Dragon’s Tail
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 927
Likes: 256
From: North Arkansas
My first time there was purely by chance also. 1990s On the way in to smokies we were in a parking lot in TN.
City cop pulls in behind us..uh oh, right? Guy jumps out and was great friendly. Saw me looking at the map. He asked if we were going to the dragon and I had no idea what he was talking about. Got a lesson. Where y'all from? Asked him some other questions... he was a rider too. Off we went into smokie park.
After a few days in the park and other rides we were heading west. This looks like a good curvy road. Came around a corner and there was Deal's gap. We spent the night there... did the run 5 times I think. Only problem we had back then was the semi trying to go through
I still have that t shirt
City cop pulls in behind us..uh oh, right? Guy jumps out and was great friendly. Saw me looking at the map. He asked if we were going to the dragon and I had no idea what he was talking about. Got a lesson. Where y'all from? Asked him some other questions... he was a rider too. Off we went into smokie park.
After a few days in the park and other rides we were heading west. This looks like a good curvy road. Came around a corner and there was Deal's gap. We spent the night there... did the run 5 times I think. Only problem we had back then was the semi trying to go through
I still have that t shirt
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 2,575
Likes: 3,171
From: Lake Geneva WI
I've spent 2 weeks out there and more weeks are needed to hit all the roads. its awesome down there.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 4,816
Likes: 1,320
From: Good roads, cold beer
Though you won't find a burger like at the SPOT
Dragon is cool. much better roads though. Moonshiner, Rattler, Skyway, Blue Ridge Parkway... when you're in that area, stop at a gas station and see if they have a road map or ask where you can get a road map of all the roads. the Tail of the Dragon is only a small squiggle on a giant map of great roads....
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 22,999
Likes: 11,439
There is always a better road. Some cooler , higher on the latest and greatest list We ride that area every year. And oh my gosh we stay in Gatlinburg what a sin.Never been an issue. We get up every day and head out some time a plan often not.
In all the years we have done this we have never had a bad trip. We go mostly last 2 weeks of May. Some years we get wet, some it is cool , some it is hot. But never bad.
A few times we ended up in GA and did not feel like riding all the way back in the dark . Grab a motel head back the next day.
When you sit back and browse the pictures of riding the area on different bikes . See your older rides in the same spot. Remembering different things that happen it is cool. 2019 riding the Roaring forks road in Gatlinburg . Meeting Moma bear and her cubs as she was explaining to us it was not visiting day at the zoo. The reverse in the sidecar came in handy. Ending up on a road that should have been posted 4 wheel drive only.
Want to see if you can ride run the either Camples lead up and around Gatlinburg two up on a bagger.
It seems few trips turn out just as planned. Over planning a trip makes it work not fun. Just go.
2020 a Year to never forget 11 days in that area NC/TN sidecar rig wife and two grand children with us. yea we got some pictures . One I will never get tired of looking at.
In all the years we have done this we have never had a bad trip. We go mostly last 2 weeks of May. Some years we get wet, some it is cool , some it is hot. But never bad.
A few times we ended up in GA and did not feel like riding all the way back in the dark . Grab a motel head back the next day.
When you sit back and browse the pictures of riding the area on different bikes . See your older rides in the same spot. Remembering different things that happen it is cool. 2019 riding the Roaring forks road in Gatlinburg . Meeting Moma bear and her cubs as she was explaining to us it was not visiting day at the zoo. The reverse in the sidecar came in handy. Ending up on a road that should have been posted 4 wheel drive only.
Want to see if you can ride run the either Camples lead up and around Gatlinburg two up on a bagger.
It seems few trips turn out just as planned. Over planning a trip makes it work not fun. Just go.
2020 a Year to never forget 11 days in that area NC/TN sidecar rig wife and two grand children with us. yea we got some pictures . One I will never get tired of looking at.
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,899
Likes: 3,412
From: OH
Beautiful area. Great roads and good people. We love it down there. Covid and health reasons put a damper on the last couple of years going down there but we hope to get back there soon.
As mentioned the weather can be a trip but that is true anywhere there is a big change in elevation when you throw humidity into the mix. Just dress for it. I prefer heated gear in late spring because it can be cold and rainy in the am and clear out and be very warm in the afternoons.
I prefer to get up early and hit the parkway and other areas but as mentioned the wildlife will be out and usually where they are not expected to be. I have run into bears, lots of deer, foxes and flocks of wild turkeys coming out of blind corners. Keeps you on your toes.
As mentioned the weather can be a trip but that is true anywhere there is a big change in elevation when you throw humidity into the mix. Just dress for it. I prefer heated gear in late spring because it can be cold and rainy in the am and clear out and be very warm in the afternoons.
I prefer to get up early and hit the parkway and other areas but as mentioned the wildlife will be out and usually where they are not expected to be. I have run into bears, lots of deer, foxes and flocks of wild turkeys coming out of blind corners. Keeps you on your toes.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,151
Likes: 406
From: Hurdle Mills NC
Dragon schmagon ! I suppose you have at least to do it once. But there are hundreds of roads in that area that are 100% better.
hit widerides.info for color coded downloadable maps.
hit widerides.info for color coded downloadable maps.