Planning on riding the Dragon - any advice?

[McVaaahhh]

With all this free time I know have available I'm thinking of taking a trip out to ride The Dragon. (hence my posts about borrowing stuff)

So, for those that have ridden it before, any advice or things to look out for, check out, etc?

Places to stay? I may just camp in the back of the Tahoe, but I'm on the lookout for cheap rooms as well.

[dapper]

Leah rode it.

Mount off road lights on your bike and ride the Dragon at night, (when the cops are resting). ;)

[Connman]

We have a group ride there every year (zx-12r.org). We stay at the Fontana Village Resort - cabin rentals. Very nice and very close to good riding.
The dragon itself is usually the lamest ride of the week - get in line with hundreds of other riders and count the police cars at every pull-off. It's more of a novelty than a fun ride, but the overlook pull-off provides a prime "group photo" location. Of course we do it every year, but if you know any locals, they'll show you roads that are MUCH more fun than the dragon.
I wouldn't consider riding it this late in the year though.
Here's our group pic, I've got one of the green 12's in the 2nd row)
http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg9/Connman111/P5110055-1.jpg

[brennahm]

If you're willing to camp, there's a campground on Lake Santeetlah (5 mins south of the dragon). Get an RV space for like $12 a night or something so you have power. They also have 2 cabins that are like $20-30 a night if you reserve enough in advance. PM me if you want to talk about it.

[CaneZach]

Brian, hit up Cherehola.

[Dietrich_R1]

Brian, hit up Cherehola.

Don't forget about T.W.O. (Two Wheels Only)!!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.twowheelsonly.com/

Don't forget about the parkway!

Don't forget about..... That entire area ROCKS!!! When u set up your reservations, drill them for the best rides!!!

If the schedule will allow, do the Gap 1 day on the front side of your trip & 1 day on the last day. Throw in Cherehola in on 1 of those days. Maybe that place would allow you to store your vehicle while you ride around the region in between???

[swademaster]

Brian, PM Gramps. He will be able to answer and questions that you will have.

[lth]

I went in '04 and '05. In '04 I spent the week riding the entire area and in '05 I rode just the Dragon for 5 straight days. My thoughts:

- Doing the entire area on that first trip was great. Lots of beautiful rides, spent a lot of time on the Blueridge Parkway as well as a lot of fine back roads just cruising around looking at fall colors.

- However, I liked riding the Dragon itself much more than the other roads. That stretch is in pristine condition (at least it was then) especially on the TN side, with 318 perfectly cambered corners for 11 miles, and it's all about the spirited ride. The other roads are good, but they're not anything that much better than some of our own canyons. The Dragon is something else.

- Weekends on the Dragon are a zoo. But weekdays it's damn near empty. You'll pretty much have the road to yourself.

- I stayed in Robbinsville, the Phillips Motel. Cheap, comfortable, and a short trek to US 129.

- I went at this time of year both times, and it was terrific. Weather was still warm enough, and I hit the fall colors perfectly in '05. Did get rained on one or two days, but, hey, we're spoiled by dry weather here in CO.

- Be careful. You'll encounter lots of idiots, in cars and on bikes, on your side of the yellow line. If you listen closely and look ahead, you can usually tell if someone's screaming toward you from the other direction. Also, watch out on the Cherohala Skyway. There are a couple corners that sneak up on you, with brick walls to kill you if you lose it there. And a few scenic overlooks too close to blind corners, so you may have a car pull out right in front of you.

Here are my pics:
http://www.pbase.com/larryhsu/dragon2004&page=all
http://www.pbase.com/larryhsu/dragon2005&page=all

You'll have a blast. It's the most fun I've ever had riding, and that includes track days. A track might have a dozen turns, but this road has 318. Enjoy!

[Kitten]

I guess I disagree about the other roads being like our canyons. In my opinion there are so many great roads in the TN, NC, GA area. That's what makes it so incredible. Is the dragon amazing, yes. It's very technical! However, there are so many super roads over there. For example Richard Russell highway is incredible, the Cherahola is kick ass, hell bender is great. There are too many to even list! PM me if you have any other questions!

[FZRguy]

My ride report from last July: http://www.cosportbikeclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=33910

[denver_whitest185]

if you really want to get the road to yourself, go in the early mornings on a weekday. i drove it (in a car unfortuately) just after sunrise and didn't see another person the entire length both directions. Also, blue ridge parkway is quite impressive too, so i would try to drive a good portion of it too if you can.

[Sully]

From our discussion last night.. Here is a link with some good info along with maps, lodging, etc. Definitely best to ride The Dragon during the week. On the weekends, there are TOO many people and cops. Also, make sure your bike registration, etc. is all up to date as well.

I prefer this link...
http://www.tailofthedragon.com/

but here is this one as well...
http://www.dealsgap.com/

[Matty]

i'll let ya know in a couple of days if i'm in to join ya.

I'll also have Katie talk to her dad. They live in Hickory, NC but it's about 3 hours away from the Dragon. But they also have another house in Tenessee and I guess it's not to far from Cherohala Skyway.

[Sully]

Ohh and definitely ride the Cherohala Skyway :hump:

[Keyser Soze]

From what I've heard lately, too many people and too many cops in that area. A guy from Milwaukee just died a few weeks ago out there, so you can imagine they're gonna be steppin it up more as time goes on.


And +1 Cherohala Skyway. The drive in in Tellico Plains is the shiz.

[Captain Obvious]

They live in Hickory, NC

Haha, home of John Reep. Thats one funny redneck.

Good Roads:
Highway 60 from Porter Springs to Suches.
WolfPen Gap Suches north west on 180 till you hit 129/19/11
Turners Corner up 129/19/11 north across Blood Mountain
Pine Mountain North on 28 into Highlands, NC
Warwoman, RD from Antioch north to Pinemountain.
Highlands NE on 64 into Cashiers and keep going East till you hit 281.
165 from Tellico Plains into Robbinsville (aka Cherahola Skyway).

I never got to go to 276 in Pisgah National Forest, but that looked like a good area.

Do Deals Gap once or twice during the week, then move on.

[Captain Obvious]

Oh, Robbinsville is in a dry county, if that matters.

I've stayed in a BnB in Robbinsville, off the the west and up the hill from the hotel on 129 when you come into town, don't remember the BnB's name but she was bike friendly.

I've also stayed at the Cabins up 180 from Suches.
Two wheels only is a GREAT place to stay. (http://www.twowheelsonly.com/) They also have kickass pork BBQ sandwich. Back in the day, they had a pet skunk that would go from person to person's lap eating fruit. Pretty sweet little fella. TWO is a must stop if you are in the area. Plus it is close to Blood Mountain and Wolf Pen Gap.

All the signed memoribelia on the walls it worth a meal and a read.

Looking towards Robbinsville on Cherahola Skyway.
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f389/funksouljon/bikes/TDay_ride/TDay_Ride011.jpg

Another of the Skyway.
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f389/funksouljon/bikes/IMAGE_00182.jpg

[dirkterrell]

I never got to go to 276 in Pisgah National Forest, but that looked like a good area.


276 is a kickass road to ride. Well, at least it was 20+ years ago when I was riding in western NC regularly.

Dirk

[Sully]

Oh yeah, it is a "dry" county. You can drive or ride to the next county and purchase yo booze :cheers:

[Keyser Soze]

Oh yeah, it is a "dry" county. You can drive or ride to the next county and purchase yo booze :cheers:

I think John has photographic evidence of this. :drink:

[DevilsTonic]

Ohh and definitely ride the Cherohala Skyway :hump:+1

Brian,
If you go to the dragon, make sure that you make a point of riding the skyway!!

There is a campground at the base of the Dragon. For the life of me I can't remember what it's called though. I don't see much of a point in renting a room or cabin since you'll be spending most of your time on the bike anyway.

When do you plan on going? Going in the Spring or fall is best, but if you go in the fall watch out for the leaves on the road. I went in the middle of summer and it's very hot and humid out there, so I was sweating like a whore in church the whole time I was there.

I could give you a wee bit of info, but Gramps and or Jon (player 2) may be able to give you more info, since i've only been once.

[McVaaahhh]

Thanks for the tips everyone.

I'm planning to leave in about a week so I think I'll be good for the leaves, and I'm going during the week to try and avoid the majority of the traffic. :up:

[CYCLE_MONKEY]

Advice? Yeah......
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...enjoy it and don't end up on the Tree of Shame!:)

[Player 2]

I think John has photographic evidence of this. :drink:

It's a B double E double R U N

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2ELtwTRuJrM/RsNo5hEj74I/AAAAAAAAA5g/N_lIvf7_HUY/s640/P1010364.JPG

LMK if you have any questions I could answer for ya daddio :up: Gramps and I have done a few trips out there... ;) (ok, so has Kitten :lol:)