If you have toured the area around the Tail of the Dragon and Cherohala Skyway, how much time did you spend there? How much time would you recommend spending there? areas to see? areas to avoid? recommended lodging or lodging to avoid? etc..
For me the Skyway is the ride. By all means take a few spins on the dragon, your there. Don't get me wrong the dragon is fun, it's a series of interconnected switch backs. The Skyway has wonderful views and it's a fun ride as well. There's lots of other great roads in the area leading to and from the dragon. The Dragon been there done that and got the T-shirt & stickers.
I did the Skyway and the Dragon on the same day, and didn't feel rushed at all. If you want a recommendation for a really great place to stay, check out the Blue Boar Inn near Robbinsville. http://www.blueboarinn.com/ Nothing like a good day of riding, followed by a relaxing paddle on the lake.
The food is good, but I found the portions to be a bit skimpy. (This is not unusual for me though... [lol])
From Bryson City, you can do both Skyline Drive and the Dragon/Deal's Gap in a day. It depends on how early you start and how often you want to stop and look. I would the Dragon on Saturday due to the crowds.
I spent four days in Gatlinburg Tenn. We rode the Dragon one day....spent the other days seeing the sights....I took my v-rod as my f800 is in Korea.....I know that the f800 would have been way more fun.....The ride from Gatlinburg was like 1.5 hours.......it was an all day ride, but loads of fun.....
Camp/Motel in Robbinsville. Take the Skyway (143) west then come back via 129 (Dragon). Stop at the store and buy a tee shirt. Turn left onto 28, ride to Franklin, then U-turn and come back on 28. You won't regret it. Turn left on 143 to Robbinsville and take a nap. Bob's your uncle!
Robbinsville NC is a great spot to use as a base for riding. From there, the Skyway and Deal's Gap can be done easily.
Use caution on the Gap--watch for sport bike riders who don't know what they're doing.
Just got back. Day one: Backroads from Louisville passed Lake Cumberland. Over to the Devils Triangle (way to many coal trucks for me to ride that again on a working day). Down and over the Dragon to Robbinsville. Stayed at Two Wheels Inn where each room has its own motorcycle garage (attached). Next morning (34 degrees F) rode west out of Robbinsville, up to Fontana dam, up 28 to 129 then down to the Cherohala and over to Tellico Plains. Up 360 and over to the Foothills Parkway off 129 and into SMNP and Cades Cove Loop up to Parson's Branch Road and Back out onto the Dragon. North on the Dragon and Back to Tellico Plains and over Cherohala skyway again to sleep at the Two Wheels Inn again. Third Day (32 degrees F): Up the Dragon to the spot where Parson's Branch road comes out and U-turn and back to Robbinsville and back over the Cherohala Skyway to Tellico plains and then headed back to Louisville.
Total trip 1095 miles.
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