WrongLane said:
Hi Folks, I'll be in Waynesville, NC for a week at the end of the month and will hopefully have the S10 with me. Looking for suggestions on where to ride. Of course I will hit the Dragon and Cherohala Skyway. Looking for other suggestions for both road and gravel routes. Here is what I've been able to find, I don't know how much riding time I will have so looking for suggestions on which of these should be at the top of the list and any other suggestions.
Also, lots of craft breweries in the area, any recommendations?
Gambler Route Rt-209
Gravel Wagon Train Road
Road to nowhere out of Bryson City
Rt-28 (Moonshiners 28)
On-road:
You can take a 220 mile loop that hits most of the best.
Start wherever along the path. I'll describe from Franklin, NC.
Take Moonshiner 28 north out of Franklin. Nice twisties, I like it better than the dragon. Then turn left on 19/74 for about 5 miles.
Turn north on 28 again (Mindbender) . Take up to Deals Gap (start of the Dragon). Side trip before the Dragon, turn south on 129, and go about 3-4 miles to the Fugitive Dam. Then return to Deals Gap.
Take the Dragon (318 curves in 11 miles), then keep going about another 10 miles to Hwy 72. Turn left on Hwy 72 and go into Vonore. Turn left on 411 and go into Vonore. Good place to gas upend get lunch.
Turn left on Hwy 360 and take it to Tellico Plains.
Turn left onto the Cherahala Skyway and take it to Ribbinsville.
In Robbinsville, turn tight onto 129 and take it to Hwy 19/74.
Turn left on Hwy 19/74 and go about 3-4 miles to Wayah Rd. Turn right on Wayah Rd back to Franklin.
You'll love this loop.
Some Dirt segments off of this loop.
Off of 19/74 just north of Wayah Road you can take the Winding Staircase over to Tellico Gap Rd. It'll put you out on 28 north of Franklin.
Off of Wayah Road you have park road 711 (loops back to Wayah), and you also have Wayah Bald, which takes you to the top.
Off of 360 south of Vonore, you can take Citico Road/Indian Boundary which will intersect the Cherahala. Important - off of Citico Rd, take Cold Springs Loop. It's an awesome ride to the top of the mountain and back down the other side. Comes back to Citico Rd.
Off of the Cherahala Skyway, you can take River Road to Bald River Falls. Stay on it and it will eventually come back to the Cherahala. Or you can turn right just after getting on the road to Bald River Falls and go across the bridge, This is Miller Cemetery Road. Follow it and you have a number of choices to get back to River Rd, or you can take Davis Creek Rd to Murphy.
Off of Cherahala you can also take the Joyce Kilmer, which will eventually hit 129 north of Robbinsville.
Another great onroad/offroad trip, take 441 through Cherokee and up through the Smokie Mountains on the parkway into Gatlinburg. Take 321 East out of Gatlinburg to Cosby. Turn Right on TN32. 32 is another Dragon style road, but with virtually zero traffic. At the end of it, go straight on the gravel road. Keep straight and take Mount Sterling Road/Cove Creek Rd to 276. Turn right on 276 and go to 23. Turn right on 23 and go to Maggie Valley. Be sure to stop and go through the Wheels Through Time motorcycle museum. Then on out 23 to the Blueridge Parkway. Take the Parkway west to Cherokee and then 441 back to Franklin.
These are just a few.
Ride safe!
