Cherohala ride this fall

I'm planning to ride the gravel service roads that parallel and cross the Cherohala this fall.

Ron and Nancy of Tail of the Dragon.com sent me a nice email this morning showing me maps of these various roads to take.

I want the road less traveled this trip.

I've ridden the Dragon and Cherohala and other roads down there each year for the last three. This will be my fourth trip down but first on an enduro type. I don't want mud and dirt, I abhor getting my bikes dirty, a bit of a clean freak I guess, kind of more like a cat that doesn't like to get wet. And my TW is brand new, what can I say!?
But still, I want to see the water falls and other things that perhaps others more rugged then I saw many years before the Cherohala was installed.

One day, my 14 year old son will travel with me on his own TW and we will ride this road so I need to scout it out now!

Anyone ride these roads and can make recommendations?

Best,
Ken

A friend and I drove through the forest roads back in 01, me on the tdub and him on a xr650l, probably the same roads Ron and Nancy e-mailed to you. I printed directions and maps from the tailofthedragon web site. The roads were great and the scenery spectacular. Started on the side near the Joyce Kilmer Natl Forest and headed toward Telico. I also found a dual sport map from a local in N. GA but haven't had a chance to use it yet. It can be found on the TWO web site for sale.
The last time I went to ride in the Cherohala FS roads I was on my R1200GS. It was different due to new trails and a possibility of needing a off road permit, I may be wrong though on the permit.
Have a good time take lots of pictures and report back so we all can envy.

JQ

Thanks jonneyquest for the info.

What is the TWO website?

If I run the roads on the TOTD website I won't need a permit will I? I think part of them are paved too, correct?

I hope to do this in September when I run down to North Georgia mountains with my buds.
They will not be able to join me on the roads but have to stick to payment.

I'm really looking forward to taking photos.

Thanks again,
Ken

http://www.twowheelsonly.com/

Look for north georgia back roads map on this site. The site also has a lot of other info too.

Still not sure about the off road permit. You may have to contact the forest service and ask about the Tellico Plains riding area near Bald River Falls.

Good luck!


JQ

Thank you very much.

I'll let you know how the trip goes.

You need to purchase the National Geographic map #781 Cherokee National Forest. The Forest Service roads and the two motorcycle single track trails are in great detail on the map. All the creeks, camp sites, other trails, and water falls are also listed. The map is water proof and about $12.95 at a local hiking or book store.

If you are in the area, you can stop by the shop and we can show you some great loops on the map. There's 167 miles of FS roads, Trail #82 is about 4.5 miles, and Trail #81 is about 3.5 miles. Both the trails are ideal for a TW200. There's easily 3 days of dual sport riding in the North end of the Forest. A couple more days on the South end too.

Here's link to some recent trail work, Trail 82 was just rated the best section of the entire Benton MacKaye Trail System!:

Trail 82 & 81 updates

The leaves are just starting to change & it's chilly in the mornings & evenings now. Citico Creek Rd last night:



You can go to TNADVRiders.com to down load GPS dual sport loops in the area:


TN ADV Rider

Dual Foolz at the Cherohala Motorcycle Resort is Oct 1-3rd

The Fuzzy Beaver Dual Sport Rally at Crawfords Campground is Oct 16-17th

minimike

Thank you for the response and great info.
What store are you found at?
I'm not sure I can come by but will try.

The Sherpa in the photo makes me want to ask how you like that bike.

I've seen the model at the Kaw shop but hadn't heard much about them.

If they had painted them a different color and had the big nobbies the TW has I would have bought one.

Thanks again,

Ken

PS 2.5 weeks until my Tail of the Dragon trip.
We are staying in the North Georgia mountains.
Will trailer down three bikes, one for my senior friend and two for me. A street bike and the TW.

Take care,

KC

Both bikes are great. The Sherpa is a new '09 and the TW is a '99 with 11K miles. Either will put a big smile on your face. That's coming from someone that has a BMW HP2 SE. Small bikes rock!

Cherie's got an ice cream shop & I have a motorcycle gear shop across the street from her. The motorcycle shop is geared towards Adventure / Dualsport, Touring, and Sport-touring riders. We've been coming to E TN / W NC for years & finally moved here 4 years ago. We used to have dual sport shop rides every month; but, there were too many people crashing. Now we just do trail work.

If you get there early in the morning, you can do Cades Cove in the Smokey Mountains NP. Taking Parsons Branch Rd ( a jeep road one way out of Cades Cove) will drop you off in the middle of Deals Gap on HWY 129 ( The Dragon ). It has 17 or so creek crossings. They're very shallow & paved. No big deal. Don't go to Cades Cove if you can't get there early. Too many cages in the afternoon & it's a zoo.

minimike

I'll try to look you up while riding the area when I'm down there.

I'm going to be on two different bikes. A street bike Suzuki Boulevard M50 yellow and black and my TW200 2010.

I plan to ride the TW mostly on the roads where I won't take a street bike ie;rocky roads.

Will look up your shop on the internet and try to come by.

Thanks much
Ken

Well, I did ride the Cherohala this fall on the T-Dub and did half of it on the Gravelhala too.
I saved the rest of the gravel and paved sections of the Stewart Cabin road until my son can return with me to ride.

I met Mike of Tellico Motorcycle Outfitters and enjoyed the Tellico Grains (In Tellico Plains) bakery for a light sandwich meal.
What an outstanding place that bakery is and Mike didn't stear me wrong with that suggestion.

I would recommend anyone running through Tellico Plains stop in and shop at Mike's store and then saunter across the street
as I did and enjoy a good meal or cookie or three at the bakery.
Such a nice bunch of folks there.

Thanks Mike for the help. I'll be back in a couple years with my son to ride and prehaps you can go with us.

Take care,

Ken

BTW the T-Dub stayed up with a couple Harley brothers on the paved Cherohala and I was smiling knowing they would never take those baggers on that gravel road I had just come off of!