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RADAR MAP
THE DRAGON: April 20, 2010: The Dragon has been open for a week now and traffic has been light. Saturday was fairly busy. Sunday was a lot slower even with perfect weather for riding. The LEOs have been reasonable in their enforcement of traffic laws. Several tickets have been written, but they seem to have been deserved.
THE CHEROHALA SKYWAY: Great places to eat - Tellico Kats Deli on the TN side and Thunder Mountain Deli on the NC side CLICK HERE The Cherohala is clean. Mile 10 on the NC side is a dangerous corner - CLICK HERE for details. Another dangerous corner is Mile 2 on the NC side.
FOOTHILLS PARKWAY : The Parkway is open, but you can't access the Dragon from the TN side. BULLETIN "Aggravated speeding" tickets on Federal highways can now be as high as $500.
CADES COVE: Crowds in the summer. VERY SLOW going on this one-lane, one-way 11-mile route. Pavement is poor. We suggest avoiding if you are more interested in riding than sightseeing at 5 mph. Parsons Branch 8-mile gravel road to the Dragon.Cades Cove will reopen April 24, 2010 after resurfacing.
PARSONS BRANCH: Gravel road is open from May 15 to November 15. CLOSED IN WINTER
TN HWY 360: most of 360 from Vonore to Tellico Plains has been repaved and is in excellent condition.
US 64/HWY 28 FROM FRANKLIN TO HIGHLANDS: Boulder slide at Bridal Veil Falls has been removed so you can once again ride under the falls. High traffic volume on this road at times. Watch out for pavement heaves and uneven pavement especially in the east bound lane. West bound lane much better pavement.Watch for rough sections of pavement. Tight twisties about midway . Semis are banned from this section. Beautiful waterfall run with Cullasaga Falls, Dry Falls, and Bridal Veil Falls on this route. Photo at right of Bridal Veil Falls where you can actually ride under the falls. Photo thanks to Capt. Ray: Brandon Jones of Augusta GA pictured.
US 64 FROM HIGHLANDS TO CASHIERS: About half of this route is repaved. Pavement heaves in some places especially in the east bound lane. Oppressive traffic at times.
NC HWY 28 FROM US129 to US19/74: US19/74 TO 143 Watch for NCHP with radar on the 4-lane. 143 TO FONTANA DAM TURN-OFF Repaved with some WOW sections. FONTANA DAM TURN-OFF TO US129 has received some major improvements. Be sure to watch for two 10 mph corners CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS.
NC HWY 28 FROM US74/19 TO FRANKLIN: The northern twisty section in good shape. Remember to watch for pavement heaves at the rock cliffs (ROCK SLIDE SIGNS). Pavement is best north bound, south bound is tricky in places. Watch for gravel in the corners.
US 441 CHEROKEE TO GATLINBURG: Great road, but expect lots of traffic.Cycles should avoid this route in the tourist-heavy summer months unless you want to really sightsee at 10 mph. Traffic stops if a bear shows up on the side of the road. Can be closed in winter. Sections being repaved 2010.
NC HWY 215 NEAR BREVARD: This route can have gravel from shoulder work.
BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY: Often closed sections in winter. We hear that enforcement is getting more serious on the BRP. ROAD UPDATE PHONE 828-298-0398 or CLICK HERE FOR WEBSITE ... BULLETIN "Aggravated speeding" tickets on Federal highways can now be as high as $500.
WAYAH ROAD NC1442 - FRANKLIN TO US 19: Locals call this Thunder Road. Good condition.Watch for gravel in the corners and some steep switchbacks. Can be tricky in winter.
US 221 MARION TO LINVILLE FALLS: Great condition. Tricky in winter.
NC 126 MAGNOLIA TO NEBO: Clean for the most part, but watch for a few dirty sections.
TN HWY 30, 315, & 39 TO TELLICO PLAINS: Good condition.
TN 32 COSBY TO TN/NC LINE: . It has a section of twisties some of which are extreme swithbacks with concrete bridge abutments. More dangerous than the Dragon, but an option for those riding in the area north of Gatlinburg.( NOTE: turns to gravel at TN/NC Line)
TN 339 COSBY TO SEVIERVILLE: Great condition.
SC HWY 178 AND NC 276: 178 in great condition. Tony Sluder reports NC 276 has been partially repaved. The upper section as you approach the BRP is in good shape.
SC HWY 28: SC Hwy 28 from the junction of Hwy 107 above Walhalla to the SC Line at the Chatooga River repaved completely in 2004. This may be the best stretch of road going in upstate SC at present. Can be tricky in winter.
TN 116 - The Devil's Triangle: UPDATE APRIL 2010: Some new pavement from Stainville to Laurel Grove. Beware of gravel in the switchbacks. Clockwise loop has chip-and-seal and a few potholes. CLICK HERE FOR ROUTE DETAILS
