Wish there was a way to get you to Parsons Branch without having to go through Cades Cove. Here is the route I built in Gaia. Takes you from our meetup in Townsend to the end of the first part of the "gravel-hala" and puts you on the Cherohala Skyway. You should be able to follow the link and then download a gpx file from there, but let me know if you have problems getting to it. www.gaiagps.com/map/?lat=38.3417&lon=-98.0859&zoom=4&loc=10.4/-83.7512/35.5035&pubLink=gYYGCHlYJo6u615g5cKgi41n&trackId=243c69ca-c7d3-46d3-900b-56f7cc14cad7
You live in one of the most beautiful places in the entire country...just, wow...however, I don't think I'll ever get to see Cade's Cove...the leisurely sight-seeing doesn't bother me but all that stopping and starting would drive me crazy...it's like people that ride the escalator up, step off, and immediately stop and look around...leaving no where to go for the people behind them...🙂
Thanks! I try not to take it for granted. I remember riding around Cades Cove with my Grandparents when I was little, counting criters we spotted. Now, I can't stand to drive that loop with traffic. On Wednesdays, the loop is closed to bicycles and opens later on Saturday morning. Might be cool to ebike it with strong motor, lol. On this day, we could've did ourselves a favor and got there at the break of dawn and been first in line for them to open the cove to vehicles.
You should checkout highway 32 out of Cosby. It's paved and curvy as hell until you hit the TN-NC line, then turns to gravel/dirt. We call it the redneck dragon. I did a video on it recently. Lots of great adventure riding in that area. Also a lot of great riding around Robbinsville and Tellico Plains.
Wow, what a great episode! I’ve driven the Cades Cove in my little Bronco II, and it was brutal with all that traffic. I’ve taken our old KLR650 all around the Smokies, including the Dragon, etc. My NC relatives have given me some inside knowledge about the area, which allowed me to explore the area without all the traffic. Looking forward to getting back up there soon. P.S. mum’s the word on Townsend, TN. That’s a (supposedly) well kept secret. Come on down to Terlingua, TX, and I’ll show you around to some spectacular MC rides. Happy Trails!
Thanks, Allen. The KLR! It's a dual sport legend! Townsend has a done a great job keeping it subtle, a great contrast to Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. Ever since I got my Scrambler, I've wanted to run Parsons Branch. Knew it would be fun, and I was right. It was closed due to down trees and such for a few years, and just re-opened a couple of years ago. Planning to pick up a toy hauling camper next year and do some traveling and riding. Eager to do some desert riding out west!
came down from Ohio for my biggest solo ride to date and was right where u were -had a blast weather was cooler for August -Bambi stayed in the woods and actually the traffic was low so had a awesome trip. Heading into New York and Pa for this years trip next month - nice video enjoyed - rest of ya get out and ride !!! Hint not sure what the best roads would be look into getting some Butler Motorcycle Maps $20 each but easy to plan a awesome riding adventure . Tim
Thanks for the kind words. Heading to do BDR? I have a Butler map somewhere I used for the Mid Atlantic BDR. Did a few sections a few years ago. Would like to do the entire thing.
I live just north of the Fail of the Dragon. It's far from my favorite ride, but it's good. The riding in northeastern TN, northwestern NC, and southwestern VA are second to none! I have a database of over 100 rides already compiled for the area with a LOT more to be added. I live in the Tri-cities area of TN, so I'm right in the perfect location for most of them. I loved the video, too! It just never gets old seeing all the beauty there is here. I ride a Gold Wing, so I don't get onto gravel too much, but sometimes my GPS will get a wild hair and route me on some gravel roads. I have taken some, but it's not my preference on that machine. An adventure bike would be sweet to add to my collection some day. Ride safe and thanks for sharing your adventure! I loved it!
Thank you, sir! Some good paved roads up your way! I also ride an Indian Roadmaster and my Indian group loves to come up and ride the Snake and that area. Much better than the "Fail" (lol) in my opinion. As for off highway riding, it's in my roots, and like it just as much as riding my Indian on the pavement. This fall, I want to ride the northern leg of the Smokey Mountains 1000, which takes me up through your neck of the woods.
@@RoadRash1 That's awesome! I love the Indian motorcycles! There is an Indian dealer just up the road from me in Bristol, TN. I rode dirt bikes back in the 80s and 90s, but never after that. It was fun! This year, probably in the fall when it's cooler, my wife and I want to ride the entire Blue Ridge Parkway. You also mentioned The Snake. I've ridden that a number of times. It's also fun. Mind your manners on some of those turns. I watched two riders on crotch rockets go over the edge because they came around too quickly. They disappeared from my view as they launched over the edge. I suspect one or both of them were killed or severely injured. I was going in the opposite direction, so I wasn't able to stop because of the other congestion that was instantly building up in the oncoming lane. I have a list of over 100 rides in my area that I've compiled along with websites about them. If you're interested in seeing the list, drop me an email at soujrnr@pm.me. Ride safe, sir!
There are 2 dirt/gravel roads that leave Cades Cove. One is the one we did, Parson's Branch Road, and the other is Rich Mountain Road, which takes you back over to the other end of Townsend. It doesn't have any water crossings but it is also a one-way road at least until you reach the park boundary. It gets a little higher up I think than Parson's Branch, so has at least once scenic view looking back into Cades Cove. Like Parson's Branch, it feels like you are deep into the mountains with not a lot of traffic so feels very secluded. At least that's been true of the few times I've been on it. I've only ridden up it once, and that was on my Victory Vegas cruiser, lol.
