skyway in the winter, North Carolina does not, and while N.C. doesn't officially close the Skyway during bad weather, there's no use trying to drive it. This can be frustrating whenever it's not summer; your best bet may be to ask about the conditions at the Cheoah Ranger Station, which is located on N.C. 143 just west of where it leaves 129. 

Photos: (all under 30K) 
View of snow-covered mountains in Tennessee 
View of Skyway in Tennessee from afar 
View near Huckleberry Mountain parking area 
N.C. 143 in winter near Tennessee line 

Links: Monroe County (Tennessee) Tourism Council | Tellico Plains Mountain Press 

Business 143 presumably was born in 1996, when 143 was first comissioned.