[ultradew]

So I am in the planning stages of a trip to the Tail of the Dragon. We are leaving Massachusetts and riding down to Robbinsville North Carolina. Does anyone know the area well and have any advice on where to ride or what there is to do there? I’ve visited a few sites but was hoping to get advice from people that have been before.


Thanks

 

[JacktheBagger]

Lots of great riding down there or up there , Cherohala Skyway , Wheels Thru Time in Maggie Valley , more good roads to ride than you can do on one vacation , we go every year and still find new places to ride

 

[RonC26]

..... plus if you haven't been in the area before, be sure to take some easy riding time on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Beautiful scenery!

 

[SurlyBoy]

We've done it from MA a couple of times. We like to stay in Pigeon Forge TN and work from there. Any road is a good road around there.

 

[Bleachey]

I've been there twice and can't wait to get back. Left both times wishing I had 10 more days. Every road is an adventure. My next trip will include Moonshiner 28, I have heard it is incredible. Cherahola is awesome, Maggie Valley is cool. Any road through the park is nice. I'm glad we did the dragon, and will do it again on the new bike, but it wasn't the highlight of the trip. Tellico Plains was cool. You can't go wrong down there. Get a good map and avoid Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge via some bypasses unless you want to do something in those towns. Lots to do in both, but traffic is a nightmare.

 

[lil chief]

I think the county that Robbinsville is in is a dry county. Just in case you are looking for a drink, you won't find it there.
Like the others have said, there is some great riding down that way.

Lil' Chief

 

[Ohiobellboy]

I think the county that Robbinsville is in is a dry county. Just in case you are looking for a drink, you won't find it there.
Like the others have said, there is some great riding down that way.

Lil' Chief

Exactly right. No alcohol in Robbinsville. We go to Maggie Valley every year in Sept. Have been on all kinds of roads. Nice waterfall excursion along 64 and 276. Way too many roads to try to map out for ya.

 

[ERod62]

Lots of great riding down there or up there , Cherohala Skyway , Wheels Thru Time in Maggie Valley , more good roads to ride than you can do on one vacation , we go every year and still find new places to ride

Wheels thru time a most do. Don't take the highway from Gatlinburg take 441 to Maggie Valley then left on Blue ridge parkway into town very nice ride. Enjoy your time on the area nice country roads.

 

[wjco9]

Stay in Bryson City, very central location, nice places to eat, we stay at a place called Relax Inn, little dive but clean and cheap, very biker friendly.

 

[DuraGlide]

How many days for down and back and how many in the area? I can give you some great routes in and out if you have the travel time. Routes like the Snake, Diamondback, Back of the Dragon and Rattler are better than the Tail of the Dragon on a busy weekend. I could spend a couple of days in the Wheels thru Time museum alone.

 

[cookie114]

IMO, the actual tail of the dragon is overrated, but yes it's curvy .. That being said there is plentttty of awesome roads all around that area that will make the trip worth it. It's a day trip from where I Iive to the tail and back home. I've got to the point where we ride up that way just for all the roads in the area.

 

[smitty901]

When you get to the South end of the Dragon keep going to U.S. Highway 64 2.3 miles (3.7 km) north of Highlands, North Carolina.
Not that far . http://www.highlandsinfo.com/Video/BridalVailFalls.htm After you get to the falls if you still feel like a ride keep going a few really nice water falls near the road and a great ride.
In Gatlinburg find and take Roaring Forks road a great ride you will not regret.
No fees to enter Smoky Mountain National park. So ride in and out all you want.
Be there again in May this year.

 

[twowheeladdict]

Foothills parkway, Cades Cove, Blue Ridge Parkway, Mount Mitchell State Park, Cherohala Skyward, US-28, 441, Grandfather Mountain, any road that drops off the Blue Ridge. Too many roads to ride in one trip. Keep in mind that the temps can drop 30 degrees up on the mountains so you want to be prepared.

 

[Root76]

I started in Augusta GA and rode route 28 (Moonshiner 28) all the way up into route 129 ( The Dragon). It was about a 5 hour trip (hit 100 mph) Cool road...

 

[Bleachey]

Foothills parkway, Cades Cove, Blue Ridge Parkway, Mount Mitchell State Park, Cherohala Skyward, US-28, 441, Grandfather Mountain, any road that drops off the Blue Ridge. Too many roads to ride in one trip. Keep in mind that the temps can drop 30 degrees up on the mountains so you want to be prepared.

Cades Cove is cool, but I wouldn't recommend it on the bike. We did it, 3 hours to go about 11 miles, bikes got really hot and had to keep shutting it down. There were some bears out and everyone just stopped.

 

[Spazz]

I flew from Reno to Nashville and rented an RGS for the TOD ..... GREAT TIMES!!!!


If you are looking for a beautiful place to stay.... check out the Tellico Plains Mountain View Cabins Mountain View Cabin Rentals GREAT place on the river front and take the Cherohala Skyway to TOD!

A view from the cabin to the river....

 

[twowheeladdict]

Cades Cove is cool, but I wouldn't recommend it on the bike. We did it, 3 hours to go about 11 miles, bikes got really hot and had to keep shutting it down. There were some bears out and everyone just stopped.

Didn't think about doing it on an air cooled bike during tourist time. I have a lot to learn about riding a Harley.

 

[smitty901]

Didn't think about doing it on an air cooled bike during tourist time. I have a lot to learn about riding a Harley.

Never had any issues with riding Cades Cove on any of the Harleys I have ridden there.

 

[direwolf]

Didn't think about doing it on an air cooled bike during tourist time. I have a lot to learn about riding a Harley.

Damn guess I need to move out Florida because it's hot & tourist time about 90% of the year an all I have are air cooled Road Glides!!!

Just being sarcastic is all lol

 

[lowglidin]

You owe it to yourself to run the Devil's Triangle. I have ridden the dragon more than I can remember and the triangle puts it to shame IMO. Running back through there on the way to Sturgis this year