Have you heard of “The Dragon?” Maybe, maybe not. I definitely hadn’t until a weekend trip found our tiny Honda Civic on one of the most lauded roads in the world. Yeah, you heard that right – the world. Stretching from Tennessee to North Carolina, the Tail of the Dragon is an 11-mile jaunt that proffers 318 turns by the end of it, beckoning motorcyclists and thrill-seekers from around the world.
donna_0662 - Flickr Once you’re on the Tail of the Dragon, you aren’t off it until the end. There are no exits.
Scott Smithson - Flickr Why, you ask? Because the road is bordered by the Great Smoky Mountains and Cherokee National Forest, making sudden drop-offs a very common thing.
Mt. Washington Auto Road - Flickr In 2014, an average of 1,057 travelers made their way down the road - per day.
Jack Russell Terror - Flickr You’re sure to find wildlife on your way down the Dragon. People have spotted anything from rabbits to bears to deer, so you’ll want to be careful.
Marsha Biller - Flickr Also, contrary to popular belief, the road is patrolled by state troopers. You definitely can - and will - get pulled over if you’re going too crazy.
Jack Russell Terror - Flickr Interesting fact: “The Fugitive,” starring Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones, was filmed not too far from the Dragon. Depending on where you start you may find yourself walking in their footsteps.
William Klos - Flickr Although summer months are crazy busy, the winters get pretty slow. We’re talkin’ maybe 50 vehicles a day, making it a bit easier to go slow and steady.
J. Knox - Flickr The views are beautiful, but remember - the road itself is the real attraction. There is a high number of accidents on the road, and you don’t want to find yourself a casualty.
Have you ever been? Any tips for newbies?
donna_0662 - Flickr
Once you’re on the Tail of the Dragon, you aren’t off it until the end. There are no exits.
Scott Smithson - Flickr
Why, you ask? Because the road is bordered by the Great Smoky Mountains and Cherokee National Forest, making sudden drop-offs a very common thing.
Mt. Washington Auto Road - Flickr
In 2014, an average of 1,057 travelers made their way down the road - per day.
Jack Russell Terror - Flickr
You’re sure to find wildlife on your way down the Dragon. People have spotted anything from rabbits to bears to deer, so you’ll want to be careful.
Marsha Biller - Flickr
Also, contrary to popular belief, the road is patrolled by state troopers. You definitely can - and will - get pulled over if you’re going too crazy.
Interesting fact: “The Fugitive,” starring Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones, was filmed not too far from the Dragon. Depending on where you start you may find yourself walking in their footsteps.
William Klos - Flickr
Although summer months are crazy busy, the winters get pretty slow. We’re talkin’ maybe 50 vehicles a day, making it a bit easier to go slow and steady.
J. Knox - Flickr
The views are beautiful, but remember - the road itself is the real attraction. There is a high number of accidents on the road, and you don’t want to find yourself a casualty.
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