Motorcycle Adventures

Tail of the Dragon… Cherohala Skyway… Hellbender 28.  These are terms that hold only mild interest for most of us but are the phrases that Bikers dream about when planning their ultimate adventure. They are curious terms that hold the promise of unforgettable rides through the mountains and forests, past waterfalls and the more curves, the better.  

There is no shortage of “rides” around Settlers Mountain.  Since we are located on the western side of Great Smoky Mountain National Park a simple trip to Gatlinburg through GSMNP becomes a half-day adventure in itself.

Cherohala Skyway and Tail of the Dragon are considered to be two of the best touring roads in America. It is a 120 mile loop and can be traveled easily in one day including fuel and food stops as well as frequent stops to take in the beauty of the Smoky Mountains. Add the 22 mile Hellbender 28 leg and you have a story to take home with you along with your souvenir tee shirts.

TAIL OF THE DRAGON
Crossing Deals Gap at the Tennessee/North Carolina state line, with 318 curves in 11 miles, the Dragon is considered by many as one of the world's best motorcycling and sports car roads. Anyone looking for an exciting highway will enjoy this stretch of US129.

The road is desolate and can be a real adventure in the winter months. Bikers have had to deal with bears, turkeys, deer, and wild boars in the road, trees down, ice/snow, and tractor-trailers taking-up both lanes in the curves. It is not a road for the squeamish, but if you're looking for a little excitement, don't miss this one.

To some, the Dragon begins on the North Carolina side at Fugitive Bridge with a view of the Cheoah Dam where Harrison Ford jumped in the movie The Fugitive. It ends 14 miles across the mountain at the Tabcat Creek Bridge in Tennessee. US129 climbs through The Slide, a steep series of "S" curves where one would not want to meet a tractor-trailer. The road then levels and straightens until a series of curves approaching the Crossroads of Time, one of the main hangouts for cyclists. Next comes Deals Gap and the Tennessee State Line. We'll leave the rest for you to describe after you ride it.

SPEED LIMITS
Prior to 1992 the speed limit in both Tennessee and North Carolina was 55 mph. In 1993 the speed limit on the Tennessee side was lowered to 40 mph. In 2002 the speed limit was lowered to 30 mph, which is still in effect today. The North Carolina portion of the Dragon was lowered to 30 mph in early 2005.

RECORD TIMES:
You will hear a lot about the fastest times on the Dragon. The original unofficial timing involved a run from the Overlook to the Crossroads of Time and then back, an 18.6-mile distance. The round trip time was then divided by two. The Deals Gap Riding Society record for an amateur rider was a 22 minute round trip run, which averaged out to 11 minutes (50.7 mph average). The overall record was 18 minutes, or 9 minutes one-way (62 mph average). In order to compete for a new record one had to make the run along with the current record holder.

These records were set back in the early 1990s when there was little traffic on the Dragon. Today, with the road patrolled by sheriff and highway patrol, you will risk severe penalties if you try to beat the records.

MOVIES FILMED ON THE DRAGON:
The first feature film made on US 129 was Thunder Road. This 1958 Robert Mitchum film about backwoods moonshining actually had scenes filmed on the Dragon. One location that we can identify is at the power line easement at about mile 4.5 on the Dragon map and you can see the old wooden "safety" posts on the open corner. A number of the posts still remain.

• Part of The Fugitive (1993) with Harrison Ford was filmed at Tapoco Dam
• Part of In Dreams (1998) with Annette Bening was filmed at Tapoco Dam and Calderwood Dam
• Several commercials have been filmed here

CHEROHALA SKYWAY
The Cherohala Skyway was completed in the fall of 1996 after being under construction for some 34 years. It is North Carolina's most expensive highway carrying a price tag of $100,000,000. Winding up and over 5,400 foot mountains for 15 miles in North Carolina and descending another 21 miles into the deeply forested back country of Tennessee. The road crosses through the Cherokee and Nantahala National Forests thus the name "Chero...hala". The Skyway is becoming well known in motorcycling and sports car circles for it's long, sweeping corners and scenic views.

This road enthusiast's dream connects Robbinsville, North Carolina with Tellico Plains, Tennessee. It can be desolate at night and extremely dangerous in the winter months. There are no facilities other than restrooms for the entire 36 miles so make sure you have enough gas to make the crossing. There is little evidence of civilization from views that rival or surpass any from the Blue Ridge Parkway. Beginning at Santeetlah Gap on the North Carolina side (mile marker 0, at elevation 2660 feet), the road quickly twists and ascends to Santeetlah, an overlook at mile marker 11, the highest overlook at 5390 feet. Along this section you will ride the mountain top for another seven miles to the Tennessee state line. It can be cold and cloudy riding the mountain ridges, so make sure you dress properly, even in the summer months. We have been caught in pea soup fog, thick clouds, and bone chilling temperatures. The mile-high ride is always a new and unforgettable experience. At mile marker 16 the descent starts into the Tellico River basin. There are a few more spectacular scenic vistas on the Tennessee side. A detour to Bald River Falls on paved Forest Service Road 210 is well worth the short trip. Water cascades over 100 feet onto the rocks below - all which can be seen from the comfort of your motorcycle /car.

The Tellico River, at the lower elevations on the Tennessee side, is famous for it's trout fishing, and when the water is up, can be quite a challenge for canoers and kayakers. The river leads you to the little town of Tellico Plains where you can fill your tank and feed your belly.

HELLBENDER 28
Heading north on the Hellbender 28, you find a completely different road experience with sweeping curves and drop offs, all lakeside in the Great Smoky Mountains. There are few drives in America that can equal the views as you travel this beautiful byway along Fontana Lake in North Carolina. The 22 mile stretch is surrounded by water and dense, forested mountains. The 22 mile stretch ends at Deals Gap and begins what is then called the famous "Dragon."

Directions: The easiest way to find this route is to find the town of Stecoah, NC and take "the Hellbender 28" (Hwy 28) all the way to where Hwy 28 and Hwy 129 meet (about 2 miles north of the town of Tapoco, NC). Along the way you'll travel lakeside along Fontana Lake for 12-13 miles to Fontana Village and the Hellbender Pitstop on at the Fontana Dam. The last 9 miles takes you to the route's end at the intersection of Hwy. 28 and Hwy. 129 which is the

home of the famous Dragon (318 curves in 11 miles).

This is a great ride with plenty of pullovers at which to take photographs, eat a picnic lunch or just take in the beautiful vistas of the Great Smoky Mountains and Lake Fontana.

These are just three of the wonderful rides close to Settlers Mountain. Your Settlers Mountain associate can suggest several others just as beautiful but not as heavily traveled like the “Road to Nowhere”, lower Alarka Road which leads to Fontana Lake or for a real twisty, turney ride, take a day and visit Helen,GA.  This quaint Bavarian town is located in northern Georgia about a two and a half hour drive from Settlers Mountain. Your trip will include riding through the Nantahala National forest, past waterfalls and your road will include 360 degree circle turns and sharp hairpin turns. Have lunch, do a little shopping and be home by dark with yet another adventure to share with friends back home.

Any of these rides are just as thrilling for sports car enthusiasts or any car enthusiast. You don’t have to have a “Bike” to enjoy the beautiful scenery or challenge your driving skills. The first time we did the Tail of the Dragon, Tom took me in our vintage F-150. At the end of the ride we got more then one “attaboy” from cyclists who were behind us watching with amusement. We also got a bumper sticker to commemorate the event.

So, you don’t own a “Bike”?  In nearby Andrews there is a motorcycle shop happy to rent you one.  At Cherokee County Cycles you can rent a motorcycle, purchase gear and outfit yourself in the latest attire so not only will you have a bike but you will look the part as well.

Have a Harley??  Need a part?? In Waynesville, NC is the closest authorized Harley Davidson dealer to us in North Carolina.