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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.

The Complete History of US 129 from Chiefland, FL to Knoxville, TN
by Ron Johnson 2020

STORM UPDATE

The eye of Hurricane Helene passed over the Tail of the Dragon as the storm raged to our east and west. We actually could see the sun in the minutes it passed. Oddly this left our area virtually untouched compared to other areas in North Carolina and Tennessee. Visitors headed this way should carefully plan their route to get here, but all of our roads near the Dragon are fine.

Tail of the Dragon Store

Tail of the Dragon offers custom signs in both street sign and shield format. You can add a photo too. What a great way to remember your trip to the Dragon. 

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. 

Dragon Web Cams

Current Highlights

Find your photos online at Killboy.com

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Cover for Tail of the Dragon
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Tail of the Dragon

Tail of the Dragon

TAIL OF THE DRAGON AT DEALS GAP, 318 curves in 11 miles, America's #1 motorcycle and sports car road. Plus other area twisties. www.TailoftheDragon.com www.Cherohala.com www.devilstriangletn.com www.moonshiner28.com

14 hours ago

Latest map with updates regarding OPEN ROADS in the Tail of the Dragon region. Our area, as depicted in this map, was spared from the impacts of Hurricane Helene. As you make your way to or through our region, please note that our roads are open including the Tail of the Dragon and Cherohala Skyway National Scenic Byway.

Map from DriveNC.gov with additional regional information added for clarity.
... See MoreSee Less

Latest map with updates regarding OPEN ROADS in the Tail of the Dragon region. Our area, as depicted in this map, was spared from the impacts of Hurricane Helene. As you make your way to or through our region, please note that our roads are open including the Tail of the Dragon and Cherohala Skyway National Scenic Byway. 

Map from DriveNC.gov with additional regional information added for clarity.

25 CommentsComment on Facebook

Yes we may have OPEN ROADS and was spared by the worse of the storm but that doesn’t mean we weren’t spared from shortages even then we as locals have banded together to help our neighbors in other counties that have literally lost everything even as of yesterday our meat counters were empty at the local grocery store gas stations finally have taking bags of the pumps as most stations had run out and then they were limiting what you could by so if u plan to travel make sure u bring ur on gas n ur on food and bring enough to make a donation to a surrounding community

My son is on his way

I suspect that even though they are open the traffic will be extremely heavy due to the limited ways of getting around. We will be solidly legal on this run.

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UPDATE FROM Tail of the Dragon THE ROAD IS OPEN.
DETAILS IN POST BELOW.Okay just got confirmation from our photographers on the scene that 129 is clear and back open. Again as of this morning there are electronic signs diverting trucks around from both sides and officers in position on both ends to ensure that the road stays passable. Thanks everyone for your help and hopefully we can put this behind us now.
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UPDATE FROM Tail of the Dragon THE ROAD IS OPEN. 
DETAILS IN POST BELOW.

15 CommentsComment on Facebook

Great! But so many are saying stay away and being completely rude about it. Others are practically begging for the business… both understandable but very conflicting.

What's fuel availability look like in the area?

is that a Spicy VW hiding in shadows....fishing maybe?

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IMPORTANT UPDATE: US129 and the Cherohala Skyway are open with no damage from the hurricane. The area with damage and flooding is east of here. Visitors headed this way should carefully plan their route to get here, but all of our roads and businesses near the Dragon are open. ... See MoreSee Less

Video image

24 CommentsComment on Facebook

How’s the gas availability in and around the area

Is it true that the big rigs will be allowed on the Tail because of all the road closures east of there?

Yes it is open! We were trying to get out of Bryson City and kept being told we could not! We followed Google Maps and it took us to The Tail of the Dragon! We made it to Tennessee yesterday!

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We’ve heard some rumors, so we wanted to show Fontana Dam and Fontana Lake today. No worries, folks—Fontana Dam is still standing tall and doing just ‘dam’ fine!
#fontanadam #fontanalake
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12 CommentsComment on Facebook

How are the ones downstream? Cheaoh, calderwood and chillhowee?

That’s good news!

Thank you for posting.

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River's Edge Treehouses looks forward to welcoming you!

Pictured: CURRENT CONDITIONS
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Rivers Edge Treehouses looks forward to welcoming you! 

Pictured: CURRENT CONDITIONSImage attachment

4 CommentsComment on Facebook

We stayed there a few weeks ago and it was a great experience. Very clean. Very private. Would definitely recommend this place.

We stayed there a few weeks ago and it was a great experience. Very clean. Very private. Would definitely recommend this place.

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