The Dragon Or Cherohala?

[Canes]

Okay. I’m going to Chattanooga from Atlanta to visit family Saturday. I only have time to hit one route from Robbinsville. Which would you take?

1. North to the Dragon and then back southwest to Chattanooga, or

2. West on the Cherohala Skyway and then back southwest to Chattanooga.

I have not had the chance to ride either.

 

[speedjunkie]

Why not do both? One on the way there, one on the way home? I think the Cherahola is much more scenic. The Dragon is pure adrenalin! After riding both once, I'm looking forward to both again, but probably the Cherahola more so. Be safe on your trip, and take plenty of pics.

Mike

 

[B12Bill]

Cherahola if I could only do one. The Dragon is much more heavily travelled. Better chance of fewer people on the Cherhola, although there is a bit of 'mystic' about the Dragon. I know when I rode them last year I had more fun on Cherahola.

 

[Canes]

Why not do both? One on the way there, one on the way home? I think the Cherahola is much more scenic. The Dragon is pure adrenalin! After riding both once, I'm looking forward to both again, but probably the Cherahola more so. Be safe on your trip, and take plenty of pics.

Mike

If I have time Monday and I am not too tired, I may go up the second route on the way home.

 

[f1fan]

I road both ways back in '01. The Dragon was a blast (had a 929 back then) and Cherahola was just plain beautiful and smooth and tons of fun to ride.

The Dragon tends to be more heavily travelled and if I had to choose I would pick the Cherahola for sure. Have fun.

 

[yanktar]

It depends on two things:

1) what kind of ride you want

2) what time of day.

The Dragon is intense, technical, 318 turns in 11 miles--and the lead roads are plenty twisty too. You'll be in 2nd or 3rd gear most of the time, there's not too much in the way of scenic vistas (some) because it winds through trees alot. The BEST time to ride is early morning on a weekday. A weekend afternoon is like Times Square. I've been up and down it a few times. When you are done, it's wise to take a short break before attacking it again. LEOs can be VERY tough, and lately there have been too many accidents, some deadly, some crippling.

The Cherahola is a much faster road, with long, sweeping turns (unfortunately, many are decreasing radius that bite riders HARD). The views are beautiful and everywhere--sort of like Skyline Drive in Virginia, and it's a bit longer than the Dragon. I've only ridden it once and it's a gorgeous road. You can ride it anytime of day.

Hope this helps.

 

[Hotboot]

You HAVE to ride both. The Gap is crowded Fri through Sunday, but well worth it.

The CherryCola is longer and not as twisty.

Both.

 

[scooter cruzer]

Okay. I’m going to Chattanooga from Atlanta to visit family Saturday. I only have time to hit one route from Robbinsville. Which would you take?
1. North to the Dragon and then back southwest to Chattanooga, or

2. West on the Cherohala Skyway and then back southwest to Chattanooga.

I have not had the chance to ride either.

Well if you're on the effy, I'd take Cherohala

if you're on the R1, I think I'd go the Dragon.

Really you probably can get both in pretty easily........ Cherohala can be run in about an hour or so up and back......

Scooter

 

[Nose]

Take the chery but keep your speed in check, it's deceiving. If the weather is crappy (watch for fog up there), keep your eyes open for junk in the road if it's early. We ran up there in crappy weather this year and there were trees down everywhere and considering how thick the fog was, and how hard it was raining...maybe we were in clouds, anyway; it was still a great road; but no place to use your cruise.

Anyway, leave the dragon for a day when you have more time to make a few runs on it. Get there early; most biker trash doesn't get up at the crack of dawn.

Steve

 

[gryphon68]

I've done both in one day, I vote for doing both if you have the time, well worth the effort to string them together.

Stay safe and enjoy the ride. . . . .

 

[FJRZON]

Canes, you absolutely need to do both. The Dragon will most likely have a high volume of traffic on the weekend which does cut down on the fun element but you need to at least check it out. The Cherahola Skyway should be clear sailing and is absolutely gorgeous. I recently got back and did them both…two different styles of riding. I found other roads back roads that were just as intense as the Dragon after asking a few locals that I found on the Tennessee side…no traffic at all! Bottom line as others have stated above: Dragon = Intense, Cherahola = scenic with smooth sweepers.

 

[FLRoadking]

Just got back from both two weeks ago and concur with the advice to hit all of them. Hit the Dragon on non-peak times, or early in the morning on weekends. Do not cross the centerline as plenty of cars were noted driving down the middle of the road.

As noted, The Dragon is extremely technical but you should do it at least once. The Cherahola is very nice, as is the Foothills Parkway. You should be able to do both on your trip, in fact you could do both the same day if you like.

You really can't pick a bad road in that area. I posted a few pics from my trip under the images section titled Pic Test, as it was my first posting experience.

Have a good ride. B)

 

[gypsy]

I' m going to be in the Dragon/Cherohala area from July 24 - 28th. I decided to go during the week as the weekend sounds too crowded for me. If anyone else is going to be there at that time give me a shout.

gypsy

 

[Canes]

I' m going to be in the Dragon/Cherohala area from July 24 - 28th.  I decided to go during the week as the weekend sounds too crowded for me. If anyone else is going to be there at that time give me a shout.
gypsy

I may be game for one of those days!

The weather forcast for the weekend is not looking good. I may skip Chattanooga and just do both routes and come home. It is a tough decision - family or Dragon? family or Dragon?

 

[chadhargis]

The Dragon is fun, but highly overrated in my opinion. There are roads in N. GA and other areas that are just as much fun and have much less traffic.

The Cherohala is one of the best motorcycling roads I've ever ridden (if traffic is light). Lots of high speed sweepers with a few tighter turns thrown in just for fun.

Given the choice, I'd ride the Cherohala.

Of course...all that being said.....my avatar was taken on the Dragon by Killboy....one of the only reasons to fight the crowds. He's an excellent photographer.

 

[Hotboot]

The Dragon is fun, but highly overrated in my opinion.
The Cherohala is one of the best motorcycling roads I've ever ridden (if traffic is light). Lots of high speed sweepers with a few tighter turns thrown in just for fun.

Given the choice, I'd ride the Cherohala.

Of course...all that being said.....my avatar was taken on the Dragon by Killboy....one of the only reasons to fight the crowds. He's an excellent photographer.

On weekdays, 129 is deserted.......very nice when it's all your own.

I second the CherryCola A fantastic road with a lot more room.

 

[Canes]

Between the crappy weather and the over abundance of over zealous Po Po’s, I canceled my trip. I will be planning a mid-week trip in the near future. Anybody else heading to the Gap in late July or early August?

 

[cole]

you can easily ride both in a day we have done it in just a few hours it is less than a 200 mile loop even if you take your time you will be back by 5pm.

cole

 

[Canes]

I'm thinking of going up on a Tuesday and coming back on Wednesday.