North Georgia or Blue Ridge Parkway? [PICS ADDED]

[bpreynolds]

I think I've likely already answered this question for myself but gonna ask here anyhow.  So if things go as I hope I'll be off on another short trip next week.  My plan is to leave Louisville early on Wednesday afternoon, get near to where I'll "start" my riding by nightfall.  I'll hope to ride all day Thursday and Friday, then return to Louisville on Saturday.  So which of these 2 should I pick to explore.  I've already been to the whole Deal's Gap area twice in the last 12 months but the area is vast and still a lot left there to explore.  Even better maybe, folks tell me just south in north Georgia (still in the same national forest landmass) is as good or even better roads.  So there?  Or, I've never ridden the Blue Ridge Parkway.  Well, not more than 30-40 miles, I mean.  So that's the 2nd option, that is, to just go and stay on the BRP to wherever it takes me each day. 

Even said, besides great roads and maybe even as important a factor as those roads even on this trip, is I hope to catch what's left of the Fall foliage.  On BRP, I'm sure the foliage is about gone on top but certain it would offer some stunning and colorful views of the areas below.  Even still, in north Georgia I'd probably get some wonderful foliage views from elevations but also get to ride through some of those very roads too. 

Thoughts?

[leafman60]

You may have seen my post from my trip along the entire BRP week before last.  The leaves were only beginning to change at that time so I would expect that the timing of your trip would be good for catching some of the fall color.

I have ridden all the areas that you describe for many years.  Yes, you'll find great roads anywhere in those places.

The good thing about the BRP is that you just get on it and go.  No turns, no navigation.  You simply ride the duration of your allotted time.

From Louisville, you could be at the beginning of the BRP in Cherokee in about 6 hours. You could run the entire length of the BRP to Waynesboro VA in 2 days with a stop here and there. Then, high-tail it back to KY.

You will be glad you did this.

Take cool weather clothing for those higher elevations.

.

[bpreynolds]

You may have seen my post from my trip along the entire BRP week before last.  The leaves were only beginning to change at that time so I would expect that the timing of your trip would be good for catching some of the fall color.

I have ridden all the areas that you describe for many years.  Yes, you'll find great roads anywhere in those places.

The good thing about the BRP is that you just get on it and go.  No turns, no navigation.  You simply ride the duration of your allotted time.

From Louisville, you could be at the beginning of the BRP in Cherokee in about 6 hours. You could run the entire length of the BRP to Waynesboro VA in 2 days with a stop here and there. Then, high-tail it back to KY.

You will be glad you did this.

Take cool weather clothing for those higher elevations.

.

Actually, your thread is the one that gave me the idea     

[leafman60]

Check your PMs.

[LowRyter]

Unless you're a scenic gawker, skip the BRP... take the Dragon and Hwy 28 on down to GA.   

I have no patience to be on a twisty road with a 45 MPH speed limit.   

I find it the most frustrating road I've ever driven.  (take the tour bus)   

[Wayne Orwig]

Normally, I would say skip the Dragon and the other squids, and do as much of the Blue Ridge Parkway as you can.
But, my daughter was just planning to do three days on the BRP, and she just gave up. This time of year, with the great weather, the leaf peepers are out in full force. She said it was like a parking lot. So, the BRP may not be a great idea right now.


There is the Cherohala. 28/64 to Franklin and on to Highland. You can't go wrong with about anything in that area.

[bpreynolds]

Normally, I would say skip the Dragon and the other squids, and do as much of the Blue Ridge Parkway as you can.
But, my daughter was just planning to do three days on the BRP, and she just gave up. This time of year, with the great weather, the leaf peepers are out in full force. She said it was like a parking lot. So, the BRP may not be a great idea right now.


There is the Cherohala. 28/64 to Franklin and on to Highland. You can't go wrong with about anything in that area.

Thanks for the word.  Actually, having driven the Cherohala and a large portion of the Dragon/Gap area twice in the last year "if" I decided to go back to the area I would probably lean more towards hitting areas around Murphy and south to the Chattahoochee.  I've never driven any of these roads and that would be neat.  Don't they have live cams yet on the BRP so I can check traffic? 

[leafman60]

I was on the BRP and the Skyline during the week before last.  Traffic was not that bad at all.  Most of my riding was during the week.

Most of the other roads cited also have 45 mile/hr speed limits and would be equally boring if that is an absolute prime restraint.

[webmost]

Normally, I would say skip the Dragon and the other squids, and do as much of the Blue Ridge Parkway as you can.
But, my daughter was just planning to do three days on the BRP, and she just gave up. This time of year, with the great weather, the leaf peepers are out in full force. She said it was like a parking lot. So, the BRP may not be a great idea right now.


There is the Cherohala. 28/64 to Franklin and on to Highland. You can't go wrong with about anything in that area.

I've done the BRP end to end dozens of times and never seen it crowded. During the week, you can tootle along for half an hour without seeing any oncoming traffic. So your daughter's observation puzzles me.

Skyline is another deal. Crowded during weekends, and if you don't go slow you're apt to hit a tame deer. Critters there just stand in the lane and stare at you.

[blackbuell]

Brian,

Just last week I covered both: spent one day riding on the southern end of the BRP and spent a whole day riding in northern GA. Even though it was on a weekday, the BRP was fairly crowded; though the overall experience was enjoyable, there were quite a few times when I got hung up in very slow traffic. On the other hand, there was little traffic on the twisty mountain roads in northern GA. The roads around Suches and Dahlonega are amazing. While in GA I stopped at the recently renovated Two Wheels of Suches (didn't stay there); it looks like a great place to camp; will likely camp there in the future. You could easily make it to TWof S from Louisville in one day of riding.

BTW, while down south I spent three nights in Tellico Plains, TN at a motorcycle camping resort called Hunt's  Lodge.; inexpensive, nice owners, great shower house, free coffee, just a bit noisy at night.

Have a great trip,

Jon

[leafman60]

Color should be perfect along the Appalachian Ridge-

http://www.blueridgeparkwaydaily.com/blue-ridge-parkway-fall-colors-tracker/

.

[Dean Rose]

Unless you're a scenic gawker, skip the BRP... take the Dragon and Hwy 28 on down to GA.   

I have no patience to be on a twisty road with a 45 MPH speed limit.   

I find it the most frustrating road I've ever driven.  (take the tour bus)   

It's a friggin National Park. You want speed get on the slab or do a track day.

Dean

[Wayne Orwig]

I've done the BRP end to end dozens of times and never seen it crowded. During the week, you can tootle along for half an hour without seeing any oncoming traffic. So your daughter's observation puzzles me.

I've done the BRP about twice a year for a few decades now. I have encountered it a few times in late October when the weather was nice, in the Asheville area. You get a line of cars stopped on the roadway, waiting for the next spot in an overlook. 

[Wayne Orwig]

Thanks for the word.  Actually, having driven the Cherohala and a large portion of the Dragon/Gap area twice in the last year "if" I decided to go back to the area I would probably lean more towards hitting areas around Murphy and south to the Chattahoochee.  I've never driven any of these roads and that would be neat.  Don't they have live cams yet on the BRP so I can check traffic? 

If you make it down to Helen Georgia, they still have the Octoberfest going on there.
But any roads near that tourist trap are great.

[Lannis]

I've done the BRP end to end dozens of times and never seen it crowded. During the week, you can tootle along for half an hour without seeing any oncoming traffic.

Have to disagree that the BRP is "never crowded".   I live 20 miles from the Parkway and ride on it often, and there are many times when you can't hold the 45 MPH speed limit because a pair of Winnebagos are in front, idling along and holding up the works.   

It doesn't take thousands of cars on the BRP to slow things down - just a few dozen going the same way as you, and going slow.   I'm not assuming a 70 MPH passing blast in a no passing zone, though; I have no desire to go personally (and you do have to go personally, no paying by mail) to Asheville, NC and write a $500 check to Uncle Sam ...

This weekend will be about the worst at this latitude - so rule #1 is "No Weekends In Leaf-Peeper Season".    Weekdays are best, and once the leaves are down, you'll have the whole road to yourself, day in and day out.

Lannis

[Dilliw]

A few weeks ago I rode the BRP from 215 to Cherokee and back on a Friday and was only slowed down maybe twice.  I kept telling myself I would take a break whenever I next caught a slower vehicle and it never happened.  Oh well    That's definitely the best part of the BRP for motorcycles.

[Ncdan]

Take the BRP to Skyline drive to the end. No more beautiful ride in the US.

[creaky99]

Another option:  We rode 127 from Cincinnati last summer south to Crossville TN. Then TN 68 east to Tellico Plains TN. From there, took the Cherohala Skyway to Robbinsville, checked out the Dragon (not my kind of riding). From there, to Maggie Valley to visit Wheels Through Time (worth the trip). Backtrack to Cherokee and take 441 through Smokey Mountain Park to Gatlinburg & Pigeon Forge. All great riding.

[Lannis]

Take the BRP to Skyline drive to the end. No more beautiful ride in the US.

In a sense, that's true.   But having done it a couple times, I can tell you that some days 200 or 300 miles on the BRP, much less 469, can start to wear on you a bit.

One reason is that on some sections, they have been slack about keeping the trash trees cut down, and you can't see anything at some overlooks.   These aren't mighty Chestnuts or magnificent Larch trees, they're just weed trees that grow up in 10 years to where you can't see anything.  So it can seem like just a ride through the trees and someone's pet deer preserve.

Not to say it's not a wonderful ride.   But MY new favorite is riding North Carolina or Virginia from west to east, all the way.   400 - 500 miles.    You start out at sunrise in deepest Appalachia, crossing mountain ridges and 4000 foot passes and beautiful valleys.   By late morning you're transitioning to the rolling hills of the Piedmont, and by late afternoon, you're in the flat Tidewater area, with sand and marshes and eventually the Bay or ocean.   If you pick your roads right, you can't beat that for variety and fun anywhere ....

Lannis

[bpreynolds]

Decided on the Blue Ridge and what a ride.  Started at the northern beginning in Afton, VA and covered about 400 miles of the BRP to Asheville where I ran out of time and had to skip that last 50 miles to Cherokee.  Next time, surely.  Phenomenal, amazing road that just goes on and on and on seemingly.  I genuinely think the road is a true national treasure.  Covered about 1500 miles roundtrip.  My only regret is that I didn't take enough time to stop and whiff the roses.  Next time I go will only plan about 50-100 miles a day tops.  Links to all pics and very short vids here
http://s212.photobucket.com/user/bpreynolds/library/KTM%20Supermoto/Blue%20Ridge%20Parkway%20Ride

[Dean Rose]

Great pics, we love the area too.

Dean

[leafman60]

Fantastic

Looks like you were able to catch some pretty good leaf color.

[Lannis]

About a 230 mile gap in the pics from Peaks of Otter to Linville Cove .... !   Must have hunkered down and got some miles in!

Lannis

[leafman60]

I have been fortunate to ride many beautiful roads. I love The Alpine parts of Europe and the Stelvio Pass as well as the Italian Dolomites.

Still, I cannot say that any of those areas top the BRP in my book for a relaxing and scenic cruise.  No, we don't have the extreme elevations and snow-topped mountains, but the lush vegetation and the lack of human development along the roadway make the BRP one of my all-time favorite rides.

[bpreynolds]

About a 230 mile gap in the pics from Peaks of Otter to Linville Cove .... !   Must have hunkered down and got some miles in!

Lannis

Blame the KTM! 

[Mayor_of_BBQ]

Glad you had a fun trip...  You simply must make the time to ride the section from south of Asheville (best bet is from 276 crossing) down to Cherokee. I have ridden the BRP from end to end several times, and that is the best section! 

I love Asheville and the proximity to the BRP is a big part of that but the stretch from Craggy Gardens (just south of Mt.Mitchell) down to the Pisgah Inn (20mi south of Avl) is the most congested part.

[bpreynolds]

Glad you had a fun trip...  You simply must make the time to ride the section from south of Asheville (best bet is from 276 crossing) down to Cherokee. I have ridden the BRP from end to end several times, and that is the best section! 

I love Asheville and the proximity to the BRP is a big part of that but the stretch from Craggy Gardens (just south of Mt.Mitchell) down to the Pisgah Inn (20mi south of Avl) is the most congested part.

I'm actually glad to hear this as I'll be sure to go back and take a bit more time to ride that stretch.