Smoky Mountain Rides
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,006
Likes: 1,240
From: On the Front Range, CO
Smoky Mountain Rides
My buddy and I are planning a trip out east from Colorado this year, in the early summer. No dates are set in stone, but we're shooing for the end of May / beginning of June.
The only road we want to ride for sure is The Tail of the Dragon. I know there are tons of other great rides in the area though, especially around the Smoky Mountains.
The BRP is about 460-470 miles end to end. We could easily do that in a day, since it's just us, but we want to see things too while were in the area, not just ride all day and miss the good spots.
Can anyone offer some suggestions for some good routes and places to ride while were there? I grew up back east, so I'm familiar with the differences between the East Coast and the Colorado Rockies.
It's not uncommon for us to ride 400 miles a day....So no real need to worry about the routes being too long.
Appreciate the information!
The only road we want to ride for sure is The Tail of the Dragon. I know there are tons of other great rides in the area though, especially around the Smoky Mountains.
The BRP is about 460-470 miles end to end. We could easily do that in a day, since it's just us, but we want to see things too while were in the area, not just ride all day and miss the good spots.
Can anyone offer some suggestions for some good routes and places to ride while were there? I grew up back east, so I'm familiar with the differences between the East Coast and the Colorado Rockies.
It's not uncommon for us to ride 400 miles a day....So no real need to worry about the routes being too long.
Appreciate the information!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 157,521
Likes: 57,074
From: Michigan 15 Minutes East Of Hell
The BRP is one day is a lot to handle .... posted speed is 35 mph in many places .... park rangers will ticket speed ... many turnouts with fantastic panorama views ( especially on clear mornings ) .... The fog ( smoke ) can be real bad in the morning ... allow yourself ample time to take in everything .... http://shop.americaridesmaps.com/ is a great site to get a map of the area ... 12 Classic Deals Gap Motorcycle Rides is an excellent pocket map with description of routes and the maps corresponding to the routes on the back side of the map ... the listed rides and the route on the map are color coordinated ... they also combine rides and give estimated mileage and average times to complete the ride ...It's well worth the minimal charge! ... Hope this helps.
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 152
Likes: 0
From: Braselton, GA
Avoid the tail on a weekend, if you can. Cherohala Skyway runs from Robinsville, NC, (off the east end of the Dragon) to Tellico Plains, TN, for about 50 miles of great riding along some ridges. There's a nice waterfall near the western end, only about six miles south on a scenic little park road (Bald River Falls). Off the western end of the Dragon is another nice ride N-S called Foothills Parkway. Back on the NC side there's good riding by Fontana Dam, Maggie Valley and over to Cashiers and Sapphire Valley. A more leisurely approach to BRP might be worth it. Stop at some sites. Asheville is a nice town with some excellent restaurants, and it's a bit of a craft beer capital around here.
Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 532
Likes: 2
From: A wee bit North of Florida (Ohio)
BRP plus the Cherohala are great roads.
Take your time and enjoy the ride.
BTW - Cherohala had a landslide and is currently closed - see this link - http://www.grahamstar.com/articles/2...0449359649.txt
RIDE ON.............
.
Take your time and enjoy the ride.
BTW - Cherohala had a landslide and is currently closed - see this link - http://www.grahamstar.com/articles/2...0449359649.txt
RIDE ON.............
.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,730
Likes: 9,241
From: Snow Hill, NC
I would not do the whole BRP i would do the southern part Maybe from Hwy 276 to Asheville then the north part from hwy 80 north...So many good roads to mingle in with that
-Hwy 28 from Fontana to Walhala SC
-109 from Maggie Valley to Hot Springs
-Foothills Parkway on the TN side
-Cherohala Parkway
-Tail of the dragon
-Wayah rd (#1030) From Franklin to Andrews
-If you go north to Elizabethton TN go east take 321 to Boone
421 "The Snake" from Boone to Shady Valley
-276 from Waynesville to Brevard then 64 west to 107 back to Sylva...
-Hwy 80 from Marion to the BRP...now that is a nice twisty road, then nort on BRB to Little Switzerland then back down on 226..another gem...
OK so you can see there are plenty..**** even the 4 lanes and the Intersates are nice....
-Hwy 28 from Fontana to Walhala SC
-109 from Maggie Valley to Hot Springs
-Foothills Parkway on the TN side
-Cherohala Parkway
-Tail of the dragon
-Wayah rd (#1030) From Franklin to Andrews
-If you go north to Elizabethton TN go east take 321 to Boone
421 "The Snake" from Boone to Shady Valley
-276 from Waynesville to Brevard then 64 west to 107 back to Sylva...
-Hwy 80 from Marion to the BRP...now that is a nice twisty road, then nort on BRB to Little Switzerland then back down on 226..another gem...
OK so you can see there are plenty..**** even the 4 lanes and the Intersates are nice....
Club Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,192
Likes: 168
From: Knoxville, Tn
E.Tn. Rides
We had a lot of rain lately and there are numerous road closures in the area now. There was a big slide in the Smokeys park that washed out the road just past Newfound Gap. It's going to be a while before that's fixed so in order to get to the BRP from the Tn. side you have to ride the "Dragon" and then take hwy28 to 74 and up to 441 to pick up the end of the BRP.
Foothills parkway had a slide too so it may or may not be open...It's only 16 miles or so but a beautiful ride.
Cherohala is closed for now but probably be open by spring as the slide wasn't that bad.
421 and 321 are both great roads to ride as well as hwy 19 across Roan Mountain.
Check both Tndot and NCdot before you start this way to confirm that some of the roads you want to ride will be open during your visit...
Foothills parkway had a slide too so it may or may not be open...It's only 16 miles or so but a beautiful ride.
Cherohala is closed for now but probably be open by spring as the slide wasn't that bad.
421 and 321 are both great roads to ride as well as hwy 19 across Roan Mountain.
Check both Tndot and NCdot before you start this way to confirm that some of the roads you want to ride will be open during your visit...
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,006
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From: On the Front Range, CO
Excellent information guys...! I wasn't aware that there were so many slides lately due to the excessive moisture. I'll be digging into the TNDOT and NCDOT pages too closer to our departure.
Again, thanks. Keep the comments coming!
Again, thanks. Keep the comments coming!
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,906
Likes: 145
From: SE Louisiana
As for the BRP -- You won't "easily do that in a day." I spent almost three full days riding end to end last year, worth the time but the southern half is much better scenery.
Thread Starter
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,006
Likes: 1,240
From: On the Front Range, CO
TOD is definitely worth the time, but as others have suggested avoid the weekend (unless you just want to do some peope-watching at Deals Gap <g>); early week mornings are best.
As for the BRP -- You won't "easily do that in a day." I spent almost three full days riding end to end last year, worth the time but the southern half is much better scenery.
As for the BRP -- You won't "easily do that in a day." I spent almost three full days riding end to end last year, worth the time but the southern half is much better scenery.
I realize now that the BRP in one day isn't feasible. In Colorado, we can make a day riding 5-6 mountain passes over 10K elevation. It usually works out to be around 450 miles....
The BRP is another story though, especially since we want to check out the scenery too.