Written by:
SPEED Staff
SPEEDtv.com
Each year tens of thousands of motorcyclists embark on a cruise along our nation’s longest scenic drive, the Blue Ridge Parkway, through the highlands of Virginia and North Carolina. Purposely designed as a recreational motor road, this national park links Shenandoah National Park in the north with Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the south via the highest and most scenic 469 mile long ride east of the Mississippi. While it is truly one of the great motorcycling roads of the world, few realize the hidden riding treasures overlooked from those scenic viewpoints and beyond the blue horizons.
For many the ride culminates with a trip to Deals Gap on the southwest corner of Great Smoky Mountains National Park to test themselves on one of the most notorious and infamous rides, the 11 mile stretch of road known as “The Dragons Tail”. It’s a magnet for daredevils who seek the challenge of its 318 hairpin curves as it crosses the border from North Carolina into Tennessee.
While these two roads are well known, the mountains abound with literally thousands more miles of two lane back roads which go largely undiscovered by the typical visitor. Regardless of your destination there are hundreds of miles of fabulous riding just over the next hill. America Rides Maps leads you to them and helps you find the best of the best.
Designed with motorcyclists in mind, the maps highlight selected roads, scenic attractions, and steer you away from congested towns and roadways where you’re likely to find yourself mired in commercial or local traffic. Each highlighted road includes a description with distance and travel time as well as identifying remote gas stations and other features of particular interest to motorcyclists. Several include guides to the numerous roadside waterfalls.
America Rides Maps, based in the heart of the Smoky Mountains, produces the most detailed and comprehensive pocket maps of the best two lane mountain back roads for motorcyclists and car enthusiasts. The maps are sold at motels, businesses, restaurants, and can be found at most visitor centers and Chambers of Commerce throughout the mountain area or ordered directly via our online store at www.americaridesmaps.com.
