Dragons Tail questions

[cabreco]

My wife's cousin has asked us if we would like to join them & a few friends on a road trip to Dragons Tail. They will be coming down from NYC we are in SE Virginia.

 

Having no knowledge of this place I did a little research & it looks like a lot of fun.

 

I'm sure others here have gone there, what activities are there to do (aside from the road). Would a hotel be better or would a cabin rental be best?

 

Any information that you can share would be great to plan this. We will be taking the '84 there pulling the trailer, so what ever proactive precautions I should take please LMK.

 

I have new tires & New Brakes on her & she only has 15K so I'm pretty confident in being able to take the 10 hour trip there.

[bongobobny]

Take the Blue Ridge Parkway down there and you will be ready to ride the dragon! 318 curves in 11 miles. You will be done with it to include sightseeing, pictures and souvenirs in a few hours...

[ChurchBuilder]

When I went we stayed in Gatlinburg, TN. Lots of things to do around there.

I would ride the dragon during the week to avoid the crazy weekend riders. Also, check out the Cherohala Skyway which is not far from the dragon.

I love riding in that area, I've never been anywhere with such nice roads to ride everywhere.

[Guest scarylarry]

+1 on Cherohala Skyway

[Eck]

The BR-parkway is not just a road.. It is a challenge that the normal rider must take caution on.

 

I don't care who you are or how well you THINK you know how to ride.. The Dragons tail is one of the most challenging roads a rider will ever ride...and make it through, (if he does it right).

 

As mentioned above, I too would strongly suggest you ride it during the week to avoid those avid local riders who have rode it many times.

 

If you think your GOOD at riding, I again strongly suggest you take the ride north for the 11 miles. Stop, relax and take in the DAM view at the north end. Then, when you think you have your scruples head back that 11 miles and if you get that urge, speed up a little because NOW you know how sharp the curves really are...but don't get over bearing for if you do, you will take that trophy home of having parts of your bike on the tree of shame........

 

I have rode the tail of the dragon 14 times now...I choose to never ride it again...It is very hard on your bike if you ride it aggressively.

Those new tires and brakes will show the wear if you choose to do so.

[Wade 2000]

The wife and I prefer to stay on the NC side around Maggie Valley it's a good place to satellite out of each day and not as much of a circus as Gatlenburg.

+1 on the Cherehala skyway and BRP, there is a cycle museum in Maggie Valley "Wheels Through Time" it's worth a look. There is a good ride that takes in several waterfalls south of Maggie Valley

[stroker ace]

What time of year you coming down? There was/is still some snow on the Cherohala.

[mini-muffin]

When are you going to be doing this ride? If it's in August then Vogel is at that time. They always ride the dragon, Cherehala and some hit the BRP.

If you are going to the Dragon on your own try to hit the road on a weekday. Weekends are full of crotch rockets.

Margaret

[cabreco]

It is very hard on your bike if you ride it aggressively.

Those new tires and brakes will show the wear if you choose to do so.

 

Eck, my days of "aggressive" riding are LONG gone. I have nothing to prove & I'm pretty sure an adrenaline rush would give me a stroke

 

IDK what the speed limit is on this road but I assure you for me it will be a nice lesurely ride.

 

The trip is for 4th of July long weekend. Starting that Wednesday. I'm sure it would be a tad hectic.

 

The one thing I've read is NC now bans trucks on the road (Tenn has not) So the NC side looks like there would be less issues. Like I said, I've never been there so IDK what to expect.

[meach]

You have a variety of options depending how much time you plan on spending, route taken down and back, etc.

 

Realize Tail of the Dragon is just below Smoky Mountain National Park which has a lot of options of things to do . US 441 is supposed to be reopened around mid may (after a rock slide closed it) which goes from Cherokee NC (Casinos) to Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge area TN which has about every tourist attraction thing you can come up with.

 

Ride thru the Smokys is nice if traffic not bad, as with Dragon the weekends are the worst. Couple things in the smokys are Clingmans Dome observation tower http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/clingmansdome.htm which is maybe 1/2 mile hike (highest point in TN) as you cross from NC to TN at Newfound Gap on US 441.

 

Another thing to do in Smokys is ride thru Cades Cove http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/cadescove.htm which is an 11 mile loop road around a valley. Old homesites, etc you can stop and look/stretch. Several miles of riding to get to the cove, you can look at map and see.

 

As mentioned Cherohala is very nice, ( we like it better than Dragon).

Lots of nice roads regardless of which you go. You might want to post a more detail plan of getting to the Dragon (US 129) for more suggestions. There is a variety of ways of doing things. We usually just go for a day trip so not very familiar with lodging.

Edited April 2, 2013 by meach

[playboy]

The wife and I prefer to stay on the NC side around Maggie Valley it's a good place to satellite out of each day and not as much of a circus as Gatlenburg.

+1 on the Cherehala skyway and BRP, there is a cycle museum in Maggie Valley "Wheels Through Time" it's worth a look. There is a good ride that takes in several waterfalls south of Maggie Valley

 

 

We did the Gatlinburg thing a couple years ago never again will I go back there on a bike. Some locals got us out of town and rode us through Maggie Valley and a bit of the BR. When we go back Maggie Valley is where we will be staying. IMHO the Dragon is what you make of it we really enjoyed it and rode it at our skill level which would be pretty leisurely for a Lot of folks we also rode it during the week so traffic wasn't bad.

[Freebird]

I agree 100%. Gatlinburg is WAY too busy and too touristy. Great place if you want to buy a T-shirt or Cap.

[cabreco]

IMHO the Dragon is what you make of it we really enjoyed it and rode it at our skill level which would be pretty leisurely for a Lot of folks we also rode it during the week so traffic wasn't bad.

 

I still have to see what the groups plans are for the trip. For us it's more the sights than the thrill of the curves. I read that 129 has a 30 mph speed limit. At 1st I thought, how much trouble can you get in, then the wife mentioned to me "you forgot to consider the riders who want to do time trials"

 

I guess someone flying up behind you can ruin your day fast!

 

I'm diggin' all the alternatives routes. Please keep em comning!

[AngryAmish]

318 curves in 11 miles. ...

 

Not for me ! Yikes !!

[playboy]

There are several curves where photographers set up where you can pull over and let the faster riders by. I found it to have a nice rhythm to the curves a lot more so than the Arkansas Pig trail.

[dunsonaventure]

Cherahala is one of my favorite roads in the area. long sweeping corves are fantastic. the dragon is def a during the week ride. we found monday thru wednesday the best. rt 32 is awesome but turns into gravel 3/4 of the way so be careful. but no traffic at all so you can take your time.

[Ventureless]

The wife and I prefer to stay on the NC side around Maggie Valley it's a good place to satellite out of each day and not as much of a circus as Gatlenburg.

+1 on the Cherehala skyway and BRP, there is a cycle museum in Maggie Valley "Wheels Through Time" it's worth a look. There is a good ride that takes in several waterfalls south of Maggie Valley

 

We also like staying in Maggie Valley. We usually stay in the Meadowlark Motel. Fantastic owners. Not the most high quality or newest of places, but it was clean and fun. They have a pavillion out back that they will usually let motorcyclists use to park their bikes under. The stream runs behind the place and you can build a fire and sit out by teh creek in the evenings. They have a grill out there as well. We usually get rooms, but they also have some sort of cabins or something there as well with balconies over the creek.

 

I agree that Gatlinburg is busy, but the one good thing about staying in Gatlinburg and/or Pigeon Forge is that you always have something to do in the evenings. We don't drink that much when on our trips, but to be able to walk or ride the trolley from where you stay and find several restaurants and entertainment is great.

 

Cherohola is much better to me than the dragon. Rode the dragon once and that was enough for me. Now each year when we go down, I take the road around it with a couple others and meet the rest of the group on the other side. Klingmans Dome and Cades Cove are also 2 very good suggestions. One other side trip you can take is down to Tellico Plains. Quaint little town and the Tellico Plains Bakery is an awesome place to have lunch. Great sandwiches and incredible home made canolis and bear claws (I think that is what they are called - cream filled and chocolate covered). And very nice people as well. Parking sucks a bit though. Make sure you have a kickstand pad (unless they have fixed it since last year).

[spke]

Cherohala Skyway is a must if staying anywhere nearby. The Dragon wraps around a mountain and all you see while riding it is the next curve coming at you. The Cherohala climbs to the top of the ridge and (weather permitting) offers broad vistas of the valleys below as it traverses the ridge. Long sweepers as opposed to tight curves. It was closed over the winter due to a landslide, but I think there is now 1 lane open where the slide happened.

 

Bridal Veil Falls(Nantahala Nat Forest) is a good picture opportunity, There is also another falls nearby.

 

Everyone should ride the Dragon at least once. Best during the week. I have been passed in the middle of a tight curve while leaned over hard, by sport bikes at high speed.

 

Moonshiner is another good ride.

 

Pretty much anywhere you stay in this area there are GREAT roads to ride. We stay in Bryson City at a little family run motel called Two-Rivers. The owners are GREAT hosts. He rides and loves to show people around.

 

 

 

Cherahala is one of my favorite roads in the area. long sweeping corves are fantastic. the dragon is def a during the week ride. we found monday thru wednesday the best. rt 32 is awesome but turns into gravel 3/4 of the way so be careful. but no traffic at all so you can take your time.

[Daveand Barbie]

First, I would suggest you look at http://www.americaridesmaps.com and consider adding some of Wayne's great maps to your collection. I have a number of them and they are great resources. Wayne has ridden each of the routes he has marked on the maps, and I have not found one route to be less than a great ride.

 

http://www.2wheelscamp.com/states/northcarolina.shtml

 

This is a great resource for finding lodging. These are all motorcycle friendly. I have stayed at the Two Wheel Inn and found it to be quite accomodating for me considering I was on a trip and had no plans to lounge around the room.

 

I rode the Dragon last year for the first time on the third day of a trip after I had ridden a few of the other roads around the area and was almost half way through it before I realized "I must be on The Dragon". The markings on the road gave it away.

 

You are going to have a great time on your trip!

[BoomerCPO]

Speed limit on the Dragon is 35mph and often radar enforced. Between the crotch rockets and sports cars coming into YOUR lane it makes for an interesting ride....

Boomer....who sez ya gotta see the Tree of Shame at Deal's Gap to fully realize the dangers of the Dragon.

[Venturous Randy]

Speed limit on the Dragon is 35mph and often radar enforced.

 

I thought it was 30mph?

RandyA

[rickardracing]

I went last year. Stayed in Pigeon Forge. Regency Inn. Not a 4 star but clean, plenty of parking and the price was right. Definately ride US-28 (Moonshiner28) into Georgia. Just as technical if not more than the Dragon. Klingmans Dome if you don't mind a walk up hill.

[djh3]

I would recomend a brake fluid change if it hasnet been done in awhile or if its sort of a JD color. My bike had lees than 12k on it and I was on some of the roads up that way in Oct. Because the IDOT in the cage in front of me didnt know how to drive curvy mountina roads and short braked me several times I had to brake abnormally. I had severe rear brake fade to the point I had to stop and cool things off. Once I got home I bled the brakes as recomended by members here and all was good.

Maggie Valley is a nice place to stay, we stayed in Franklin NC in Oct made a good base to run out of. Dragon is OK but you as a driver ain going to see much because your gonna be way to busy. Take your time. Cherahola is a nice ride as is some of the roads running along the lake side from the Fontana Dam. Moonshiner 28 from Bryson City down to Franklin is cool too. Just way to many roads. Here is a link to some great roads up that way. Links on left for different areas.

[TDbiker]

One more resource for you...

 

http://www.tailofthedragon.com/index.html

 

Good luck,

Glenn

[BoomerCPO]

I thought it was 30mph?

RandyA

 

You could be right....Kbran and I rode it at 35mph last year and had no problems with the LEO's there.

Boomer