Dragon to Skyway Loop

After years of riding the Smoky Mountains around Deals Gap one of our favorite rides is still the Dragon – Skyway Loop.  Start the morning riding the Dragon at Deals Gap complete with 318 turns in 11 miles.  Drop down into the valley and loop around to Tellico plains for a stop at the beautiful Bald River Falls.  Then head back over the Cherohala Skyway for breathtaking views and mile high elevations ending back at Robbinsville NC. 

You can make this a half day to a full day trip depending on how many stops you make along the way.  Here we share the details of the route along with our favorite stops along the way! 

Start:  Robbinsville, NC

Head North on US Hwy 129 (aka Topoco Rd.) driving approximately 18 miles to reach the Dragon at Deals Gap.  Along the way you will see beautiful Lake Santeetlah on your left and the foothills of the Smokey Mountains to your right. As you pass Tapoco Lodge on your left you will cross over a bridge with Cheoah Dam, filmed in the movie The Fugitive, on the right.  Making a sharp right turn you start climbing up the “Tail of the Dragon”.  It is a taste of the many turns to come. 

Deals Gap Motorcycle Resort (17548 Tapoco Rd. NC 28771)

When Hwy 28 intersects with US 129 you have reached Deals Gap Motorcycle Resort. Sitting almost on the NC/TN border, this is a “must see” stop and considered by many the start of the Dragon.  You can browse for souvenirs, grab refreshments, top off the gas tank, and generally shoot the breeze with fellow dragon slayers.  Don’t forget to check out the Tree of Shame where broken parts remind us the Dragon can bite. Inside the Dragons Den Grill you can enjoy a meal or have your signed group T-shirt displayed on the ceiling. 

Across the street are souvenirs from Tail of the Dragon at Deals Gap and photos by Killboy.

Riding the Dragon

Now it is time to get your game face on and slay the Dragon!  Voted the number one motorcycle road in America, this piece of asphalt appeals to motor enthusiasts on both two wheels and four wheels. From this direction you will be heading mostly downhill but you can always reverse the route and ride it uphill! Be sure to read our 10 Tips for Slaying the Dragon and riding safe!  About 8.8 miles from the state line you can stop at the overlook.  With parking on both sides, you can first catch your breath and then have it taken away by the view for a breathtaking view of Calderwood Lake and Dam.  The road has leveled out by the time you reach Chillhowee Lake on your left (about 11 miles from the TN/NC state line). 

The Valley

With the Dragon behind you get ready for some rolling hills and easy curves through the valley towards Tellico Plains.  Stay on US 129 until you hit Hwy 72.  Veer left onto Hwy 72 and follow to US 411.  Turn left onto this four lane road for a few miles to the town of Vonore then turn left onto Hwy 360.  Follow 360 until it joins Hwy 165 just outside of Tellico Plains. Now turn left onto Hwy 165.   Just a few miles on your left is a nice stop at the river’s edge. The Cascades Riverside Grill offers casual outdoor dining (also goes by Telliquah and Bistro by the River).    

Bald River Falls

It is worth your time to take Forest Service Road 210, a right turn off 165 after passing the Riverside Grill.  Follow this paved Forest Service Road (two lanes but narrow) along Tellico River for about 6 miles to reach Bald River Falls.  You can view the falls right from the road with convenient parking found right after crossing the bridge.  After viewing over 100 ft of falling water just head back down 210 and turn right when you reach 165. 

Cherohala Skyway

Rivaling the Blue Ridge Parkway in natural beauty, the Cherohala Skyway runs over 40 scenic miles from Tellico Plains, TN towards Robbinsville, NC on TN Hwy 165, which turns into NC Hwy 143 when you cross over the state line.  Be sure to have enough gas when starting out on the Skyway, as it’s not readily available after Tellico Plains until you reach the Thunder Mountain General Store or Robbinsville, NC. 

There’s no shortage of lookouts along the Skyway so choose your favorites!  We enjoy a stop at Santeetlah Ridge, over a mile high at 5,390 feet and the highest lookout point on the Skyway.  This Skyway is a dream to ride with great curves, fantastic views, and a fraction of the traffic found at the Dragon. 

Technically the Skyway ends around the turnoff for Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest but just keep following NC Hwy 143 for about another 10 miles around the South side of Lake Santeetlah and turn right onto 129 into Robbinsville NC.  You have conquered the beautiful yet challenging Dragon – Skyway Loop.