Day Ride suggestions around Gatlinburg, TN
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 447
Likes: 1
From: Garrison, NY
Day Ride suggestions around Gatlinburg, TN
Bunch of friends from all over the country will be meeting up in Gatlinburg in a few weeks. We want to do a one day ride starting and ending in Gatlinburg which would include The Dragon. Any detailed suggestions/routes for about a 250 to 300 mile day ride per the above requirements?
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 108
Likes: 1
The wife and I were in Gatlinburg a couple years ago. I can't tell you an entire route to take but a fun ride is head southwest out of Gatlinburg on 71 and take a right on Little River Rd.
Take the ride up to Cades Cove. The road is somewhat narrow but it's switchback after switchback. You follow a beautiful river the whole way. You will pass a couple waterfalls along the way as well. You can't go very fast (30mph or so) but it's a really nice 30-40 mile ride.
You can take the tour around Cades Cove but I wouldn't recommend it. It wasn't worth it to us.
Take the ride up to Cades Cove. The road is somewhat narrow but it's switchback after switchback. You follow a beautiful river the whole way. You will pass a couple waterfalls along the way as well. You can't go very fast (30mph or so) but it's a really nice 30-40 mile ride.
You can take the tour around Cades Cove but I wouldn't recommend it. It wasn't worth it to us.
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 444
Likes: 0
From: Birmingham, Alabama
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 6,500
Likes: 332
From: Blue Grass (KY)
Love the Smokey's...we're only 300 miles for there and go quite a lot.
First, check with Smokey MT HD, last time I was there they had FREE map of the area with a lot of good roads....if not here's the roads I like.
Yes the Dragon is a must do if you've never ridden it before. Ride at your pace and watch for 18 wheelers and sport bikes ( ride it during the week if possible)...if not just use common sense..and at Deals Gap the restaurant serves a great burger and of course you all MUST buy the t-shirts ( I survived the Dragon, 318 curves in 11 miles
)
Cherohala Skyway- great sweepers and views, also Bald River Falls is off the skyway and a great photo place, can park you bike and get a shot of the bike and falls in the background....too cool.
Foothills Parkway- good riding, smooth surface little traffic.
Cades Cove - nice to see but the road making the small loop is uneven so be careful and take you time, worth the effort. Lots of animal life off in the fields, no danger to bikes.
Hwy 28 Hell bender- Nice twisties from Deals Gap and the Dragon, ride it around the Nat. Park..
Go the Tail of the Dragon web site, you can print off maps of the area that will be helpful...
Have fun and be safe, take lots of pictures...and remember UPS is your friend, let the ladies buy stuff and ship it home....
Here's a link to the web site, lots of good information
http://www.tailofthedragon.com/maps.html
First, check with Smokey MT HD, last time I was there they had FREE map of the area with a lot of good roads....if not here's the roads I like.
Yes the Dragon is a must do if you've never ridden it before. Ride at your pace and watch for 18 wheelers and sport bikes ( ride it during the week if possible)...if not just use common sense..and at Deals Gap the restaurant serves a great burger and of course you all MUST buy the t-shirts ( I survived the Dragon, 318 curves in 11 miles
)Cherohala Skyway- great sweepers and views, also Bald River Falls is off the skyway and a great photo place, can park you bike and get a shot of the bike and falls in the background....too cool.
Foothills Parkway- good riding, smooth surface little traffic.
Cades Cove - nice to see but the road making the small loop is uneven so be careful and take you time, worth the effort. Lots of animal life off in the fields, no danger to bikes.
Hwy 28 Hell bender- Nice twisties from Deals Gap and the Dragon, ride it around the Nat. Park..
Go the Tail of the Dragon web site, you can print off maps of the area that will be helpful...
Have fun and be safe, take lots of pictures...and remember UPS is your friend, let the ladies buy stuff and ship it home....
Here's a link to the web site, lots of good information
http://www.tailofthedragon.com/maps.html
Last edited by Casper; May 11, 2010 at 01:47 PM.
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 447
Likes: 1
From: Garrison, NY
I think one side is open - The TN side - so I have been told. Will doublecheck tho. Thanks!
Trending Topics
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 108
Likes: 1
+1 on that!!! We got stuck in that damn mess as well. Apparently people think they are to good to stop in pull off areas so they stop on the road and take pictures which totally screws everybody behind them. What a nightmare that was.
I would just ride up to Cades Cove, take a break, and then turn around and head back. Maybe take a different route back or something. We had a blast on Little River/Cades Cove Rd. The walk to Laurel Falls was really nice. We saw a couple black bears on the way.........pretty cool.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider
Verdad Gallardo
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 4,140
Likes: 0
From: north carolina
We have a bunch headed up there next weekend. Dragon still closed , but I have been told they are indeed ahead of schedule, just don't know if it will be by next weekend. + 1 on the C Skyway. Not to be missed if you have never been before.
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,610
Likes: 241
From: the 'ville' kentucky
a nice little ride in 1st and 2nd gear (sometimes 3rd) is roaring fork---starts in gatlinburg and ends in gatlinburg and you'll be able to SEE some 'o the GSM national park in detail. me and the wife like balsam mountain road also. both roads almost all shade and one way only. where ever ya go it is georgous