Riding the smokies ?
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,034
Likes: 45
From: Michigan
Riding the smokies ?
Looks the wife and I are going to ride from Michigan down to the smokies in a week or so here.. You guys got any good ideas on where to go for a nice scenic ride.. Were looking at about 3 to 3 days riding time before we head back here. We will probably stay near Gattlin Burg but if there is a better riding spot even in another state near buy id be interested in your input.. Id even forgo the longer ride to maybe a nice scenic spot to ride for a few days in kentucky if there is anything good there..
Thanks
Thanks
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2009
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Ride straight thru Indiana & KY until you get to the Smokey's - best riding in our part of the US. Do a loop one day that includes the Cherohala Parkway and the Dragon (everyone should do the Dragon once). Next day do a loop up the Blue Ridge Parkway toward Asheville,NC. 3rd day pick your loop of choice. Awesome riding anywhere.
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 116
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From: Birmingham,AL
I am located about 250 miles from Smokey Mountains. But ride in that area several times a year. Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge area is too commerialized for me and too crowded. So I stay on the other side of the mountain in Bryson City, NC. It is centrally located to the Blue Ridge Parkway, Hellbender ( Hwy 28), and the Dragon (US129), and the Cherohala Skyway. Also not far from Cherokee, NC and Maggie Valley. Also Bryson City is a nice little town with several attractions.
We always stay at a little motel called the Ridge Top Motel. Very biker friendly.
http://www.ridgetopmotel.com/
Tell them your a biker and the rate is about $60 a night or less. It is not the Taj Mahal, but it is clean and comfortable. Kathy and her husband that own the place are a young couple. They really go out of there way to make bikers feel welcome. Every morning when you go to your bike, there is a towel on the seat to wipe the bike off before the ride for the day.
Here is a link to some roads to ride in the area.
http://www.motorcycleroads.us/regions/nc_smokey.html
http://www.motorcycleroads.us/regions/tn_east.html
Hope this helps.
David
We always stay at a little motel called the Ridge Top Motel. Very biker friendly.
http://www.ridgetopmotel.com/
Tell them your a biker and the rate is about $60 a night or less. It is not the Taj Mahal, but it is clean and comfortable. Kathy and her husband that own the place are a young couple. They really go out of there way to make bikers feel welcome. Every morning when you go to your bike, there is a towel on the seat to wipe the bike off before the ride for the day.
Here is a link to some roads to ride in the area.
http://www.motorcycleroads.us/regions/nc_smokey.html
http://www.motorcycleroads.us/regions/tn_east.html
Hope this helps.
David
Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 660
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From: Grayson, GA
Ride straight thru Indiana & KY until you get to the Smokey's - best riding in our part of the US. Do a loop one day that includes the Cherohala Parkway and the Dragon (everyone should do the Dragon once). Next day do a loop up the Blue Ridge Parkway toward Asheville,NC. 3rd day pick your loop of choice. Awesome riding anywhere.
The Iron Horse Resort www.ironhorsenc.com/ is a great place to stay reasonably priced, and made for bikers. It is central to all the great rides in the Smokies.
Last edited by 02ULTRA; Jul 10, 2010 at 09:40 AM.
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 450
Likes: 2
From: Loudon TN. (30 miles from The Dragon)
Even though the Dragon is a nice challenging ride you should pull up their website and look at some of the safety tips they offer. That little 11 mile stretch of road requires more skills than some people have at times..... which leads to a lot of accidents. Dont mean to sound negative but if you have precious cargo "your wife" on the back you should know this.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Michigan
I really dont have any desire to ride the dragon.. Im sure i could handle it but it sounds like there are too many other crazy riders there for me.. Challenging im not looking for great riding and scenery i am looking for 
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From: The Burgh
Looks the wife and I are going to ride from Michigan down to the smokies in a week or so here.. You guys got any good ideas on where to go for a nice scenic ride.. Were looking at about 3 to 3 days riding time before we head back here. We will probably stay near Gattlin Burg but if there is a better riding spot even in another state near buy id be interested in your input.. Id even forgo the longer ride to maybe a nice scenic spot to ride for a few days in kentucky if there is anything good there..
Thanks
Thanks
We stayed in Maggie Valley at the Best Western Mountainbrook. Nice place, reasonably priced. Stay away from Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, except to take Rte 441. They're way too crowded and traffic is horrendous.
Last edited by frenchbiker; Jul 11, 2010 at 11:08 AM.
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From: Here
Looks the wife and I are going to ride from Michigan down to the smokies in a week or so here.. You guys got any good ideas on where to go for a nice scenic ride.. Were looking at about 3 to 3 days riding time before we head back here. We will probably stay near Gattlin Burg but if there is a better riding spot even in another state near buy id be interested in your input.. Id even forgo the longer ride to maybe a nice scenic spot to ride for a few days in kentucky if there is anything good there..
Thanks
Thanks
1. Hwy 209 up to Hot Springs. (nice ride, you will think you are on the dragon.
2. Hwy 19 down to hwy 28 through Moonshiner rd to the Dragon on 129
Dragon is now open!
3. Cherahala Skyway over to Tellico plains. just as you exit Cherahala there is a new Harley Dealer on your left. Just Motorclothes and good conversation. After you pass the Dealer store about 1 1/2 miles, watch on your right and turn on hwy 360 will take you over to hwy 411
Turn right on 411, that will take you into Maryville where you will turn on 321 towards Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. Stay straight at the light where the sign says turn left for Gatlinburg and go the River rd by Cades Cove entrance. The River Rd will bypass all the traffic in Gatlinburg and PF. Turn right and go over the Smokies to Cherokee NC. Turn left and go back to Maggie Valley.