The Smokey Mountain National Park Loop is a great ride in an amazing area. The route starts with a ride past the Tapoco Lodge and the Cheoah Dam (made famous in the movie “The Fugitive”), then jumps onto the Tail of the Dragon.  After you finish the Tail of the Dragon, take a relaxed ride on the Foothills Parkway.  In Townsend you will exit the Foothills Parkway and the road narrows and follows the Little River up the Little River Gorge.  This section of the route has several opportunities to view waterfalls, but be aware that there is likely more traffic along this stretch as visitors and hikers are taking in the views.  After exiting the gorge, the route follows the ridgetop to the Newfound Gap.  At Newfound Gap, you can take the short trip out to Clingman’s Dome.  If you climb to the top of the observation tower at Clingman’s Dome, on a clear day, you can see all the way to Gatlinburg.  After Newfound Gap, you slowly descend into the valley and the town of Cherokee.  While you are in Cherokee, look for the amazing Peter Toth carving at the Museum of the Cherokee Indian.
 
Approximate Mileage:  165 Miles
 
Estimated Riding Time:  5 Hours
 
Road Surface: Paved
 
Attractions:
 
Robbinsville, NC:  Historic Tapoco Lodge Resort, Cheoah Dam (from “The Fugitive”)
Deal’s Gap, NC:  Tail of the Dragon
Tallasee, TN:  Foothills Parkway, Look Rock Tower
Townsend, TN:  Little River Railroad/Lumber Museum, Great Smokey Mountain Heritage Center
Gatlinburg, TN:  Newfound Gap
Bryson City, NC:  Clingman’s Dome, Cliff Branch Falls
Cherokee, NC:  Mingus Mill, South End of the Blue Ridge Parkway, Museum of the Cherokee Indian, Peter Toth Whispering Giant
Motorcycle Rides, Deal's Gap, Maryville, Townsend, Gatlinburg, Cherokee, Bryson City, Almond, Robbinsville