Tennessee(The Smokies)
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 81
Likes: 5
From: Brownsburg, IN
4-5 bikes are heading to Tail of Dragon area the last week of August (coming from Charlotte area). We have lots routes mapped out and found several bike friendly motels. I have read every thread about the Dragon that we can but still have one question: Is it best to ride the Dragon from the North to South or South to North?
Club Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,192
Likes: 168
From: Knoxville, Tn
Dragon's Tail
4-5 bikes are heading to Tail of Dragon area the last week of August (coming from Charlotte area). We have lots routes mapped out and found several bike friendly motels. I have read every thread about the Dragon that we can but still have one question: Is it best to ride the Dragon from the North to South or South to North?
Six people have died on the dragon this year so far. You also have to realize that cars, trucks, and lots of sport bikes use the road too and sometimes they wind up in your lane...
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 10,784
Likes: 57
From: In The Corn, Illinois
I agree with, The Dragon (ride it on a Tuesday if possible) , Cherohala skyway, the ride up to Clingmans Dome ( my sig pic is at an overlook on the way to Clingmans dome) and the Foot hills parkway. Also take 28 when you leave Deals Gap and ride back and see Fontana Dam, it's a nice scenic road, but aren't they all. We took 360 from Cherohala to 321 into Townsend, it was a nice road too. There are too many nice roads and not enough time.
Smokin' Joes BBQ in Townsend has great food.
If you ride the Cherohala Skyway right outside of Robbinsville NC there's a little stand set up that sells Pineapple whips. Take a break there and try one. It's 100% pineapple juice, frozen and whipped to the consistency of ice cream. They also had a Peach whip if that's more your style.
We rode it in both directions. The first time it was raining but then the sun came out and made it a lot more enjoyable.
Smokin' Joes BBQ in Townsend has great food.
If you ride the Cherohala Skyway right outside of Robbinsville NC there's a little stand set up that sells Pineapple whips. Take a break there and try one. It's 100% pineapple juice, frozen and whipped to the consistency of ice cream. They also had a Peach whip if that's more your style.
4-5 bikes are heading to Tail of Dragon area the last week of August (coming from Charlotte area). We have lots routes mapped out and found several bike friendly motels. I have read every thread about the Dragon that we can but still have one question: Is it best to ride the Dragon from the North to South or South to North?
Last edited by Firewoman; Aug 8, 2014 at 12:03 PM.
If you get a chance you need to run The Dragon twice, seems a little different from each direction. It also gives you to opportunity to take it easy the first time and get a good feel and learn what to expect. The second trip you will feel more comfortable if you want to drag your floorboards thru every curve.
On the east side of the Dragon pick up RT28 (Moonshine 28), it is one of the best all around roads in the area. It offers a little bit of everything.
The Cherohala Skyway is very scenic but all sweepers and can get a little boring at times. There are a couple of good restaurants in Telico Plains along the rivers edge.
If you make it to Maryville, the H-D shop has a good BBQ restaurant on site. Avoid Gatlinburg, 2-lane wide thru town of solid cars.
The road to Cades Cove is nice, but do not do the end loop or you will be stuck in traffic for hours
On the east side of the Dragon pick up RT28 (Moonshine 28), it is one of the best all around roads in the area. It offers a little bit of everything.
The Cherohala Skyway is very scenic but all sweepers and can get a little boring at times. There are a couple of good restaurants in Telico Plains along the rivers edge.
If you make it to Maryville, the H-D shop has a good BBQ restaurant on site. Avoid Gatlinburg, 2-lane wide thru town of solid cars.
The road to Cades Cove is nice, but do not do the end loop or you will be stuck in traffic for hours
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,552
Likes: 81
From: Largo, FL
We rode the Cherohala last month towards the end of our trip. We started in NC and ended in TN. It's a good 1/2 day ride. There is a cool waterfall about 5 or 6 miles off the Cherohala 5 miles outside of Tellico Plains. It was a cool drive out on a paved fire road. We saw a bear along the way. The Cherohala itself is a great ride. There is 1 hotel in Tellico Plains. It looks really cool, but they didn't have any open rooms the night we got there. The closest hotels from there was 15 miles NW up in Etowah.
We had hoped to spend more time around Maggie Valley and eastern TN, but heavy rain moved in, so we cut 2 days off the trip.
We had hoped to spend more time around Maggie Valley and eastern TN, but heavy rain moved in, so we cut 2 days off the trip.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 4,380
Likes: 1,933
From: El Flatistan
We rode the Cherohala last month towards the end of our trip. We started in NC and ended in TN. It's a good 1/2 day ride. There is a cool waterfall about 5 or 6 miles off the Cherohala 5 miles outside of Tellico Plains. It was a cool drive out on a paved fire road. We saw a bear along the way. The Cherohala itself is a great ride. There is 1 hotel in Tellico Plains. It looks really cool, but they didn't have any open rooms the night we got there. The closest hotels from there was 15 miles NW up in Etowah.
We had hoped to spend more time around Maggie Valley and eastern TN, but heavy rain moved in, so we cut 2 days off the trip.
We had hoped to spend more time around Maggie Valley and eastern TN, but heavy rain moved in, so we cut 2 days off the trip.
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