March 20, 2010: The rock slide on US 129 is located between the Dragon and Happy Valley Road/Foothills Parkway. US 129 has been closed at the TN/NC State Line by Tennessee making the Dragon itself inaccessible. There are mixed reports from TDOT on reopening. One says reopen will be March 26, the other gives no date. The only alternatives are the Cherohala Skyway US 441 through the Great Smoky Mountains. There are many great roads in North Carolina. Use this opportunity to run the Moonshiner28. Watch for weather updates on the Cherohala.

Also be aware the TN 73 Little River Road is closed. It is scheduled to reopen Sunday March 21.
http://www.tailofthedragon.com/

I was about to go. I bet this affects the local economy pretty good, like T shirt sales, restaurants, hotels, photographers and LEO'S income.

Frank, I had heard mixed reports as well on the reopning of 129. I have plans to head down this August. Keeping my fingers crossed. Thanks for the update.

Last reports I heard on 129, it's closed. They've put up barracades at each end and they have put a trailer up there to keep people out. It's manned 24/7. The North Caolina side of the Dragon is open, but they have a barracade at the Tennessee state line. Last word on heard on reopening the road is late July or mid August. You can reach the store if you go thru the Skyway and cut thru the Joyce Kilmer Forrest. It comes out right below the store.

The lower part of the Little River road is closed. However, you can still get there if you take 321 from Townsend and go into Wears Valley. You can turn off Wears Valley road and take the back way to the Little River Road at Metcalf Bottoms, then continue to the Sugarlands Visitor Center just outside of Gatlinburg. They said no heavy vehilces or motorhomes as the bridge won't support them.

Seems we have had a lot of rockslides this year, that cold winter really took it's toll...

so true, flash....

It's the old freeze, thaw cycle..... it's taking its toll on everything!

Put your bike back together, Flash.... lets go ride!

Put your bike back together, Flash.... lets go ride

I'm trying man, the guys at Rising Sun had the tires I wanted in stock, but didn't have the angled valve stems.....ther're on order...

I personally would not want to ride where a cop at every turn harasses bikers. I understand they have let up some after numerous complaints, but for me, I am out. To each his own, I will spend my money in biker friendly areas.

Holy crap!!! got a timeshare booked in Tenn in June to run the Tenn side of the Dragon......

I wouldn't say the cops are there to hassle you, just to keep order, if they were no there, too many riders would over-ride go left of their center and hit someone enjoying the ride in own lane head on.

Laws and rules govern a society, where people ignore them, they need a little help. LEOS

We went on a week day and it was nothing less than fantastic. Hardly a Cop. Maybe one.

The night before I read on the net about all the head on's and since i could not control that part of the risk, I almost chickened out for the lack of proper gear for such a hit. It was that Crazy Schatzie that talked me into going. (I was afraid I would get hit head on and scratch her legs on the fall. She was like, we came all this way, we're riding it!

I tucked in behind a Can Am Spyder and ran is just like she did (Yes she) used her as a blocker. We got a great ride out of it.

I seriously doubt it's as much fun on a weekend.

But, I would not go if it's closed. What's the point. Maybe a July trip in order. Weekday.

I talked to a former TOD LEO at breakfast one morning while we were there, he said there are nightmare stories days long to tell them about that stretch.

MS1700 wrote:
I wouldn't say the cops are there to hassle you, just to keep order, if they were no there, too many riders would over-ride go left of their center and hit someone enjoying the ride in own lane head on.



Actually, that happens more often than you think!

If you go there and ride with a little sense, its not a bad road to ride. However you'd be surprised at the number of folks who speed up there, not to mention the folks that can't hold their bikes in their own lane. The best time to ride 129 is during the weekdays...... weekends are a zoo!