Deal's Gap Dragon Tail

[kerrfunk]

I have a friend in Knoxville TN I'll be spending a couple days with in October, so obviously I have to ride the Dragon.

What do I need to know before I go?

[1978GS750E]

Ride it during the week! Weekends are crazy with sportbikes and small cars that try to set speed records! If you need a place to stay check out the 2 Wheel Inn in Robbinsville. Clean rooms and a garage for your bike.

[mnferwerda]

Agree on avoiding the weekends. And ride the pace that you are comfortable. It's a great ride but if your focus is on fast, then it is not fun (IMHO)

And do it both ways!

[Steve]

Look into alternatives, too.

They have lowered the speed limit to 30 MPH. No idea how many are actually doing the limit, but it is patrolled and enforced.

Many other roads in the vicinity that are just as good or better. A quick search of the area will show many other roads in the area.

If you want to see some sights, drop south a few miles to Robbinsville, then turn west and take the Cherohala Skyway to Tellico Plains. Straight-line, it's about 27 miles, but my mapping program says the road is 45 miles.

Or you can go a few miles east of Robbinsville to Cherokee, where you can catch the end of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Take it to Maggie Valley, go visit the Wheels Through Time Museum.

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[RichDesmond]

Look into alternatives, too.

They have lowered the speed limit to 30 MPH. No idea how many are actually doing the limit, but it is patrolled and enforced.

Many other roads in the vicinity that are just as good or better. A quick search of the area will show many other roads in the area.

If you want to see some sights, drop south a few miles to Robbinsville, then turn west and take the Cherohala Skyway to Tellico Plains. Straight-line, it's about 27 miles, but my mapping program says the road is 45 miles.

Or you can go a few miles east of Robbinsville to Cherokee, where you can catch the end of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Take it to Maggie Valley, go visit the Wheels Through Time Museum.

.

+1000. the Dragon is a good stretch of road, but it's notoriety had largely ruined it as a fun road. The Cherohala is awesome, and there's tons of other great roads in the area.

[bwringer]

Idiots hate waking up early. Go through before 10:00 am. Stay in your lane.

And yeah, it's a real hoot, and you'll get your picture taken by Killboy and a few other photographers which is fun, but there zillions of other excellent roads around there.

If I have to go through when the cops are hovering over the place like a chrome fart (often happens on busy afternoons after some flatlander yahoo splatters himself), I make a game out of staying strictly on the right side of the lane. You can be cranked over at monster lean angles going 20mph in some places.


You also have to understand that 129 is one of only a few ways over or past the Smoky Mountains; I know some people who have showed up in the area intimidated by the road's reputation and determined to avoid the Dragon somehow, but the only alternatives are many more miles out of the way, and can be challenging in their own right.

For example, if you want to get from Maryville, TN to Robbinsville NC, it's 57 miles via US 129, 93 miles via the next route south, the Cherohala Skyway.

Northward, 441 through the park is best avoided unless you enjoy diesel exhaust and massive herds of RVs and flatlander minivans creeping along at 15mph. Interstate 40 is actually kinda fun if traffic isn't too heavy and you're on a reasonably fast bike, but it's 60 miles northeast on the other end of the park.


Anyway, US 129 is just a road. Go ride it. It's fun.

[storm 64]

I rode the Tail of the Dragon in April this year. It was cool just to say you did it. A lot of the turns are really tight. When I was there, there was a Volkswagen Golf car club ripping up the road. They were grateful when I pulled to the side to let them by. Would I do it again? Heck yeah, it was fun! ☺

[NavyDad]

Wayah Road is worth a look.

[LAB3]

The property I've been on for the last week on Ohio Rt 481 in Mieges County has some quite excellent riding! Got talked into it being my home base for the summer, my feelings ain't hurt!

[Wingsconsin]

Here is a good choice.

Take a look at this route I ran in 2016 when the Traveling Picnic was in town --
About 200 miles with all the great roads included -
The Joe Brown Highway - The Cherahola Skyway - Moonshiner (Hy 28)

https://goo.gl/maps/uobMKKPzjGR2

[Jedz123]

I'll be taking the Cherahola Skyway in July per Steve's recommendation.

[marvinsc]

It's not hard to ride them all in one day, The Dragon, the Cherahola, 128 and Wayha (which was a disappointment). We did it back in 2013 on Friday and did the Devil's Triangle and made a run into Kentucky on Saturday.

[Redman]

Ride it one way in morning, on a week day, for the experience. THat then qualifys you for the tee shirts and the sticker for your helmet. .... Then go enjoy about any other road in the area.

A few years ago, I was there in early April, so it was not busy in the morning. When I came back through the other way in the afternoon it wasnt too busy, but was busy enough that I had to keep watch in mirrors for Ricky Racers blasting bye, and that was enough to make it less enjoyable.
I cant say about October.

On the north side Greast Smokey Mtn Natn Pk are the Foothills Parkways. Is kinda like Blueridge Parkway: scenic, nice curves, no cross traffic, but slow, dont use it to "get anywhere".





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[Redman]

Hey, Kerry, While you are on the Dragon, see if this GS is still there

I saw this in 2013.

[Wingsconsin]

Deals Gap 2016 -