Adventure. Freedom. Speed. Escape. It’s time to get the bike out of the garage and go for a ride. But it’s not just riding, is it? It’s more like flying with the wind in your face and nothing but the open road ahead. A motorcycle ride is oxygen for the soul. When the engine revs and the bike hums to life, you feel the vibration down to your very core – a signal that you’re about to have some fun.
Local motorcycle enthusiast, Larry Schatz, has been riding motorcycles in the Great Smoky Mountains for the past twenty-five years and logs about 10,000 miles locally on his bike every year. “To motorcyclists in-the-know,” he says, “Western North Carolina and the Smoky Mountains represent some of the best riding east of the Mississippi. From high elevations with sweeping mountain views to gorges with technical turns, the motorcycling experience here is diverse and exhilarating. Many of the roads here, like Tail of the Dragon, the Rattler, and Cherohala Skyway, are the bucket list items of riders from around the world.”
With hundreds of miles of prime motorcycle rides that boast scenic twists and turns, the Great Smoky Mountains attracts thousands of riders every year. The roads here deliver the perfect blend of reconnecting with nature and the thrill of hairpin turns that will annihilate your bike’s chicken strips. We’ve collected eight of the best Smoky Mountain motorcycle rides below. Choose your favorite or ride them all!
Most Popular Motorcycle Rides in the Smokies
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Tail of the Dragon
With 318 curves packed into 11 adrenaline-pumping miles, the Tail of the Dragon on US-129 is a world-famous biker’s pilgrimage. Bordered by the Great Smoky Mountains and the Cherokee National Forest, this heart-pounding stretch of highway is one of the wildest Smoky Mountain motorcycle rides on our list. Free from the intersecting roads or driveways that typically restrict travel, riders have total reign to see what their bikes are made of. The surrounding forest provides a scenic woodland backdrop, but the focus on this ride is the road, plain and simple. Stay alert and keep your eyes peeled on the twisting turns and steep descents, or your bike may end up in the woods.
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The Rattler
If the Tail of the Dragon is too congested for your taste, you might want to try The Rattler. It’s just as challenging as The Tail, with over 234 twists and turns, but much less crowded. This 37-mile stretch of NC-209 between Hot Springs, NC and Lake Junaluska, NC serves up exciting curves, s-turns, switchbacks, and straightaways and is definitely reserved for skilled riders. The mountain climbs and thrilling speeds are evenly spaced between gentle valleys, rushing rivers, and gorgeous scenery. You can even pull off in Hot Springs and grab a bite to eat or soak your tired muscles in the natural hot spring waters.
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Cherohala Skyway
As its name suggests, the Cherohala Skyway takes riders to high elevations with spectacular mountain views. For 18 miles in western North Carolina, the Skyway winds its way through the Cherokee National Forest, increasing in altitude to over 5,400 feet. Then, it twists and turns for 23 miles down into the mountainous backcountry of eastern Tennessee’s Nantahala National Forest. The Skyway is a wide open road with very little congestion and delivers unobstructed and awe-inspiring views at multiple scenic overlooks along the way.
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Cades Cove
Cades Cove is one of the most popular destinations in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, with a yearly tally of more than two million visitors seeking to escape into the peace and quiet of nature. A former 1800s settlement, this leisurely ride through Cades Cove meanders along for 11 majestic miles near Townsend, Tennessee. As you wind your way along the route, you’ll see historic settlement buildings like churches, barns, and log cabins. And keep your eyes peeled for local wildlife. Cades Cove has an abundance of deer, rabbits, turkeys, wild elk, and even black bears. (Remember, these are wild animals. Stay at least 50 yards away from the elk and bears.)
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Blue Ridge Parkway
The Blue Ridge Parkway, known as “America’s Favorite Drive”, might just be the most popular Smoky Mountain motorcycle ride on our list. If reconnecting with nature and being inspired by breathtaking mountain vistas is what you’re after, then hit the Parkway with friendly locals and let your bike fly. Cruise down the two-lane road that feels more like a mountain hike with rocky outcrops, grass, and thick vegetation hugging its edges. Tackle the entire 469 miles or break it up into sections that cut through mile-high mountains. The climbs and descents are gentle and the curves are as smooth as butter.
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Foothills Parkway
The Foothills Parkway, a national parkway that is maintained by the National Park Service, is a constant work in progress. But the finished section is open and perfect for a Smoky Mountain motorcycle ride. There’s a 16.5-mile section that starts in Walland, TN and passes through Blount County. Its wide lanes, easy-leaning curves, fun straightaways, and panoramic mountain views make it ideal for a leisurely ride. Plus, it gives you access to the Tail of the Dragon, if you want to add on an adventurous detour.
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Scenic Waterfalls Ride
There’s nothing quite like taking a blind curve that suddenly opens up into an unexpected and incredible view of a mountain waterfall. Cruising along NC-28 and US-64 between Franklin and Highlands, NC, you’ll find a jaw-dropping show of cascading waterfalls that is one surprise after another. Head through the Cullasaja Gorge for a glimpse of Cullasaja Falls, Dry Falls, Quarry Falls, and Bridal Veil Falls. Wesser Falls and Nantahala Falls are flowing fast in Nantahala Gorge. Or venture off onto US-276 to check out Looking Glass Falls and Sliding Rock. This is an easy one-day ride, but there are so many waterfalls in the area that you may want to split it up over two days. Take your time and soak up all there is to see on this Smoky Mountain motorcycle ride that’s literally overflowing with natural beauty.
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Copperhead Loop
This short but exciting route packs a lot of twisty, scenic fun into 77 miles. The Copperhead Loop used to be a tightly held secret among North Carolina Locals, but over the last several years it has become a highly sought-after Smoky Mountain motorcycle ride. Take on the challenge of sharp turns and sweeping curves while escaping into the beauty of nature. You can fly down the road for the thrill of the ride, then turn around at the end and take it slow on your way back. Stop along the way and savor relaxing water features like Sliding Rock, Looking Glass Falls, Sunburst Falls, and Lake Logan. With little traffic, it often feels like you have the entire road to yourself.
Travelers looking to take on more than one ride over multiple days can find a place to stay in one of the many classic roadside motels that welcome motorcycle riders from far and wide. Book a comfy room, then grab a cold one with the locals and swap stories about your epic Smoky Mountain motorcycle rides.
