What to see & do near the Dragon's Tail?? (UPDATE w/ new question...)

[CajunRider]

My brother in law has never been to the Dragon's Tail (he lives in Montana), so he's charged me with figuring out a route (I'm in Louisiana).  Obviously, neither of us knows the area well, so I'm looking for help.

I need ideas of roads to ride and things to see around that area.  We'll be leaving from the Baton Rouge, LA area.

Most important... The roads. That's why we're going to the Smokies.

Next in line... Waterfalls, Museums, Scenery... Any interesting things that'll give our butts a break from the saddle.

Lastly... Places to stay. We typically do generic hotels, but if you have a good place to make a "base of operations", or just nice places to crash for a night, I'd love to hear about 'em.

All ideas welcomed!!

Thanks a bunch in advance!

[DirtyDan]

https://twowheelinn.com/

More to follow

Dan

[Big Rig]

The roads, the roads and lastly THE ROADS!!! Plan to ride them all they stay to ride them all two or three times...It is the only cycle destination beside Sturgis that I WANT to go back and ride again.

For other non-cycle stuff...Gaitlinburg has everything you could possibly want to do...it does get TRAFFICEEEeeeee....

My only suggestion is to stop and enjoy the scenery....

[Willow]

Cherohala Skyway.  Be sure to ride it.  Sequential sweepers rather than tight turns.  Beautiful road.

[hubcapsc]

There's a ton of good roads in every direction  ...

As for "scenery"... right there at the dragon is a fantastic
section of never-logged forest that is way worth checking
out:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joyce_Kilmer_Memorial_Forest

If you ride 28 from the dragon towards NC, it is a great road.
It will lead you towards Franklin where you can easily
access all the good roads to ride in North Georgia... all
of these roads...



-Mike

[Farside]

  That will be a great week. I stayed back in Oct. at the Copperhead Lodge in Blairsville, GA. We used it as a Ground Zero for us as we road around North GA & Western Carolina. It is a great place with a nice lodge serving up some good food and drinks. Goggle it and check it out. You won't be disappointed and best of luck on your trip. 

[The emperor has no clothes]

Cherohala Skyway.  Be sure to ride it.  Sequential sweepers rather than tight turns.  Beautiful road.

+1 I enjoyed it much more than Tail of the Dragon.

[Reb]

Depending on the day of the week. I will gladly give you a tour of the surround area.

[Bighead]

Cherohala Skyway.  Be sure to ride it.  Sequential sweepers rather than tight turns.  Beautiful road.

+1 I enjoyed it much more than Tail of the Dragon.

If you are going to ride  the part of US 129 known as the tail of the dragon. Dont do it Friday,Saturday or Sunday to many idiots out there. 

[DGS65]

Several years ago I took about 10 days and drove my Corvette to Bowling green to the Corvette plant and museum.  The tail was a much during this trip!  We hit Nashville lots of sights to see.  The tail is fun but there are lots of scenic roads in the area water falls the huge dam I stayed at a nice resort near the tail I could look it up but I sure others from the area either know of it or have other recommendations.
Do lots of research make lots of plans then go explore and have a great time!

[Sorcerer]

Wheels Through Time in Maggy Valley ,I'm hoping to get there this year.

[NewValker]

I enjoyed the Foothills Parkway to 441 with a stop at Klingman's Dome.
You can jump on the Blue Ridge In Cherokee, NC and do 50-60 miles. Turn around and it's like a new road on the way back.
I would run the Dragon first thing in the morning, ride all day and plan to hit it again on the way back. Way less traffic early and late, but as stated, weekends can be nuts.

Best trip over the Dragon I ever had was chasing Whiskey & Sugar. Yeah, he smoked me...

Enjoy it!
Craig

[..]

Been here?

No?

Then just do it. It's on your way NE.

https://www.barbermuseum.org/

Then on to Little River Canyon, AL.

Keep well away from Chattanooga!!!

Then https://goo.gl/maps/5QyinptkCV32hFR46 to Robbinsville, NC over the Cherohala Skyway. Robbinsville is in a dry county. If you need beer buy it in Tellico Plains at the Exxon.

Make a side trip east of Tellico Plains to Bald River Falls. Coninuing east from the Falls will finish in a dead end so back track to the Skyway.

South in N GA there is

http://smokymountainrider.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Biker-Barn-Gauntlet-map.jpg

As mentioned Wheels Through Time in Maggie Valley. It's all Harley but a lot of bike history. V different to Barber.

Blue Ridge Parkway is beautiful. Starts in Cherokee, NC. Worth riding to Maggie Valley and beyond to Mt Mitchell near Asheville.

Let me know if there's anything else I can help with.

[f6gal]

In you can go in June, plan your trip around InZane!!  Asheville is very close to the Tail.

[Rams]

Have ridden the Dragon's Tail 4 times now.   A fun road to ride in the right conditions.

My advice is to ride the Dragon mid-week, never on or near weekends.  Way too much traffic with idiots in cages and on bikes looking to prove how good and fast they are.

Reference what to look for, the opposing lane's traffic.   Four rides on the Dragon with multiple close calls with opposing vehicles crossing into my lane leaving me very little time and room to escape.   I don't advise folks to ride the Dragon's Tail any longer.   Do it if you wish, but I doubt I'll do it again.   I don't wish to end up as someone else's hood badge. 

Every trip is an adventure.   Enjoy. 

Rams

[CajunRider]

LOTS of good info!!!  Thanks a bunch!! 

Doing some research on all of it tonight!

[Pete]

Tennessee 28/127 from I24 to Tennessee 68  80 miles valley ride between the mountains right up Sequatchie Valley (rural and farms). 

Places to stay Fall Creek Falls State Park (construction under way) and Cumberland Mountain State Park.

US 27 from Tennessee/Georgia line to Tennessee/Kentucky Line, stay at Picket State Park or Cumberland Mountain State Park. About 175 miles.

Definitely Cherahola as others have said.

[Mr Whiskey]

One of my favorite resources for hunting new roads...
https://www.bestbikingroads.com/motorcycle-roads/united-states/routes/north-carolina
It's interactive so jus click "Load Map Button" then blow it up 'till ya see something "twisty"
(that's why I loaded N.C., check out everything in W.NC., it's all RED!)
then click on the road. You'll get some general specs with a link at the top, click that and then "load map button" again. You get the route (highlighted), surrounding routes, and sometimes commentary from those that have enjoyed it. Very handy! When you're done with N.C. go back to top and select United States to chose another state.
When y'all comin' up? Like Reb said, give shout, we'll try 'n share some wind, crank and bank some corners
(& Craig's jus' bein' generous, we weren't goin' that fast on The Dragon )
Safe winds Brother!
P.S. If we should miss ya... 64 from Franklin, NC. to Highlands, NC. has 3 outstanding waterfalls (you can walk behind Dry Falls) and the road's sooo good you'll hafta run it more than once

[CajunRider]

While I was hoping to pass through in June for a day at InZane, those plans got crashed by Corona.   

So the whole trip has been pushed back to the end of September. 

What kind of weather can I expect at that time of year??

[Bighead]

Should be cooling off a bit by then usually nice.

[Reb]

While I was hoping to pass through in June for a day at InZane, those plans got crashed by Corona.   

So the whole trip has been pushed back to the end of September. 

What kind of weather can I expect at that time of year??

It can vary,

Cooler mornings could be as low as 40, mostly ranges in the 50's. Mid day is usually in the 70's depending on altitude.

[hubcapsc]

While I was hoping to pass through in June for a day at InZane, those plans got crashed by Corona.   

So the whole trip has been pushed back to the end of September. 

What kind of weather can I expect at that time of year??

It can vary,

Cooler mornings could be as low as 40, mostly ranges in the 50's. Mid day is usually in the 70's depending on altitude.

It was 95 every day last September... probably a little cooler over there...
who knows what this year will bring?

-Mike

[ridingron]

If you must, run the Dragon both ways a couple times (it's about 10 miles each way). Buy your Tee shirt and sticker and move on. There are many roads in the area that are as good or better, they just aren't publicized. How far northeast you going? Good roads run from north Georgia to at least up to Va./WV. That's as far as I have been.    Once you get into the twisties, you'll forget about you butt and won't want to get off the bikes.  250 miles is a bit of a long day.

[Avanti]

I rode the Dragon one way when leaving the area in Oct of 2015 after visiting the area for a week. Ever since than, I have ridden out of my way on much nicer roads to avoid it.

[..]

While I was hoping to pass through in June for a day at InZane, those plans got crashed by Corona.   

So the whole trip has been pushed back to the end of September. 

What kind of weather can I expect at that time of year??

Pull over on Deals Gap and watch the drivers/riders. It can be a parade of poorly executed road maneuvers.

[GiG]

Pull over on Deals Gap and watch the drivers/riders. It can be a parade of poorly executed road maneuvers.

Couple years ago, THE DET8R's bike had a fuel problem and came to a rest at Deal's Gap. We sat in the private driveway acrost from there while waiting several hours for a tow. We were amazed and a little amused of the many and assorted poor road maneuvers. Still fresh in my memory is the couple on a brand new Indian performing a low speed get-oft 
We both predicted what would be the final outcome minutes before they performed it for us. The female passenger walked away, leaving the Indian "pilot" to fend for himself.   

lot

[Bighead]

Pull over on Deals Gap and watch the drivers/riders. It can be a parade of poorly executed road maneuvers.

Couple years ago, THE DET8R's bike had a fuel problem and came to a rest at Deal's Gap. We sat in the private driveway acrost from there while waiting several hours for a tow. We were amazed and a little amused of the many and assorted poor road maneuvers. Still fresh in my memory is the couple on a brand new Indian performing a low speed get-oft 
We both predicted what would be the final outcome minutes before they performed it for us. The female passenger walked away, leaving the Indian "pilot" to fend for himself.   

lot

hey I remeber that bad petcock 

[GiG]

Pull over on Deals Gap and watch the drivers/riders. It can be a parade of poorly executed road maneuvers.

Couple years ago, THE DET8R's bike had a fuel problem and came to a rest at Deal's Gap. We sat in the private driveway acrost from there while waiting several hours for a tow. We were amazed and a little amused of the many and assorted poor road maneuvers. Still fresh in my memory is the couple on a brand new Indian performing a low speed get-oft 
We both predicted what would be the final outcome minutes before they performed it for us. The female passenger walked away, leaving the Indian "pilot" to fend for himself.   

lot

hey I remeber that bad petcock 

Narrowly avoided the dreaded hydro-lock...