Tail of the Dragon at Deals Gap with 318 curves in 11 miles: America’s number one motorcycle and sports car road.
Designated US 129, the road is bordered by the Great Smoky Mountains and the Cherokee National Forest with no intersecting roads or driveways to hamper your travel. It is considered “the destination” for thousands of motorcycle and sports car fans throughout the spring, summer, and fall. Can you brave it? It’s best to be cautious as the turns are tight, but the Tail of the Dragon is guaranteed to be the ride of your life.
The nearby Cherohala Skyway is quickly becoming a destination too, with its remote 60 miles of breathtaking scenic mountain highway. The area also has other incredible roads like the Moonshiner 28, Foothills Parkway, Smoky Mountain Loop, Devils Triangle, Blue Ridge Parkway, The Gambler NC209, Diamondback 226, Devil's Staircase, Six Gap North Georgia, The Snake US421 and many Great Forest Service Dual Sport and Jeep Roads.
Saturday March 28, 2020
SATURDAY Graham County has barricaded the Cherohala Skyway and US 129 at Tapoco. There is no way around these concrete road blocks. NC 28 (Moonshiner) will be closed this afternoon in Graham County.
SUNDAY Graham County has taken down the barricades on US129 and the Cherohala and now there are checkpoints. Travel details into and through Graham County has still not been explained by local officials. We do know of several cases where traffic to the Dragon was allowed through on NC28.
THE DRAGON IS OPEN
We are unable to provide details on accessing the Dragon via Graham County. There is no problem coming from the Tennessee side.
IN THE MEAN TIME: Here are shots from our parking lot at noon on Saturday:
...... While researching news articles for my History of the Tail of the Dragon I recently found this 1929 article by an adventurous reporter. He took a new 1930 Buick Standard Six Sedan on the uncompleted US 129. Photos include a view at the Calderwood Overlook, a wood structure to be concreted spanning Rabbit Creek (Parsons Branch), the hairpin corner at The Whip, and the roadside camp for construction workers. The grand opening was still six months away.
Mad Max cycle caught by Calestar.
Tail of the Dragon Store
Find your swag for all the great roads including Cherohala Skwyay, Tail of the Dragon, Moonshiner 28, Devils Triangle, Six Gap, Diamondback and more.
Upcoming 2020 Events
From official rallies with hundreds of attendees to a small gathering of friends, our region is ready to host your group. Let us help you plan your event.
Dragon Web Cams
FEATURED LODGING
Want to see more?
There are a wide variety of accommodations in our area. These range from basic tent camping to exclusive mountain top resorts.
Current Highlights
Find your photos online at Killboy.com
#tailofthedragon
Social distancing with the top down. The Dragon is open! #tailofthedragon
Missing this place, and this weather... #matg #tailofthedragon #dealsgap #miatasatthegap #miata #mx5 #offroadster #offroadmiata #offroadmx5 #liftedmiata #liftedmx5 #cmonspring #pacomoto
gapmiatas half.percent exomotive rspeedmiata flyinmiata v8roadsters ninelivesracing kmiata fab9tuning killboydotcom
The entire 11 mile section of the Dragon IS OPEN. Advisory signs have been placed at the intersection of US411 and US129 in Tennessee. This is to advise the public that on Friday, US129 will be blocked in North Carolina at the intersection of US129 and Hwy28. Only local traffic will be allowed past this intersection. The entire 11 mile section of the Dragon IS OPEN. You will have to turn around at the road block if you are not a resident of Graham County. Killboy photographers will be on the Dragon taking photos. The Tail of the Dragon/Killboy store may be open during the weekend, unless we are mandated to close. We also understand that Deals Gap Motorcycle Resort will remain open. We will enforce social distancing. #tailofthedragon
Going to experiment and improve layout as time goes on but here is the first one!
Following up Saturday’s storms & Sunday’s observation of a few passes here I’ve marked some spots I’ve noticed hazardous storm debris for anyone wanting to make a run soon or curious to how bad it affected the road. Be cautious to road conditions always good to make a slow pass to check everything out 🙂 thank you everyone let me know if you would like to see more! •Trees down in red with heavy debris.
•Light debris scattered through out road.
•Crud Corner Pot Hole gravel use extreme caution gravel is scattered across whole lane causing understeer/oversteer!
#Touge #US129 #TailofTheDragon
#Killboy #129Photos #Cars #Lifestyle #photography #mountaintouge #jdm #EastTN
Avoiding crowds like... Get the best dragon photos from @killboydotcom
#tailofthedragon #hwy129 #318curvesin11miles #roadtrip #hwy129dragon
I'll go to car meets, but I ain't "meeting" anyone. .
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#miata #mx5 #roadster #eunos #mazdaspeed #mazdausa #namiata #boostedmiata #miataturbo #turbomiata #miatagram #miatamerch #tailofthedragon #dealsgap #tougefest #miatasatthegap #mazdaroadster #carsandcoffee
#throwbackthursday Cheoah dam circa 1920. Do you recognize this place?
#tailofthedragon #hwy129 #hwy129dragon #318curvesin11miles #dam #tbt #tbthursday
Good morning everyone! Quick Road Update for anyone planning on making a trip this weekend!
Crews have been clearing the tail recently causing some slight debris to land on the road.
I would be extremely careful from radar corner - the chicanes marked yellow as a huge wash out spot filling the road with a thin layer of dust, gravel, & tree shavings- debris scatters the entire section. Also any yellow spots are mainly tree debris that have been washed out or thrown from bush-hogging road.
Have a great weekend Everyone! -129Touge
Be sure to give us a follow, use our tag #129Touge for a feature!
#Touge #US129 #TailofTheDragon
#Killboy #129Photos #Cars #Lifestyle #TougeSociety #photography #mountaintouge #jdm #EastTN #automotivephotography #japanese #JapaneseCars #Imports
How do you unwind after a day on the dragon?
Check out our friends over at High Frontier Cabins to make this hot tub a reality after cruising the mountains.
#mountains #hottub #unwind #hottubtime #tailofthedragon #hwy129dragon #escape #318curvesin11miles
As a detachment from the main topic 😷🥺, we invite you to have some of our memories, hoping 🙏 that everything will soon return to normal.
Cherohala Skyway is a beautiful scenic route 🏞 between Tennessee and North Carolina. The Nantahala NF and Great Smokey Mountains area is a biker's paradise 🏍⛰ a great sightseeing route 🏞🤩 as if directly designed for bikers🏍. These were the last days of our two-month trip to the USA🇺🇸 and Canada🇨🇦 but with what a strong accent🏍🗺🤩🔝. 📍 Tellico Beach, Tennessee, USA🇺🇲
🧭 35.357396, -84.272674
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🌎 USA & Canada 2017 🗺🏍 #2017_screwitletsride
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#travelnowlifelater #harleydavidsoneurope #motor_adventure #mymotorcycle #twowheellife #twowheelsonelove #nantahala #greatsmokymountains #tailofthedragon #harleydavidsongermany #harleydavidsonfrance #harleydavidsonuk #harleydavidsonitalia #harleybrasil #smokeymountains #indianmotorcycleridersgroup #indianmotorcycle #harleydavidsonjakarta #harleydavidsonaustralia #harleybrasil #harleydavidsonargentina #harleydavidsonbrasil #harleydavidsonnation #harleyriders #freedommachine #tennesseehd #harleygram #harleydavidsondobrasil
#screwitletsride