The dragon

va_rider said:
As someone who live close to the Gap for 4 years... there are many better roads in western NC/eastern TN. I went to the Gap twice in 4 years, and I'll never go again. Too many cops, too many people in general, especially too many guys on Harleys doing 15-20mph.

Go to Mountain City TN, hit 421.... 489 curves in a 12 mile radius, and you might not see another car all day.... hit 181 from Jonas Ridge NC to Morganton NC, 120+mph sweepers..... 221 from Blowing Rock to Jonas Ridge... tight, technical, and fun. .... anything around "Little Switzerland" NC....

Hate to pee on the parade for all of the out of towners, but the the Gap is a tourist attraction and nothing more.
Click to expand...


Must agree- I live 75 miles from the store. There are Plenty of great roads in the area that don't have the traffic or the LEO presence.

Here's a few mapped out for you. these are all starting and ending from the IronHorse Motorcycle Campground in Stecoah NC.

Cherohala Tellico Reliance ride from IronHorse. Get fuel in Tellico and Ducktown and then in Vonore. Eat in Tellico, DucktownTn ,Copperhill Tn or Vonore TN
http://mapq.st/13GZkER


Blood Mountain from IronHorse
You can shorten the ride by staying on Hwy 129 all the way from Robbinsville to Blood Mountain, but the roads are mostly 4 lanes and boring. Watch the LEO's on Blood Mountain. Sunday mornings are usually the best times on Hwy 60 to Suches GA. It's 35 miles of great sweepers and hardly any traffic. Continue back from Blood Mountain by the map directions. Get fuel in Robbinsville,Hiwassee GA, Turners Corner GA , Suches GA or Morgnton Ga ,Copperhill Tn or Ducktown Tn or Tellico
http://mapq.st/12nyyLE


Hot Springs, NC ride back through Gatlinburg and Foothills parkway. Get fuel in Cherokee, Maggie Valley, Hot Springs, Newport, Gatlinburg or All along Hwy 321. Lunch in Hot Springs
http://mapq.st/12LqsfK

My favorite
Highlands Cashiers ride from IronHorse. Get fuel in Franklin and Cashiers and then on Hwy 64 on your way back. Lunch at the Carolina Smokehouse or Farmers Market in Cashiers. There is a good Country cooking cafeteria style restaurant in Wallhalla SC if you continue down SC 107 for a few miles too. The map is kinda screwed on this one. Take Hwy 28 to Franklin, Hwy 64 to Highlands and follow into South Carolina to Walhalla. Back up 107 to Cashiers NC and then back on 64 toward Brevard. OR cut up 281 or 215 through the Pisgah Nat'l forest to shorten the ride... you get the idea. All these rides can be changed up to your liking.
http://mapq.st/1du7Vte


Most of these maps are showing you some great roads to ride while you're here. I usually like to go out for 225-300 mile rides each day. You can change them - make them connect up however you want.
Don't forget to keep your riding within your abilities and make sure you get back home in the same condition that you showed up in.:woot:
 
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Thanks to the guys posting other routes to ride while in the area. I agree, the Dragon maybe the 'main attraction', but there are PLENTY of other roads to ride and tons of cool stuff to see while there.
 
WarriorDog said:
Must agree- I live 75 miles from the store. There are Plenty of great roads in the area that don't have the traffic or the LEO presence.

Here's a few mapped out for you. these are all starting and ending from the IronHorse Motorcycle Campground in Stecoah NC.

Cherohala Tellico Reliance ride from IronHorse. Get fuel in Tellico and Ducktown and then in Vonore. Eat in Tellico, DucktownTn ,Copperhill Tn or Vonore TN
http://mapq.st/13GZkER


Blood Mountain from IronHorse
You can shorten the ride by staying on Hwy 129 all the way from Robbinsville to Blood Mountain, but the roads are mostly 4 lanes and boring. Watch the LEO's on Blood Mountain. Sunday mornings are usually the best times on Hwy 60 to Suches GA. It's 35 miles of great sweepers and hardly any traffic. Continue back from Blood Mountain by the map directions. Get fuel in Robbinsville,Hiwassee GA, Turners Corner GA , Suches GA or Morgnton Ga ,Copperhill Tn or Ducktown Tn or Tellico
http://mapq.st/12nyyLE


Hot Springs, NC ride back through Gatlinburg and Foothills parkway. Get fuel in Cherokee, Maggie Valley, Hot Springs, Newport, Gatlinburg or All along Hwy 321. Lunch in Hot Springs
http://mapq.st/12LqsfK

My favorite
Highlands Cashiers ride from IronHorse. Get fuel in Franklin and Cashiers and then on Hwy 64 on your way back. Lunch at the Carolina Smokehouse or Farmers Market in Cashiers. There is a good Country cooking cafeteria style restaurant in Wallhalla SC if you continue down SC 107 for a few miles too. The map is kinda screwed on this one. Take Hwy 28 to Franklin, Hwy 64 to Highlands and follow into South Carolina to Walhalla. Back up 107 to Cashiers NC and then back on 64 toward Brevard. OR cut up 281 or 215 through the Pisgah Nat'l forest to shorten the ride... you get the idea. All these rides can be changed up to your liking.
http://mapq.st/1du7Vte


Most of these maps are showing you some great roads to ride while you're here. I usually like to go out for 225-300 mile rides each day. You can change them - make them connect up however you want.
Don't forget to keep your riding within your abilities and make sure you get back home in the same condition that you showed up in.:woot:
Click to expand...

Hey man thanks alot. That's really cool of you to map it out like that for me. Just makes me even more excited to go
:D
 
I'm going the first week of Sept with a small group. We are riding there. It's my first time. They all went last year and are repeating, but with me now. We will be hitting N. GA on the way back. I think GA is the main point of the trip, but Deals Gap is right there with all the other roads too.

I will talk to the other guys and pass along suggestions made here. Lots of photos and video. I will take my GoPro. I'm not sure what setup to use, but I have this summer to play with it. :woot:
 
jared p said:
two maps of what i plan on doing when i'm there. i'm coming from the east coast down to birminghamd and planning on a few days in the area before moving on
Moved Permanently
Moved Permanently
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On the first map- I think your trip from G to H will take you OFF Pavement for quite a few miles.

On the second map - your ride from A-F will be nice. The leg from Shady Valley to Damascus and thenHwy 58 from Damascus to Independence is a great road.
Hwy 421 from Boone to Mtn City Tn is boring and 221 from Jefferson to Boone is kinda boring and uneventful. Consider using Hwy 88 from Sparta back to Mountain City and then back down 421 to Boone. Also Hwy 16 from Volney up to Tazewell Va is a great road - no traffic outside of Marion Va.
The locals call it The Back of the Dragon - link --> | Come join the knee draggin' excitement!
 
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