The Tail of the Dragon / Foothill Pkwy / 441 Loop

The Tail of the Dragon is the bucket-list ride, and this loop makes a full day of it. You get the most famous stretch of road in the country, the sweeping views of the Foothills Parkway, and a climb straight over the spine of the Great Smoky Mountains on US 441. It’s a long day with a lot of variety, and every leg of it is worth the trip.

The ride heads west toward Deals Gap along the northern stretch of Moonshiner 28, winding past Fontana Lake on the way to the start of the Tail of the Dragon. US 129 packs 318 curves into 11 miles as it crosses into Tennessee, with no driveways or cross streets to break the rhythm. It’s intense, it’s famous, and it lives up to the hype.

At the north end of the Tail of the Dragon, the loop picks up the Foothills Parkway, a completely different kind of ride. The road follows the ridgeline above Chilhowee Lake with long, smooth sweepers and wide-open views of the Smokies on one side and the Tennessee valley on the other. The overlooks are worth a stop, so take your time. From Walland, the loop works through Townsend and along the Little River into Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

The final leg crosses the park on US 441, Newfound Gap Road. The road climbs through thick forest to Newfound Gap, where you can stand on the North Carolina–Tennessee state line, then descends through the Oconaluftee valley into Cherokee for the ride home.

The Tail of the Dragon draws heavy traffic, especially on weekends, and some drivers cross the center line in the tight curves. Stay well inside your lane, watch for photographers at the pull-offs, and ride your own pace. Inside the national park, speed limits are low, wildlife is common, and traffic can back up on nice days, so plan extra time. Newfound Gap Road can close in winter weather, and the park requires a parking tag for stops longer than 15 minutes, so check current conditions and requirements before you go. Fuel up when you can, since stations are limited between Fontana and Townsend.

Part of The Long Way: The Tail of the Dragon is one of the three legendary roads in our Slay the Serpents challenge, along with The Rattler and the Copperhead Loop. Ride all three, document the checkpoints, and earn the shirt.