A Local Explains the Allure of Blount County’s Somewhat Secret Tourist Attraction
When we moved to Blount County in the summer of 1990, we got a lot of advice from locals. The best places to visit in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the secret spots where you can enjoy the mountains away from the throngs.
We were told never to stop in Cocke County under any circumstance, even if you had to get gas on the interstate. Seriously, this was still a thing, a leftover from previous generations of relative lawlessness where stealing tourists’ cars was something of a local passion. Happily, I can report everything in Cocke County is much better now. I go there frequently and recommend it to others.
But we were also told about the Dragon.
IN THIS ARTICLE
What is the Dragon?
U.S. 129, aka The Tail of the Dragon, aka the Dragon for short, is a popular roadway for motorcycle enthusiasts – and to a lesser degree sports car enthusiasts – connecting Blount County to Robbinsville N.C., through Deals Gap. It’s remote. It’s super curvy. It draws people from all over the country, even the world, who want to ride along the Dragon’s Tail.
Why Is It the Best?
While the Dragon is located in some of the most beautiful country in the country – not exactly an elegant turn of phrase, that. Truthfully, it isn’t sightseeing-friendly. With 318 curves spread over just 11 miles of changing elevation through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Cherokee National Forest, the Dragon offers riders – and drivers – an opportunity to do more than toddle along the straight and narrow.
Filled with blind curves and crests, many are drawn to the challenge the road presents if you approach speeds that exceed the speed limit. Since the road is in such a remote location, there aren’t any intersections or crosscuts or on and off ramps in the 11-mile section for which the Dragon is famous.
Why Is It Called the Tail of the Dragon?
I don’t know. I reckon it just sounds cool. If you think of a classic drawing of a Dragon’s Tail, like Smaug from “The Hobbit,” it’s spiny and has a lot of curves. Plus, it sounds a little foreboding and dangerous.
Is the Tail of the Dragon dangerous?
In and of itself? No. It’s just a road with a lot of curves. If you drive sensibly, carefully and safely, the Dragon poses no real danger. The problem is a lot of the people who ride the Dragon are not looking for a sensible, careful and safe drive.
They want to push the limits, at least a bit. To test out what their bike or sports car can do. It is remote and difficult to patrol, which allows those who wish to flaunt the law to flaunt it aggressively. In other words, the road isn’t dangerous, but the people you are sharing it with can be.
Should I Take My Family on the Dragon?
I can’t speak for you, but I don’t. Of course, I don’t have a reason to go directly to Robbinsville often. If I want a scenic drive through the mountains, I’ll take Newfound Gap Road from Gatlinburg to Cherokee. Or, if I’m feeling like a challenging drive, I’ll go down to Tellico Plains and ride the Cherohala Skyway – which also goes to Robbinsville. I leave the Dragon for others to tackle.
Honorable Mentions. What Are Some Other Popular Curvy Roads?
I mentioned Newfound Gap and the Cherohala Skyway; each has plenty of curves and significant elevation changes, but both are much better for sightseeing – at least for the passengers – and have pull-offs where everyone can relax and enjoy the day. They aren’t really for “riders” alone like the Dragon is.
Another curvy road, popular with riders in the region, is The Snake, aka U.S. 421, which starts in Mountain City in Johnson County, Tennessee. Cruising over three separate mountains, The Snake – similar concept to the Tail of the Dragon – has nearly 500 turns in its 33-mile trip.
Other popular curvy roads in the United States include:
- The Pacific Coast Highway in California
- Pikes Peak Highway in Colorado
- Ohio State Route 555 – aka The Triple Nickel in Ohio
- Top of the World Highway in Alaska
- Michigan Highway 22 – Michigan
Have you tackled The Dragon? Let us know in the comments! Are you planning a trip to the Smoky Mountains soon? Make sure to check out our coupons page before your trip!
We ended on Tale of the Dragon by accident. We decided to go on one of the side roads in Cades Cove. We came out on Tale of the Dragon by accident. we had no idea how covey it would be or really where we were. We noticed lots of motorcycles & small cars. Then there were signs & places where people would step out near the road & take a picture. It was some kind of race. We stopped at a pull-over that had a low stone wall. of the names, pictures & memories are shared of the people that wrecked & died. My son-in-law is a firefighter & drives a fire engine. We had no problem with him driving their Tahoe. It was a beautiful ride & we all can say we rode The Tail of the Dragon, even if it was about 1/2 of it.