Overall Route Rating
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4.61 out of 5 Rider Rating 4.61
94 Reviews

Motorcycle Route Author

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By Guest (0 McR Points) on Oct 31, 2006

Rider Reviews

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Guest
December 29, 2007
I've been to this road twice in two years…
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dhornick
August 16, 2012
This review shows only from Stecoah to Deals Gap…
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Written Directions

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Scenery

Heading north on the Hellbender 28, you find a completely different road experience with sweeping curves and drop offs, all lakeside in the Great Smoky Mountains. There are few drives in America that can equal the views as you travel this beautiful byway along Fontana Lake in North Carolina. The 22 mile stretch is surrounded by water and dense, forested mountains. The 22 mile stretch ends at Deals Gap and begins what is then called the famous "Dragon."

Drive Enjoyment

These two lane mountain side roads are in great shape. There is little commercial traffic which leaves plenty of wide open space for the cycling public.

Tourism Opportunities

At the halfway point on this roadway, you come to Fontana Village at Fontana Dam, NC. The motorcycle friendly resort looks directly into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and offers a lodge, cabins, camping and even houseboats for rent. They have a great selection of restaurants, retail outlets and amenities for the vacationing cycle enthusiast. Many cycle clubs use this resort to base their events out of because the Hellbender 28 intersects the famous Dragon at Deals Gap. In addition, the resort has a great roadside pitstop called "Hellbender 28 Pitstop" with food, gear and plenty of great tee shirts. And, the route is not far from the Great Smoky Mountain National Park and its great amenities.

Motorcycle Road Additional info

- View the weather forecast for this area from Yahoo weather .
 

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Guest
May 4, 2010
0 McR Points
Motorcycle Type : Sport - Touring
This road on this bike was like a slow dance with a soft woman that lets me lead. That was Aug. '09, I can't wait for this years dance. Ride with care and a smile everyone!
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rtcoker
January 26, 2020
197 McR Points
Motorcycle Type : Sport - Touring
After you stop and catch your breath at Deal's Gap, from riding the Dragon, take this run. A really fun one. Speed limit WAS 55 up until 2018. now its 40 and patrolled a little bit heavier. But fun none the less. lots of twisties, a couple hair pins and you drive right by the bottom of Fontana Dam. It's the biggest dam in the Eastern US. tallest and widest. You can also ride up to the top and if it isn't under construction (as it has been the last couple years) you can ride across the top to a great picnic area and overlook on the far side. Fontana Resort is a popular place to stay for motor cyclists as well as car enthusiasts who want to enjoy the surrounding area and roads. Plenty of bragging goes on in the evening over everyone's wheels and rides. Hellbender follows the shore line of Cheoah Lake. Cheoah Dam at the bottom of the lake and bottom of the Dragon is the dam from which the Stunt double for Harrison Ford actually jumped for the film "The Fugitive". And so locals call the dam Fugitive Dam. The road doesn't allow commercial traffic and is usually lightly traveled. no side roads or driveways, mean the only thing you have to watch for is curves, oncoming traffic and an occasional rock from the Smoky mountains right alongside the road.
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Sprintrider03
May 4, 2020
61 McR Points
Motorcycle Type : Sport - Touring
I usually start this ride by leaving Clayton, GA on WARWOMAN RD. Turn left (north) where you "T" into HWY 28. Great ride all the way to the Dragon. Highlands, NC is a good place to get coffee or lunch.
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