The Dragon
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
From: Ruckersville, Va
Other Great Rides in the Western NC Area
FloridaFLHX,
I went to college in Johnson City TN.
These are the roads I think are MUSTS if in the area.
19E from anywhere south of Spruce Pines, NC to Boone, NC.
321 from Boone, NC to Elizabethton, TN.
91 east (Shady Valley) from Elizabethton, TN back to Boone, NC
If you don't mind the low speed limits, ANY section of the Blue Ridge Parkway is worth your time.
For a high speed section of interstate, I-16 from Asheville to Johnson City, TN is a great ride.
And everyone should time their stop in Johnson City, TN for lunch or dinner at the Firehouse BBQ restaurant.
Have a Safe Ride!
I went to college in Johnson City TN.
These are the roads I think are MUSTS if in the area.
19E from anywhere south of Spruce Pines, NC to Boone, NC.
321 from Boone, NC to Elizabethton, TN.
91 east (Shady Valley) from Elizabethton, TN back to Boone, NC
If you don't mind the low speed limits, ANY section of the Blue Ridge Parkway is worth your time.
For a high speed section of interstate, I-16 from Asheville to Johnson City, TN is a great ride.
And everyone should time their stop in Johnson City, TN for lunch or dinner at the Firehouse BBQ restaurant.
Have a Safe Ride!
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 443
Likes: 2
From: Pittsburgh, PA
I was there last august for three days. Went to wheels through time musuem, rode the Cherahola Highway, the Dragon and a lot of other roads around there. Best area for riding!
The pic in my sig is ftom the Dragon.
The pic in my sig is ftom the Dragon.
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 130
Likes: 5
From: Western NC
Rode the Dragon last year when it opened back up in July. Rode from pigeon forge to Maryville, TN and then down through the dragon. From there went through Cherokee and hit I-40 at Waynesville, NC and rode it to Marion, NC to eat supper with my parents at the camper on the lake. Was a great day, can't wait to do it again.
BTW, one road in WNC that goes unsaid alot is Hwy 80S and 80N. That is a great road with lots of great turns especially from Marion, NC to the parkway, and from Micaville, NC to 226 N in bakersville. The roads go from Marion, NC to Bakersville, NC. I grew up (Busick community) within spitting distance of 80S and still love riding it on the bike.
BTW, one road in WNC that goes unsaid alot is Hwy 80S and 80N. That is a great road with lots of great turns especially from Marion, NC to the parkway, and from Micaville, NC to 226 N in bakersville. The roads go from Marion, NC to Bakersville, NC. I grew up (Busick community) within spitting distance of 80S and still love riding it on the bike.
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
That place is absolutley awesome. Some of the best riding in the country. I usually visit the area a couple of times a year. Going back Memorial Day weekend and that is going to be the Dragon's official kick off to summer. Suppose to be a lot of fun and some live music.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 5,413
Likes: 17
From: eastern oklahoma
i haven't done the dragon, but will likely someday. there is a lot of great riding in arkansas too as well as other parts of the country, but the dragon seems to be the holy grail of riding.
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Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 717
Likes: 3
From: Cincinnati
You don't hear about it much for some reason (well kept secret I guess) but there is a road in the Bay Area that rivals if not surpasses the Dragon. The Hecker Pass Highway 152 between Gilroy to Watsonville, and you can continue on to Hwy 1 just outside of Watsonville.
Beautiful ride, 15 miles of non stop switchbacks carved through a redwood forest, picnic sites, or hiking if you're into that and one mountain top restaurant/bar. Lots of pull outs & almost no cops. Avg speed about 30mph with many 15mph 120 and 180deg switchbacks.
Maybe it needs a new name... West Coast Dragon.
Beautiful ride, 15 miles of non stop switchbacks carved through a redwood forest, picnic sites, or hiking if you're into that and one mountain top restaurant/bar. Lots of pull outs & almost no cops. Avg speed about 30mph with many 15mph 120 and 180deg switchbacks.
Maybe it needs a new name... West Coast Dragon.
Last edited by thealaskan; Apr 17, 2011 at 12:59 AM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,599
Likes: 7
From: Hoffman Estates, IL
IMO? Get there, get it out of your system and then relax on those other roads. The BRPkway, Cherohala -- The Dragon is cool and I suppose there's a "been-there-done-that" factor of about 8.75, but all those other roads are spectacularly nicer to ride.
When I went to the Dragon, it was all about doin' the Dragon. I'm really glad we got there early, because it was really the "eh" of the day compared to everything else. Hour after hour and mile after mile of fantastic scenery (and barely a crotch-rocket in sight most of the day). Ahhhhh...
When I went to the Dragon, it was all about doin' the Dragon. I'm really glad we got there early, because it was really the "eh" of the day compared to everything else. Hour after hour and mile after mile of fantastic scenery (and barely a crotch-rocket in sight most of the day). Ahhhhh...