First time to Tail of the Dragon

[Nexoidian]

Went from Detroit area to Florida to visit my dad for the weekend. Decided to go a little out of the way and check out the Tail of the Dragon!

It was awesome and worth the added time for sure. I was very pleased with how my 2018 WRX handled it. This was the first time I’ve got to put the car to the test, and it did fantastic!

I had a GoPro mounted for both runs. The north video the camera was mounted to the roof and the wind noise was intense.

I wish I lived closer and could do that route more often. It was a blast!



Tail of the Dragon - North

Tail of the Dragon - South

 

[TiGeo]

Been there...super fun!

 

[Cruisin'n5thgear]

I've been there many years ago. Quite an experience!

 

[TiGeo]

Just remember...keep it on the right side of the mustard...don't want to end up on Killboy's weekly hall of shame!

 

[ctechbob]

We're somewhat 'local' to it as it is only about a 90 min drive for us to get there. We used to take almost monthly drives up there, but once it exploded in popularity we rarely go any more.

The next time you're in the area, do the complete loop that includes the Cherohola Skyway, that is another great chunk of road and MUCH less traveled.

Cherohala Skyway - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[c502cid]

I did it in the company F350. When you sell sway bars you have to show they work! Lifted F350 and mud tires were perhaps not the best combination but it was a blast!

 

[jeepman3071]

I took my BMW on the dragon in June 2019. Definitely a good time and need to go back soon. I took a road trip to the Smoky Mountains, and that whole area has some great driving roads.

 

[Pew]

It was alright but IMO not worth going back for. It's a normal road so you have a mix of normal drivers, people who think they're Senna, crotchrocket riders, and harley riders all on the same two lane road. Not fun when the person in front of you drops down to 5mph for every turn. Turns are too slow of a speed overall anyways, blind corners, and people crossing the mustard on a regular basis is like driving around my neighborhood. I'd rather use the money on a Dragon trip towards a track/HPDE event.

 

[bbhero]

I drove. Rte 16 from Tazewell to Marion back in 2000… Crossing 3 mountains in that stretch and it was a amazing drive. I saw that road on my topographic map back in 1994 and thought it would be a tremendous drive.

I was right…

There is another drive on up to Burkes Garden on a gravel road I think it county road 623 that was well maintained that was even tougher and tougher curves than Rte 16… The road becomes pavement once you get into Burkes Garden. A beautiful very high mountain valley at 3,400 to 3,600 feet base elevation surrounded by mountains on all sides that is called “the thumb print of the Appalachian mountains”. That gravel road coming from the south side into Burkes Garden has turns so tight that when I looked out of the drivers side window all I saw was the road bed.

 

[TiGeo]

It was alright but IMO not worth going back for. It's a normal road so you have a mix of normal drivers, people who think they're Senna, crotchrocket riders, and harley riders all on the same two lane road. Not fun when the person in front of you drops down to 5mph for every turn. Turns are too slow of a speed overall anyways, blind corners, and people crossing the mustard on a regular basis is like driving around my neighborhood. I'd rather use the money on a Dragon trip towards a track/HPDE event.

Lots of truth here. I had a blast and went back and forth 4x I think that morning we did it. Everyone just got out of the way. We did on our way through so not a dedicated trip.

 

[TiGeo]

I drove. Rte 16 from Tazewell to Marion back in 2000… Crossing 3 mountains in that stretch and it was a amazing drive. I saw that road on my topographic map back in 1994 and thought it would be a tremendous drive.

I was right…

There is another drive on up to Burkes Garden on a gravel road I think it county road 623 that was well maintained that was even tougher and tougher curves than Rte 16… The road becomes pavement once you get into Burkes Garden. A beautiful very high mountain valley at 3,400 to 3,600 feet base elevation surrounded by mountains on all sides that is called “the thumb print of the Appalachian mountains”. That gravel road coming from the south side into Burkes Garden has turns so tight that when I looked out of the drivers side window all I saw was the road bed.

Rt. 16 Back of The Dragon! It's a great one and I've done it several times living here in VA....will be doing it here again shortly. Nice and long and there is a place in Tazewell now (Back of The Dragon Inn or something like that) that has food/beers etc. that is a nice stop. Not nearly as crowded as ToTD.



Just a couple of station wagons.....

 

[alarmguy]

Im up that way for a week every year for the last decade on our motorcycle, even was there at the height of Covid. After a while "been there, done that" so every trip doesnt include the tail anymore, but it's a fun experience. On a bike, the entire area is a lot of fun and beautiful roads,

 

[PF52]

Went from Detroit area to Florida to visit my dad for the weekend. Decided to go a little out of the way and check out the Tail of the Dragon!


Tail of the Dragon - North

Tail of the Dragon - South

is there a person or a company there that provided the watermarked photos?

I should probably make a swing by there next time I am headed south. Either my Fiero or my WRX would be ideal.

 

[TiGeo]

is there a person or a company there that provided the watermarked photos?

I should probably make a swing by there next time I am headed south. Either my Fiero or my WRX would be ideal.

Killboy and Dragon Slayer are the two I know of.

 

[IndyIan]

Been there...super fun!



View attachment 148685

On my phone, in the video, your buddies car looks kind of like a Toyota Sienna with a large ski box on top! I was very impressed how well it was handling!
I did Deals Gap back in the early 2000's when the speed limit was 55 with our Escort GT and then a few years later with our Sentra. It wasn't busy then except for the locals and we did see one tractor trailer.
If you like that type of road, the coasts and hillier areas of the north island of New Zealand are full of them... All 60mph speed limit and the rare local in their ute will not be holding you up, they don't doddle on those roads... Some sections were even windier, we were in smaller camper van, but the one road I remember I was hustling it pretty good, smelling brakes, and I was struggling to get an average speed above 25 mph....

 

[TiGeo]

On my phone, in the video, your buddies car looks kind of like a Toyota Sienna with a large ski box on top! I was very impressed how well it was handling!
I did Deals Gap back in the early 2000's when the speed limit was 55 with our Escort GT and then a few years later with our Sentra. It wasn't busy then except for the locals and we did see one tractor trailer.
If you like that type of road, the coasts and hillier areas of the north island of New Zealand are full of them... All 60mph speed limit and the rare local in their ute will not be holding you up, they don't doddle on those roads... Some sections were even windier, we were in smaller camper van, but the one road I remember I was hustling it pretty good, smelling brakes, and I was struggling to get an average speed above 25 mph....

Yeah, wagons look like minivans sometimes hahahaha. I had a guy at the track in a Vette tell me that's what he thought passed him ahahahah. These cars (the MK7 Golf awd wagons) handle superbly with some minor mods.