Rode up to NC to visit the Tail of the Dragon...WHAT A WASTE. Yeah its got curves and could be a nice ride...but there are roads in GA, NC and TN that are more entertaining.

I found it to be jammed with bikers and cars (went on a Sunday).Car clubs,sportbike racers, harleys, you name it, theywere on the road. It seems everyone wants to ride the Dragon.Looked more like a parade.Plus the cops.

Also it looked more of a Tourist Trap. They are selling t-shirts, key chains etc...photographers on the side take your picture tosell it to you lateronline.

Guess the big deal is to tell people you where there, but wouldn't go again. If you plan to go, try it on a weekday not a weekend. In fact take Route 143, the Cherohala Highway,itsa better ride 100%.

 

What you wanted to go thru @100mph? better be glad you couldnt, you woulda gotten the not so free airlift out. But yea Saturday n Sunday are not good days to go unless you get there later on in the day. I plan on hunting out these other roads that are pose to be comparible to the dragon tho.

 

No ...I am not looking to go 100mph...in fact if you start hauling, the Dragon will get you...saw one bike run of the road...just felt that it was a lot of traffic and cops...kinda ruined the ride (expectation)..Maybe ifthere was 50% less traffic....just felt that deals gap is a bit overrated....At least on that day...There are plenty of roads in that area that are over looked....

P.S. did not mean to say that photographers on the road are bad...in fact it is great to get a picture....They are doing their job...

If you want to get an idea of the riders, look at the photographers website:

http://www.zeefoto.com/

http://www.killboy.com/destiny.html

http://us129photos.com/

http://http://www.moonshinephoto.com/

http://http://www.dragonslayerphotos.com/

 

The nice part about the dragon is its well maintained. Meaning the locals sweep the gravel off etc. Yea when theres a ton of people there it gets to be a pita. Still a very nice set of curves. I love em and wish there were some like it closer to me. I have plenty of mtns near by I need to go check out. But what I have seen thus far dont compare to the dragon. Good curves n twisties but not as extreme as the dragon. Tho I may just need shown where they are. lol

 

Just made my second trip on the Dragon this year. Came thru this past Monday Oct. 22, in the midmorning. I came up from Atlanta after going to the Vintage Festival at Barber in Birmingham. I rode Rt 129 thru the North Georgia mountains. Really nice road in the Chattahoochee Forest. That whole area is target rich in great roads. If the sky had been on my side I'd had spent another day there or more. The forcast was rain anytime after noon and it was accurate! Anyway I had a great time on the Dragon. Very light traffic, no cops and those slower two-upcrusers waved me by when I came up on them. I was so tempted to turn around and do it again. Just greedy!
So yeah, weekday, off hours is your best bet. The locals do take care of the road and the pics by KillBoy are great. My trip in June with the Mrs. is my wallpaper on this and my work computer.

 

If you find yourself going to Deals Gap, besides the Cherohala Skyway, take a look at the Wayah Road in NC (route 1310). IT IS WORTH IT> It is now one of my favorite roads.

I had a chance of traveling this road this past weekend and found it had less traffic and no cops. Heading towards Franklin NC,you havecurves,waterfalls and just a beautiful mountian road.At times you aretraveling along a river which you probably cross (bridges) 10 times, giving you a great view. Be careful, the views might distract you.

Hope this helpsanyone thinking of traveling around this area.

 

Here is an example of the Wayah Road....http://www.wayahroad.com/

 

Glad someone else is finally saying that....I went one time....on a relativly uncrowed day; still people everywhere. Saw the tree, took some pictures, passed on the 25 dollar t-shirt. I'll probably never go back.

 

north Ga is way better. the gap is cool been there 6 times and when i first went back in 2001 it was empty. now it is a zoo. we stick to the other good roads. try rt 28 the road that leads out the back of the crossroads(gas station) it is great. the skyway is nice. and 180 in Ga is as good as the gap but much less crowded. 60 in ga is great to. jst watch the cops in lumpkin co. they gave me a nice 215 dollar reminder not to pass the local cars, even if they slow and wave ya by?!! we stay in north Ga and ride the roads there and up to the gap. man i miss the days when you only saw 20 or so bikes there on a weekday. and maybe 50 on a weekend. now we went on thurs and saw over 100 bikes at the gas station alone!

 

I live only 20 min from the start of the dragon on the TN side yes pigs and traffic are heavy during the week but if you ever get a chance to go on a weekday not really during riding season its nice and yall said there are roads that are better well not east of the mississippiit is a fact that deals gap has the most turns east of the mississippi i guess it because i live so close but i love it and if you live close and can get up there often and get to know the road and turns then you can go fast and enjoy the ride
Mike D