Tail of the Dragon Bike Climb - PJAMM Cycling

0.5
FIETS
11.1 mi
DISTANCE
1,625 ft
GAINED
1.7 %
AVG. GRADE

FULL CLIMB STATS

INTRO

This ride is not recommended for cyclists - many fast moving (racing) motrocycles and sportscars.

See more details and tools regarding this climb's grade via our interactive Profile Tool.
Information Not Available

If you have any information regarding this climb, we'd like to hear from you. Click the CONTRIBUTE button to share your thoughts with us.

Information Not Available

If you have any information regarding this climb, we'd like to hear from you. Click the CONTRIBUTE button to share your thoughts with us.

Before heading out on any cycling adventure check out our Things to Bring on a Cycling Trip and use our interactive check list to ensure you don't forget anything.
Information Not Available

If you have any information regarding this climb, we'd like to hear from you. Click the CONTRIBUTE button to share your thoughts with us.

ROUTE MAP

MEMBER RATING

Not Yet Rated
-
Road
-
Traffic
-
Scenery

CURRENT WEATHER

PJAMM TRIPS ADVENTURE STARTER BUNDLES

Check out PJAMM Adventure's prepackaged (self-guided) cycling trips. They will help you plan, document and conquer your next adventure.
ALL TRIPS
Browse all of our prepackaged trips and find your next adventure!
Smoky Mountain National Park
United States (NC,TN)
17 ROUTES
31 POIs
ROUTE STATS (TOTAL)
181.8
mi
DISTANCE
34,253
ft
ELEV. GAIN
The Blue Ridge Parkway (North)
United States (NC,TN,VA)
38 ROUTES
70 POIs
ROUTE STATS (TOTAL)
716.5
mi
DISTANCE
75,697
ft
ELEV. GAIN
The Blue Ridge Parkway (South)
United States (NC,TN,VA)
30 ROUTES
63 POIs
ROUTE STATS (TOTAL)
690.7
mi
DISTANCE
74,180
ft
ELEV. GAIN

NEARBY CLIMBS (0) RADIAL PROXIMITY

FROM
No Climbs Found

MEMBER REVIEWS & COMMENTS

Let us know what you thought of this climb. Signup for our FREE membership to write a review or post a comment.
Already have an account?
ROUTE MAP
PROFILE TOOL
Route Data
S.G. (%)
hide
Segment Data
hide

Climb Profile Not Found
CLIMB SUMMARY

Cycling Tail of the Dragon, Tennessee - sign for Tennessee in a densely forested area

Cycling the Tail of the Dragon, Tennessee (if you dare . . .)

Ride 11 miles gaining 1,621’ at 1.6% average grade.

First and foremost:  DON’T DO IT.  This is an extremely dangerous road.  I offer this summary primarily as a fun story about a ride that no one should do on a bike.  However, as a secondary purpose, I write to advise you how to do this ride as safely as possible if you do choose to do it.

Cycling Tail of the Dragon, Tennessee - photo collage, bike leaning against sign for 15 MPH on turn, sign for "Welcome to North Carolina," bike leaning against sign that reads "Motorcycles High Crash Area Next 11 Miles," sign for 129 Dragon Info Center, PJAMM Cycling logo in corner

It is telling that I encountered no other cyclists during my two hours out and back on the Dragon.

This road is so popular with motorcyclists because it has so many turns (318) and no driveways -- an uninterrupted ride for 11 full miles.  

Please view this video before you even think about doing this ride on a bike.  Imagine if you were on your bike on a tight turn when this guy (a pro), or even worse, a wanna-be amateur, came up behind you.  Nuff said . . .  YouTube - US129 Dragon Slayer.

Cycling Tail of the Dragon, Tennessee - photo collage,  Visitor center/gift shop, PJAMM Cycling logo in corner

Tail of the Dragon shop 10 miles from start at junction of Routes 72 and 129.

I stopped at the Market and the last gas station/place for provisions before the Tail of the Dragon start.  I struck up a conversation with a long-time TofD motorcyclist who was not very pleasant at the beginning of our chat.  He had an obvious bias against cyclists -- “you guys don’t pay taxes to use the road,” seemed to be the primary objection.  He also assumed (because in the hundreds of times he’d ridden the TofD, he said he’d never encountered a bicyclist) that it would be extremely dangerous to ride the bike on this route because of all the blind curves.  Note -- while doing the ride, both out and back, I didn’t have a sense of danger on curves, other than vehicles and motorcyclists screaming around them.  Gary and I parted with him wishing me luck and reminding me that I was taking my life into my own hands.

Cycling Tail of the Dragon, Tennessee - warning signs and signs for curves in road along roadway

As noted, you should not do this ride; it is not safe.  However, from some I spoke with milling about the start, it seems like the best time to ride is the time the real racing is not happening.  As I was told, the “serious” drivers/riders come out before 9 a.m. and after 5 p.m. for a “clean run.”  I did the ride on a late afternoon during the middle of the week and felt oddly safe.  There were not a lot of racers and there was a lot of normal traffic (puttering Harley Davidson riders, a few RV’s, recreational vehicles, and the like).  On the return trip where there is much more descending, I was able to keep up with slower moving traffic for a mile or two at a time.

Cycling Tail of the Dragon, Tennessee - road sign reads "Stay in Lane"

Bring it on Old Man!!

Dangerous Roads writes of this road:

“With 318 curves in 11 miles, it's America's number one motorcycle and sports car road. Deals Gap, also known as Tail of the Dragon, is a portion of U.S. Route 129 in Blount County, Tennessee, situated in a gap in Swain County, North Carolina, United States. It's heralded as one of the most scenic drives in USA.

The road still remains an adrenaline-pumping journey. With hundreds of blind curves, long blind crests, and high degrees of camber, this claustrophobic scenic forest road presents plenty of opportunities to leave the pavement both laterally, and longitudinally, and will provide a challenge for even the most seasoned sim veterans. The 11-mile stretch of the Dragon in Tennessee is said to have 318 curves. Some of the Dragon's sharpest curves have names like Copperhead Corner, Hog Pen Bend, Wheelie Hell, Shade Tree Corner, Mud Corner, Sunset Corner, Gravity Cavity, Beginner's End, and Brake or Bust Bend. The road earned its name from its curves being said to resemble a dragon's tail. While you're there, be sure to visit the Tree of Shame, where crashed motorcycle bits adorn the tree and dangle from its branches as a reminder of the road's dangers.  The road is certainly breathtaking and it has a fearsome reputation” (Dangerous Roads - Tail of the Dragon).

Cycling Tail of the Dragon, Tennessee  - bike parked against stone retaining wall at Tail of the Dragon Scenic Overlook

The only overlook on the ride.

Tail of the Dragon Scenic Overlook at mile 2.2.

Cycling Tail of the Dragon, Tennessee - North Carolina and Tennessee state signs

We start the climb in Tennessee and end at its border with North Carolina.

Some cyclists do take on The Dragon.  As of November 5, 2020, there were 944 Strava Members who had done the ride, the fastest in 35:49 (WOW!!!).  Ignore my Garmin, by the way, I took over 100 photos -- otherwise I would have gotten it done in an hour and a half, ha, ha . . . Well, I’m an old man, what do you expect, but, the good news:  I’m still alive!!

Cycling Tail of the Dragon, Tennessee - bike parked at sign for mile marker 11, sign reads "Fallen Rocks"

Just before the finish of the return trip.

Cycling Tail of the Dragon, Tennessee - Garmin device

My Garmin for the ride out (left) and ride back (right).

There is much more descending on the ride back.

Access to full Climb Summary requires a PJAMM Cycling PRO Membership!

It takes less than a minute to sign up & with your PRO membership you can:
  • Rate climbs, post comments and share your experiences on any of our climb pages
  • Create bucket lists of climbs & mark the dates you complete them
  • Weather data for all climbs - Start & Finish
  • Upload photos to your member page to customize your PJAMM Cycling experience
  • Utilize all of our interactive tools - Profile & Routes in Area
  • Download climb route .gpx files
LEARN MORE
SIGN UP

Already have an account? LOG IN HERE