Devil's Triangle

[lightnin4]

Heading up to Deal's Gap in a few weeks for the Women's SportbikeRally.  A friend and I are going up a few days early and were looking for some good day rides.  My friend was talking to a guy that had just gotton back from there and said that the Devil's Triangle was a fun ride.  We will be staying at Fontana Dam and wondered how many miles to get there?  Any other good suggestions?  I think we're gonna do the Cherohala Friday and meet up with some friends in Tellico Plains to ride back to Fontana with.  Looking for a good Thursday ride.

[kyzrex]

DT is north of Knoxville, so will take some time to get up there from area you are staying in, and most of route to get to it will not be a fun ride....best to do it on your way there or way back if you are heading that way.

Try riding out 28east on your free day...great road.

[lightnin4]

DT is north of Knoxville, so will take some time to get up there from area you are staying in, and most of route to get to it will not be a fun ride....best to do it on your way there or way back if you are heading that way.

Try riding out 28east on your free day...great road.

Thanks.  Looking at the map, I thought that might be the case.  We are actually (don't tell anyone) trailering up there. My friend is subject to getting migraines, so for short trips of only 4-5 days, we haul the bikes to keep from running the risk of the travel days being delayed.  Not many good roads between West TN and almost there anyway.  Do you know if there is anywhere local to the Devil's Triangle that would let us park the truck & trailer while we ride?  We might look into riding it on the way up Wednesday or on the way home Sunday.

[Jonathan]

+1 on 28.  thats my favorite streach of road in that area.

[Ga-Bandit]

http://tailofthedragontours.com/

http://www.tailofthedragonmaps.com/

[bluespecv03]

28 from the Gap all the way down into SC is an amazing ride!

[REAPER]

28 from the Gap all the way down into SC is an amazing ride!

I rode that stretch of 28 week before last. It is great, like it better than the Dragon. LEO's lit me up twice, but couldn't turn around to after me.

Where (which roads) is the DT????

[lightnin4]

I rode that stretch of 28 week before last. It is great, like it better than the Dragon. LEO's lit me up twice, but couldn't turn around to after me.

Where (which roads) is the DT????

It's just North of Oak Ridge & includes Hwys. 62 & 330 (bottom of the triangle) and hwy. 116 (top of triangle).  

[REAPER]

Thanks, lightnin!

[bogfro]

If you're gonna be near Deal's Gap, I'd suggest just staying in that area, and pick a direction.  Going all the way to northwest of Knoxville just to ride 116 will be a waste of time.  116 isn't all that, in my opinion.  I mean, it's OK, but you're passing up on steak to get cheap Taco Bell hamburger meat if you do.  Much better riding near where you'll be staying.  I'd stay on the south side of the Smokies -- once you go north, and get into Pigeon Forge/Sevierville/Gatlinburg/Maryville/Knoxville area, it's nothing but traffic.  I'd try Wayah, Franklin, Highlands, Dillsboro, Fontana, Murphy areas.

[lightnin4]

If you're gonna be near Deal's Gap, I'd suggest just staying in that area, and pick a direction.  Going all the way to northwest of Knoxville just to ride 116 will be a waste of time.  116 isn't all that, in my opinion.  I mean, it's OK, but you're passing up on steak to get cheap Taco Bell hamburger meat if you do.  Much better riding near where you'll be staying.  I'd stay on the south side of the Smokies -- once you go north, and get into Pigeon Forge/Sevierville/Gatlinburg/Maryville/Knoxville area, it's nothing but traffic.  I'd try Wayah, Franklin, Highlands, Dillsboro, Fontana, Murphy areas.

We're going up for the Women's Sportbike Rally so we'll be staying at Fontana.  Just wondered about the Devil's Triangle because a local guy that we ran into the other day said it was a pretty good ride.  I dont think we'll be heading that way though.  I have ridden Hwy. 28 in the past and it is a good ride.  Any other route suggestions are appreciated though.  Always looking for new (to me) rides!

[ST-DocLizard1]

Heading up to Deal's Gap in a few weeks for the Women's SportbikeRally.  A friend and I are going up a few days early and were looking for some good day rides.  My friend was talking to a guy that had just gotton back from there and said that the Devil's Triangle was a fun ride.  We will be staying at Fontana Dam and wondered how many miles to get there?  Any other good suggestions?  I think we're gonna do the Cherohala Friday and meet up with some friends in Tellico Plains to ride back to Fontana with.  Looking for a good Thursday ride.

Pick up a copy of MadMaps; USRT170.      https://www.madmaps.com/roadtrips/tour-pack-adventure-america-smoky-mountains

Very Helpful.


Doc

[lightnin4]

What's the Foothills Parkway like?  I've passed by it several times the last few years and never taken it.

[kyzrex]

What's the Foothills Parkway like?  I've passed by it several times the last few years and never taken it.

I personally love that road.  Not technical like many roads down there, but plenty of high speed sweepers.  In the past very good pavement has been the norm, I assume it is still that way.  Plenty of scenic views and places to pull over into. I usually make it a point to ride it when I am close by.

[bogfro]

Any other route suggestions are appreciated though.  Always looking for new (to me) rides!

Let's see, near Fontana Village you've got........
28 all the way to Walhalla, SC
215/178 between Waynesville, NC and Rosman, SC
Wayah Rd. outside of Franklin, NC
Cherohala and 66 south of Tellico Plains
441 through the park, then over to Cades Cove
107 from Sylva all the way down to Walhalla, SC (Upper Whitewater falls is on this road)
276 south of Canton, NC, on down past Brevard over Caesar's Head into Pumpkintown, SC
etc.
etc.
etc.
I mean really, just pick a direction and go.  
Avoid Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, Sevierville, Maryville, Knoxville like the plague.

Foothills Pkwy is good, but pretty short.
Blue Ridge Parkway is awesome.  Restaurants at the Pisgah Inn and Mt. Mitchell.

[bogfro]

You could also do some stuff in N. Georgia.  Lots to do there, too.

[DXTL]

Pick up a copy of MadMaps; USRT170.      https://www.madmaps.com/roadtrips/tour-pack-adventure-america-smoky-mountains

Very Helpful.


Doc

+1 for MadMaps. Save your time on planning.

[sprint_st]

Let's see, near Fontana Village you've got........
28 all the way to Walhalla, SC
215/178 between Waynesville, NC and Rosman, SC
Wayah Rd. outside of Franklin, NC
Cherohala and 66 south of Tellico Plains
441 through the park, then over to Cades Cove
107 from Sylva all the way down to Walhalla, SC (Upper Whitewater falls is on this road)
276 south of Canton, NC, on down past Brevard over Caesar's Head into Pumpkintown, SC
etc.
etc.
etc.
I mean really, just pick a direction and go.  
Avoid Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, Sevierville, Maryville, Knoxville like the plague.

Foothills Pkwy is good, but pretty short.
Blue Ridge Parkway is awesome.  Restaurants at the Pisgah Inn and Mt. Mitchell.

  +1 there bogfro.  Never been to DT but heard lots of stories. Supposed to be OK, but on trips, it all boils down to time, speed and distance.  By that I mean you can only fit in so many roads in the time available and the ones you mention are just a few of the close ones.  Let me add, the roads in the Hot Springs to Shady Valley area are within range too.

+1 for MadMaps. Save your time on planning.

IMO, there is no substitute for a bit of route planning to make a trip enjoyable.  A couple messages to local riders is far superior to MadMaps because not all the good roads are on their maps.  I am NOT saying to set some locked in concrete route that you must absolutely follow on some timetable.  Just a suggestion: pick places you want to ride then set up routes between them so you can minimize the time spent getting to them.