When it comes to two things that offer the excitement and adventure of the outdoors, motorcycles and the Smokey Mountains make a great mix! When you are on the back of a motorcycle with the wind blowing in your face and the scenery flying by, you have the ultimate freedom to explore the fascinating sites that you can discover in this wonderful region.
Here is a couple of exciting motorcycle sites in Tennessee and North Carolina part of the Smokies:
The Dragon Road Trip
One of the most famous routes to follow for an exciting trip while riding a motorcycle in the section of the Smokey Mountains going through Tennessee and North Carolina is called the Tail of the Dragon. This motorcycle journey is about three hours of round trip travel and is full of twisty and winding roads.
It starts at Chilhowee Lake in Tennessee near U.S. Highway 129 and goes all the day to Deal's Gap, which is located on the North Carolina side of the mountains. Riders will begin right by the Townsend Visitor Center, which is located on Highway 321 South. The exciting trip then continues through the Foothills Parkway before it hits the challenging part of this motorcycle venture.
The Dragon is famous for having no less than 318 windy, curvy roads, all in a mere 11 mile stretch of roads. It is not meant for the inexperienced driver, because you will also be sharing the road with any other vehicle that comes your way!
Riders should take care to obey the posted speed limits, which changes from 55 mph to 30 mph once you cross over into Tennessee. Along the route you could witness nature's wonders in the form of deer, black bear or other wildlife, as well as enjoy the beautiful foliage.
The Cherohala Skyway Road Trip
Another challenging motorcycle trip popular with riders is the is the Cherohala Skyway Road Trip, which is also called the Ride Above the Clouds. It is 36 miles long and runs in-between Tellico Plains on the Tennessee side of the Smokies and Robbinsville, North Carolina on the other border.
This beautiful scenic route will take riders into two National Park areas: Cherokee and Nantahala. Dress appropriately, because the elevation is over 5,000 feet and the temperatures have been known to drop to as low as 20 degrees because sometimes the route actually has you driving through low lying clouds!
The round trip for this special motorcycle journey is estimated to take around four to six hours, depending on how many times you stop to admire the scenery or the view from the available overlooks.
Foothills Parkway Drive
If you only have a couple of hours, another popular motorcycle site to ride through is the Foothills Parkway. It is 20 miles long and gives some great views of the Smokey Mountain's beauty. The area belongs to the Great Smokey Mountain National Park. Some of the sites along this two hour ride are the Thunderhead Mountain, and Look Rock Tower, which offer panoramic viewing of both states.
Motorcycle Camp Grounds in the Smokies
Another popular motorcycle adventure to undertake in the Smokey Mountains is camping. There are several campsites and special cabins and lodges set up around the Smokey Mountain area especially for motorcycle riders. That's because motorcycles are a popular way to travel through the mountainous area since they are easy to maneuver in tight spots such as windy mountain roads and trails.
Here is information on a few of these motorcycle campgrounds:
Blue Ridge Motorcycle Campground
Centered in Canton, North Carolina, which is near the famous Blue Ridge Parkway, one of the impressive freeways in the Smokey Mountains. If you love fishing, camping and motorcycle riding, you will love it here!
The camp has a fully stocked pond full of trout or you can choose to fish in the nearby stream. You can set up your own tent or rent one of the available cabins. There is even a little store so you can buy food or supplies and you can get free coffee and breakfast too. They also hold events like barbecues during the summer. For more information go to their website at: http://www.blueridgemotorcyclecamp.com.
Punkin Center Motorcycle Resort
The Punkin Center Motorcycle resort is another great area especially for riders going through the Smokey Mountain areas. It is right beside the Great Smokey Mountains National Park and hosts several motorcycle rallies and other special events throughout the year.
It is also near The Dragon, so if you plan to ride that route as already mentioned earlier, then you can have your fun there and then relax at the Punkin Center Motorcycle Resort that evening.
You can choose to either set up a tent or rent a full service cabin that is complete with several amenities. They also hold many events especially for riders all during the year. For more information go to their website at: http://punkincentermotorcycleresort.com/
Fontana Village
Fontana Village is another resort that caters to special groups such as motorcycle clubs. You can have the whole gang and their bikes come here to relax, as well as challenge themselves with the nearby Dragon and other motorcycle journey such as the 50 mile long Cherohala Skyway route.
Fontana Village has several types of accommodations, to include cabins, areas for tents, and for RVs. There is even free Internet WiFi so you can stay in touch with the world. Plus, the Village has its own store, restaurant, gift shop, pool, marina, a fitness center and more. It is definitely not your average motorcycle lodge!
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