Iowa to Western NC (Dragon, BRP, etc.) Late June
#51
03-30-2014, 08:44 PM
I posted this in another thread but you may find it useful too, especially since you now have more time in the area.
You have received some great suggestions so far. I'm fortunate to live just outside of Asheville and have ridden these roads extensively. I'm 30 minutes from Maggie Valley, 90 minutes from Robbinsville and a couple of hours from the Dragon and the Cherohala Skyway. Robbinsville is a dry county and they roll the streets up at night. IMO, Gatlinburg would be hell on wheels that week. Even in a cage with a/c I'd stay away on July 4th. It will be a big parking lot like NYC in rush hour and bumper to bumper or wheel to wheel traffic. Of the places mentioned I would choose Maggie Valley. Or you may want to consider staying in or around Asheville if you want to stay in the same place each night and not have to pack and unpack.
The reason I suggest Asheville is there are many great rides north and east of Asheville. You could easily do the Dragon, Hellbender and Cherohala in one day or two if wanted to explore in more detail. Then there is the Snake, Hwy 421 near Mountain City, Tn is probably the most famous but there are many other great rides around western NC and Southeastern, Tn. Hwy 67 near Johnson City to Shady Valley, Tn and then to 421 to ride the Snake is very enjoyable. Hwys 19E, 181, 184, 226 are all with in a hour. Hwy 80 from Burnsville to Marion can be challenging similar to the Dragon but without all the traffic. I know everyone wants to ride the Dragon at least once but in case you don't know it's much more dangerous than the other roads. Not so much due the curves but to the traffic. You have RVs, trucks, cages plus sport bikes racing around the twisties. Every year there are numerous deaths due to the above crossing the center line.
One of my favorite rides out of Asheville is Hwy 63 to 209 into Hot Springs, NC. From there take 70 to 107 towards Erwin, Tn. From there you can hit many of the roads noted above. Hwy 9 from Black Mountain to Lake Lure is another scenic and twisty ride although like other places at that time of year more traffic. You may want to pick up a bike touring map (Mad Maps). It identifies numerous great one day rides in the area with stopping points, etc.
Regardless where you stay. Reservations would be smart for that week. Another advantage of Asheville is there is so much to do at the end of the day or in case you have a washout one day. Downtown can be a lot of fun, many great craft beer bars, shops, cool places to eat and people watching galore. Good luck, hope you enjoy your trip.
You have received some great suggestions so far. I'm fortunate to live just outside of Asheville and have ridden these roads extensively. I'm 30 minutes from Maggie Valley, 90 minutes from Robbinsville and a couple of hours from the Dragon and the Cherohala Skyway. Robbinsville is a dry county and they roll the streets up at night. IMO, Gatlinburg would be hell on wheels that week. Even in a cage with a/c I'd stay away on July 4th. It will be a big parking lot like NYC in rush hour and bumper to bumper or wheel to wheel traffic. Of the places mentioned I would choose Maggie Valley. Or you may want to consider staying in or around Asheville if you want to stay in the same place each night and not have to pack and unpack.
The reason I suggest Asheville is there are many great rides north and east of Asheville. You could easily do the Dragon, Hellbender and Cherohala in one day or two if wanted to explore in more detail. Then there is the Snake, Hwy 421 near Mountain City, Tn is probably the most famous but there are many other great rides around western NC and Southeastern, Tn. Hwy 67 near Johnson City to Shady Valley, Tn and then to 421 to ride the Snake is very enjoyable. Hwys 19E, 181, 184, 226 are all with in a hour. Hwy 80 from Burnsville to Marion can be challenging similar to the Dragon but without all the traffic. I know everyone wants to ride the Dragon at least once but in case you don't know it's much more dangerous than the other roads. Not so much due the curves but to the traffic. You have RVs, trucks, cages plus sport bikes racing around the twisties. Every year there are numerous deaths due to the above crossing the center line.
One of my favorite rides out of Asheville is Hwy 63 to 209 into Hot Springs, NC. From there take 70 to 107 towards Erwin, Tn. From there you can hit many of the roads noted above. Hwy 9 from Black Mountain to Lake Lure is another scenic and twisty ride although like other places at that time of year more traffic. You may want to pick up a bike touring map (Mad Maps). It identifies numerous great one day rides in the area with stopping points, etc.
Regardless where you stay. Reservations would be smart for that week. Another advantage of Asheville is there is so much to do at the end of the day or in case you have a washout one day. Downtown can be a lot of fun, many great craft beer bars, shops, cool places to eat and people watching galore. Good luck, hope you enjoy your trip.
#53
04-20-2014, 09:45 AM
Working out the details right now. Purchased an airplane ticket for the wife. She arrives June 23rd then we are heading to Little Switzerland from the Charlotte airport. Going to spend 2 nights there then off to Maggie Valley for a couple nights. After that we start working toward Myrtle Beach for a day/night with a buddy I graduated with. Dates are June 23rd to June 29th.
#54
04-20-2014, 10:10 AM
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You have to ride The Devil's Whip( NC hwy 80) while up at Little Switzerland. You can ride it up then take the BRP over to Little Switzerland This is a great ride that I love. http://www.thedevilnc80.com/index.html
I would say ride the Diamondback (NC Hwy 226A) but it is under construction right now and is rough as hell. They are just putting patches on it that is making the road worse then it was. It is in bad need of resurfacing. I am hoping they are fixing the sides in preparation of repaving the whole road.
If you are planning to ride the Blue Ridge Parkway to Maggie Valley a section of the BRP that way is closed for repair. We had so much rain that the road buckled and the mountain washed away but you can check this site for closures closer to your trip. http://www.nps.gov/blri/planyourvisit/roadclosures.htm
Be sure to stop and fuel up in Marion, NC as there are no stations in Little Switzerland the closest stations will be in Spruce Pine.
Enjoy your ride and thanks for coming to NC. We have some great riding here.
A couple of pics from the start of the Devil's Whip.
Lake Tahoma at the bottom
The view from the top at the BRP
I would say ride the Diamondback (NC Hwy 226A) but it is under construction right now and is rough as hell. They are just putting patches on it that is making the road worse then it was. It is in bad need of resurfacing. I am hoping they are fixing the sides in preparation of repaving the whole road.
If you are planning to ride the Blue Ridge Parkway to Maggie Valley a section of the BRP that way is closed for repair. We had so much rain that the road buckled and the mountain washed away but you can check this site for closures closer to your trip. http://www.nps.gov/blri/planyourvisit/roadclosures.htm
Be sure to stop and fuel up in Marion, NC as there are no stations in Little Switzerland the closest stations will be in Spruce Pine.
Enjoy your ride and thanks for coming to NC. We have some great riding here.
A couple of pics from the start of the Devil's Whip.
Lake Tahoma at the bottom
The view from the top at the BRP
#55
04-20-2014, 10:38 AM
#56
04-21-2014, 01:06 PM
Cruiser
My wife and I stayed at A Holiday Motel in Maggie Valley last summer. It was a great location and enjoyed the motel. You are in for a great trip with lots of great riding in that area. One of our favorite rides was between Franklin, NC and Highlands, NC on hwy 28 I believe called Moonshiner 28. Great waterfalls and riding.
You will have a great trip.
You will have a great trip.
#57
04-21-2014, 09:51 PM
Banned
Jesse - we've stayed at A Holiday Motel and it's OK. Can't give it a higher rating than that. Nice folks, dated rooms, bike friendly and in Maggie Valley. On our next visit I'll look for something nicer. Cherokee isn't bad, but it's a reservation/casino town.
Little Switzerland is cool - and small. I hear there's some construction on the roads around there so best to look into that. Asheville is just down the pike from both and a good choice. Johnson City isn't bad either and close to the Snake, which is a good ride - better than the Dragon imo.
It is probably too late, but a flight into Nashville would be good, and then a ride over to the Cherahola and then on to the Dragon. Maybe ride it out to MV or stay at one of the bike friendly spots in Deals. Then up the BRP some (again - under construction) and check out Asheville, Little Switz, and then maybe up to Johnson City and see the Snake. Over to see friends after that.
But, again, sounds like you're locked in. Regardless - it will be a blast. Have fun. See the sights. Don't rush.
Little Switzerland is cool - and small. I hear there's some construction on the roads around there so best to look into that. Asheville is just down the pike from both and a good choice. Johnson City isn't bad either and close to the Snake, which is a good ride - better than the Dragon imo.
It is probably too late, but a flight into Nashville would be good, and then a ride over to the Cherahola and then on to the Dragon. Maybe ride it out to MV or stay at one of the bike friendly spots in Deals. Then up the BRP some (again - under construction) and check out Asheville, Little Switz, and then maybe up to Johnson City and see the Snake. Over to see friends after that.
But, again, sounds like you're locked in. Regardless - it will be a blast. Have fun. See the sights. Don't rush.
#58
04-22-2014, 02:22 PM
Jesse - we've stayed at A Holiday Motel and it's OK. Can't give it a higher rating than that. Nice folks, dated rooms, bike friendly and in Maggie Valley. On our next visit I'll look for something nicer. Cherokee isn't bad, but it's a reservation/casino town.
Little Switzerland is cool - and small. I hear there's some construction on the roads around there so best to look into that. Asheville is just down the pike from both and a good choice. Johnson City isn't bad either and close to the Snake, which is a good ride - better than the Dragon imo.
It is probably too late, but a flight into Nashville would be good, and then a ride over to the Cherahola and then on to the Dragon. Maybe ride it out to MV or stay at one of the bike friendly spots in Deals. Then up the BRP some (again - under construction) and check out Asheville, Little Switz, and then maybe up to Johnson City and see the Snake. Over to see friends after that.
But, again, sounds like you're locked in. Regardless - it will be a blast. Have fun. See the sights. Don't rush.
Little Switzerland is cool - and small. I hear there's some construction on the roads around there so best to look into that. Asheville is just down the pike from both and a good choice. Johnson City isn't bad either and close to the Snake, which is a good ride - better than the Dragon imo.
It is probably too late, but a flight into Nashville would be good, and then a ride over to the Cherahola and then on to the Dragon. Maybe ride it out to MV or stay at one of the bike friendly spots in Deals. Then up the BRP some (again - under construction) and check out Asheville, Little Switz, and then maybe up to Johnson City and see the Snake. Over to see friends after that.
But, again, sounds like you're locked in. Regardless - it will be a blast. Have fun. See the sights. Don't rush.
I leave 3 days before the wife on the bike and meet up with old friends in St. Louis, Nashville, and Greenville, SC. Stopping in Nashville and St. Louis on the way home as well. Looking forward to it!
Jesse
#59
04-22-2014, 02:22 PM
