The Other Deal's Gap

[wildbears]

There's a road of Dragon twistiness on the other end of the GSMMP (Great Smoky Mountains National Park), accessible from both the TN and NC sides.

This should be easily doable from a Maggie Valley base camp but more of a ride from the Dragon.

The road has much less traffic than the Dragon, less cops, and better scenery.

Adding to the fun is the section of the Foothills Parkway that creates a loop between I40 to the east and Cosby, TN, to the west.

The views from this ridge top runner show sharper, more pointed mountain peaks than elsewhere in the park.

Note that the NC section is hard-packed-cracked gravel but of relatively short distance.

If you like apples, there's a great eatery just north of Cosby on 321, Carver's Orchard & Applehouse Restaurant.

See map.

[justjoe]

Yes! The road is spectacular with a few issues. It is not traveled much at all so you may be the first on it to find debris in the roadway. The pavement is very nice and fresh until it stops abruptly at the NC/TN state line (also where the Appalachian Trail crosses the road), then it is hardpack for about a mile. Very doable on a street bike though.

[wildbears]

There are also homes along the route so you may have traffic entering from the sides but still a lot less traffic than the Gap.

[MattB]

Thank You! About a week too late or I would have taken a "pre-ride" in my wife's SUV last week while down there.

[wildbears]

Google Street pics from the Foothills and TN 32.

[jpel]

I'd lay money that that is one of the roads we took a couple of weeks ago during our trip to Maggie Valley. The unpaved section in NC is supposedly one mile long. There were more than a few low speed hairpin turns. Great scenery and then when you hit the state line the pavement starts and it becomes a bit less technical. Do it!

Jim