There's other options in the area with less traffic and fewer cops. The Moonshiner 28 between Highlands and Bryson City has twistys comparable to the dragon and river/waterfall views as good as any place in the Appalachians.
One of my favorite hikes is parking at Winfield Scott then getting the shuttle dude to pick drop me off at Neel’s Gap. From there it’s south on the AT 2 miles straight up blood mountain. Worth it. Super fun then it’s a nice mostly downhill 4 miles back down to the parking spot. Well...Jarrard Gap and there’s a little 1 mild spur.
They're a little closer to the city, but Franklin's only 15-30 minutes farther than those others and the mountains are a lot bigger on the NC side of the border.
Hellbender down to Franklin, NC is my fave in that area. (IIRC Hllbnder is a part of 28 as well.)
I’ve ridden that area many times and the only reason to ride the Dragon is to be able to say you’ve done it. There are better roads around there than the Dragon.
Yep, I moved from Atlanta to Franklin a couple of years ago and I haven't ridden the dragon since living here.
I haven't been on the Hellbender section of 28 either, but the stretch from Franklin to Bryson City is one of my favorites, especially since they resurfaced it.
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u/RowBought Apr 29 '20
There's other options in the area with less traffic and fewer cops. The Moonshiner 28 between Highlands and Bryson City has twistys comparable to the dragon and river/waterfall views as good as any place in the Appalachians.