Cherohala Skyway & The Dragon

[KahWahSahKey]

I've never done either of them, but yours truly will be riding them first week of July...can't wait!!!

[rbentnail]

Sure hope you're not there on a weekend. It's sometimes so crowded on the Dragon during the summer there isn't room to phart.

[Classic]

We were down there last week. Rode the Dragon then over to Tellico Plains then the Cherohala back towards the hotel in Maggie Valley. Did that Saturday morning with virtually no traffic on either the Dragon or Cherohala except for a bicycle rally which was always coming towards us and never in our way. Weird. Like Russ said I fully expected the usual traffic for a weekend but it was nearly vacant in our direction. Even the Deals Gap store wasn't busy...and it really was a Saturday.

Don't forget to go to Wheels Through Time motorcycle museum in Maggie Valley. If you go there, just after you pay the small admission fee and walk into the main area, there's an album cover of the music of the old tv show Then Came Bronson. In the lower right corner is the list of session musicians. See if one of them rings a bell. I pointed it out to the owners son Matt and he thought it was pretty cool that it had never been noticed before.

Just west of Maggie Valley is almost the beginning of the Blue Ridge Parkway and if you take that north you'll soon come to the high point at just over 6000 feet then eventually to the Folk Art Center which I always thought was interesting. Just after the high point is NC Route 151 aka Pisgah Highway which is a fairly steep Dragon-like road down into the valley. Ride it down to the valley, turn around and go back up to the BRP then back to the hotel. I did the downhill leg of it two-up on the Wing pulling a trailer which was fun but it would be great solo.

The whole area caters to motorcyclists and as many times as I've been there I've barely scratched the surface.

[bschmidt]

Are you riding the bike from Stuart or trailering it. I was thinking of doing that ride in August, but was considering trailering the bike to Ashville,

[Highwayman2011]

I rode it last year, don't forget to ride Moonshiner 28. Foothills parkway to Great Smokey Mountains National Park is nice too. Check the website Tail of the Dragon at Deals Gap, motorcycle and sport car two lane tourism serving Tail of the Dragon at Deals Gap, Cherohala Skyway, Moonshiner28, Devils Triangle, and Six Gap North Georgia. lots of good info on that area. You can also rent a bike there.

[BlueCruiser]

We had group of 10 riders for our trip to the Dragon and Skyway. It was nice but another biker we met on the trip told us about the Snake. We all found the Snake to be a much less crowded and more enjoyable experience. Don't get me wrong, every biker should ride the Dragon at least once but for a better ride try the Snake:

421 The Snake - 33 Miles, 489 Curves, 3 Mountains, and 1 Valley

We picked it up in Boone after riding the Blue Ridge Parkway. Watch for some loose gravel in a couple of spots.

[T Gibbs]

I've never done either of them, but yours truly will be riding them first week of July...can't wait!!!

Some of us had thought about riding the Dragon that week but we're afraid it will be too crowded with it being a holiday week and the holiday being on Wednesday. We will probably ride the Rattler and a couple of other routes that are not named but still good rides. Maybe save the Dragon for sometime in Aug.

[KahWahSahKey]

Are you riding the bike from Stuart or trailering it. I was thinking of doing that ride in August, but was considering trailering the bike to Ashville,

Riding. Leaving the 3rd, going as far as possible & arriving on the 4th. Then leaving there the 7th, going as far as possible and returning on the 8th.

I rode it last year, don't forget to ride Moonshiner 28. Foothills parkway to Great Smokey Mountains National Park is nice too. Check the website Tail of the Dragon at Deals Gap, motorcycle and sport car two lane tourism serving Tail of the Dragon at Deals Gap, Cherohala Skyway, Moonshiner28, Devils Triangle, and Six Gap North Georgia. lots of good info on that area. You can also rent a bike there.

Don't know if I'll be able to do those other rides. May have to save them for another time.

We had group of 10 riders for our trip to the Dragon and Skyway. It was nice but another biker we met on the trip told us about the Snake. We all found the Snake to be a much less crowded and more enjoyable experience. Don't get me wrong, every biker should ride the Dragon at least once but for a better ride try the Snake:

421 The Snake - 33 Miles, 489 Curves, 3 Mountains, and 1 Valley

We picked it up in Boone after riding the Blue Ridge Parkway. Watch for some loose gravel in a couple of spots.

I'll be too far away to do that one this time...but it's now on the list!

Some of us had thought about riding the Dragon that week but we're afraid it will be too crowded with it being a holiday week and the holiday being on Wednesday. We will probably ride the Rattler and a couple of other routes that are not named but still good rides. Maybe save the Dragon for sometime in Aug.

I'm guessing it will be too, but I'm going with a friend who is from that area so this time around I'm on someone else's schedule as I was invited to go along.

[predfan2001]

Here's the thread about my trip there

http://www.kawasakimotorcycle.org/fo...gons-tail.html

[OhSteelerfan]

That area is great for riding. I have done both many times. Be sure to check out Bald River Falls along the Skyway. Its just a few miles from where you get on in Tellico.

[KahWahSahKey]

Here's the thread about my trip there

http://www.kawasakimotorcycle.org/fo...gons-tail.html

Nice! Thanks for sharing!

That area is great for riding. I have done both many times. Be sure to check out Bald River Falls along the Skyway. Its just a few miles from where you get on in Tellico.

I'm sure we'll be stopping there!

[rbentnail]

Here's the thread about my trip there http://www.kawasakimotorcycle.org/fo...eet-greet.html

[KahWahSahKey]

Here's the thread about my trip there http://www.kawasakimotorcycle.org/fo...eet-greet.html

Thank you for sharing...these threads are getting me totally pumped!!!

[bschmidt]

I would like to be making that trip, be safe and enjoy!

[rbentnail]

Thank you for sharing...these threads are getting me totally pumped!!!

Yeah, that's why I did it . If you're like me A) it's all you think about, 2) you're beginning to lose sleep over it, and C) you mentally packed your bike a thousand times and are 2nd guessing what you should take.

[DanL]

Yeah, that's why I did it . If you're like me A) it's all you think about, 2) you're beginning to lose sleep over it, and C) you mentally packed your bike a thousand times and are 2nd guessing what you should take.

boy did you hit the nail on the head! I'm leaving for that same area on July 8 and I'm already having dreams about it. I have a spreadsheet with all the gear I need- riding wear (wicking stuff, etc), off bike wear for when we go to dinner and things like that, general stuff to take like toiletries and electronic device chargers. Going to do a dry run on packing everything sometime next week to make sure it all fits. I always have some gear in my right saddlebag- rain gear, tire kit, stuff like that. I have a Givi 46l top case and an empty side bag to pack everything else.

My wife leaves Saturday for that area with 2 girlfriends, they rented a cabin near the NC/TN border for the week and will do day trips to all the roads. I'm heading to Charleston SC to meet her on the 8th, spending a few days with her family there, and then we're heading back to the mountains and taking about a week to wander our way back north thru the mountains in NC,VA, WV, into PA. No agenda except I have to be home by the 20th for a band gig.

[18wheelfixer]

OK... take my advice. After you ride, and with complete hunger, check out Hot Rods 50's Diner @ 373 Hannum Street, Alcoa, TN. Their food is so freakin' good! Bring your appetite because their portions are enough to feed two. I'm thinking of going back to the Dragon this Fall just for another round of their burgers. Homepage | Hot Rods 50's Diner, Alcoa/Maryville, Tennessee.

[rbentnail]

Ah, Charleston! Love that city! Has one of my all-time fave seafood restaurants- Hymans Seafood Restaurant, Charleston, SC, 215 Meeting St.

[KahWahSahKey]

OK... take my advice. After you ride, and with complete hunger, check out Hot Rods 50's Diner @ 373 Hannum Street, Alcoa, TN. Their food is so freakin' good! Bring your appetite because their portions are enough to feed two. I'm thinking of going back to the Dragon this Fall just for another round of their burgers. Homepage | Hot Rods 50's Diner, Alcoa/Maryville, Tennessee.

I'll be sure to mention that place...thank you!