The Tail of the Dragon
USA /
North Carolina /
Robbinsville /
World
/ USA
/ North Carolina
/ Robbinsville
World / United States / Tennessee
road, dangerous place / area, interesting place
Highway 129. A road that features 318 curves in 11 miles. Very fun road, but also a good way to kill yourself if you're not careful.
www.tailofthedragon.com/index.html
From Wikipedia:
Deals Gap is a popular and internationally famous destination for driving enthusiasts (of motorcycles and sports cars), as it is located along a stretch of two-lane road known as "The Dragon" or the Tail of the Dragon. The 11-mile stretch of the Dragon in Tennessee is said to contain 318 curves. Some of the Dragon's sharpest curves have names like Copperhead Corner, Hog Pen Bend, Wheelie Hell, Killboy (formerly Shade Tree) Corner, Mud Corner, Sunset Corner, Gravity Cavity, Beginner's End, and Brake or Bust Bend. The road segment earned its name from its curves resembling the shape of the "Dragon". The stretch bears the street name "Tapoco Road" in North Carolina and "Calderwood Highway" in Tennessee and is signed entirely by U.S. 129. State Route 115 is included on maps, and is the name used by Tennessee Department of Transportation for highway contracts.
Since part of the road is also the southwestern border of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, there is no development along the 11-mile stretch, resulting in no danger of vehicles pulling out in front of those in the right of way. It mostly travels through forested area and there are a few scenic overlooks and pull-off points along the route. The speed limit on the Dragon was 55 mph prior to 1992; it was reduced to 30mph in 2005. A documented presence of law enforcement on the Tennessee portion has (unfortunately) dramatically increased in 2007 and 2008.
www.tailofthedragon.com/index.html
From Wikipedia:
Deals Gap is a popular and internationally famous destination for driving enthusiasts (of motorcycles and sports cars), as it is located along a stretch of two-lane road known as "The Dragon" or the Tail of the Dragon. The 11-mile stretch of the Dragon in Tennessee is said to contain 318 curves. Some of the Dragon's sharpest curves have names like Copperhead Corner, Hog Pen Bend, Wheelie Hell, Killboy (formerly Shade Tree) Corner, Mud Corner, Sunset Corner, Gravity Cavity, Beginner's End, and Brake or Bust Bend. The road segment earned its name from its curves resembling the shape of the "Dragon". The stretch bears the street name "Tapoco Road" in North Carolina and "Calderwood Highway" in Tennessee and is signed entirely by U.S. 129. State Route 115 is included on maps, and is the name used by Tennessee Department of Transportation for highway contracts.
Since part of the road is also the southwestern border of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, there is no development along the 11-mile stretch, resulting in no danger of vehicles pulling out in front of those in the right of way. It mostly travels through forested area and there are a few scenic overlooks and pull-off points along the route. The speed limit on the Dragon was 55 mph prior to 1992; it was reduced to 30mph in 2005. A documented presence of law enforcement on the Tennessee portion has (unfortunately) dramatically increased in 2007 and 2008.
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tail_of_the_Dragon
Nearby cities:
Coordinates: 35°29'33"N 83°57'13"W
- Whisper Mountain 25 km
- Nantahala Gorge 27 km
- Cradle of Forestry and Pink Beds 106 km
- Davidson River Campground 113 km
- The S-Curve 115 km
- The stool 124 km
- Downtown Greenville, SC 157 km
- Long Island of the Holston 170 km
- Downtown Spartanburg, SC 193 km
- Grandfather Mountain 202 km
- Citico Creek Wilderness area 10 km
- Happy Valley, Tennessee 13 km
- Cades Cove 17 km
- Blackberry Farm 23 km
- Fontana Lake 24 km
- Royal Oaks Golf Community 26 km
- Walland, Tennessee 28 km
- Rocky Branch, Tennessee 29 km
- Wears Valley, Tennessee 38 km
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park 42 km
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