David Link
Ride into the heart of The Great Smoky Mountains on Pigeon Forge motorcycle rides from REVER. Pigeon Forge is a small mountain town with a lot going on in the way of food and entertainment. The town is touted as a shopping, music and amusement park destination, and yes, there are even some tourist traps along the roadside as well. More importantly, it serves as the gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. You can hit some epic motorcycle rides near Pigeon Forge TN that show everything these ancient mountains have to offer. Download the REVER App for free and start riding right away.
Dive deep into the hills and forests of the Great Smoky Mountains on Pigeon Forge motorcycle rides, and stay on course while you tour with the REVER App. You can follow top routes all over the globe, record your own rides and share them with others, and even try challenges catered by the REVER team to keep things fresh. It only takes seconds to join and pull up your first ride. When you're ready for high-end GPS features on your phone or device, REVER Pro is waiting. Upgrade today for a few bucks a month and receive premium features like turn by turn and voice navigation, “twisty roads” scenic route mode, Butler Maps recommendations and so much more. Your rides will never be the same!
You can expect hot, humid summers while on motorcycle rides near Pigeon Forge TN. Prepare accordingly with a reliable hydration pack and breathable riding gear. The winters are a different story as temperatures and snowfall can be quite dynamic. You might experience one day with low temps and snow while the next is warm with temperatures near 60 degrees. One thing is for sure, you'll need quality four season riding gear when you're touring outside the summer months. Certain park roads through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park contain seasonal closures as well, so check openings before you go. The camping is unforgettable in the Smokies, and you won't regret packing your motorcycle camping gear for a night under the stars.
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the biggest draw in the Pigeon Forge area, and this mountain range is like none other in the US. The park contains over 800 square miles of high mountain ridges, old growth forests and a thriving black bear population. It gets its name from the regular fog that is generated from the dense vegetation in the mountains. Ride up to the top of Clingman's Dome, the highest point in the park at 6,643 ft., to see stunning views of the ridges below. Or step back into time in old Appalachia at Cades Cove where you can see preserved cabins and churches built by the original European settlers. We would be remiss if we didn't mention Tennessee's largest attraction is in Pigeon Forge, although it's not for everyone. Dollywood is Dolly Parton's theme park creation, and it draws millions of visitors each year with over 50 rides on park grounds. Tennessee is also known for its moonshine culture, and you can taste a full array of flavors at several distilleries in the area.
Climb high into the Smokies on twisting mountain roads on this three-hour point A to B ride from Pigeon Forget to Rosman, NC. What better way to see the diverse terrain of the Great Smoky Mountains than to climb up and over the mountain range on US Route 441! This route through the Smokies was once a Cherokee trail, and the road through the mountains still follows much of the path. The only change is the route now follows the pass over Newfound Gap that was constructed in the late 1800s. Before then, the route passed through the higher Indian Gap nearby. Newfound Gap and the surrounding high mountain region is open all year, but it can be closed temporarily in the event of a winter storm. Watch conditions if you're planning an off-season ride.
The route begins in Pigeon Forge on Route 321 / 441 towards Gatlinburg, TN. The breakfast diner options in the Pigeon Forge area seem near endless, and it's not a bad idea to have a big meal before you head out, as there aren't any services for the national park section of this ride. You'll climb out of the Pigeon Forge Valley up into the hills almost immediately. The highway straddles the Little Pigeon River as it twists and turns into Gatlinburg. While some ranges like the Rocky Mountains have large, exposed peaks, the Smokies consist of rolling hills and high wooded ridges. Needless to say, there are going to be more twists and turns ahead on these winding mountain roads. For now, you'll ride through another resort town in Gatlinburg. While it's closer to the national park entrance, Gatlinburg is nestled in a small valley, so it's not as large as Pigeon Forge. When you arrive in town, stay right on Route 441 through another section of hotels, restaurants and amusement parks. All the tourist attractions end abruptly as you ride past the Great Smoky Mountains National Park sign and into the green mountains above.
Old growth forests tower over the road as you ride towards the Sugarlands Visitor Center. There is a small trail to the nearby Cataract Falls if you're up for a hike. Past the welcome center, you'll being a steady climb into higher terrain along the Sugar Branch Creek. You can get a great look at the Sugarlands park area and the Chimneys ridge on the road ahead at the Carlos Campbell Overlook. Balsom Point a little farther after the overlook presents an opportunity to walk by rushing mountain streams in the area on a short trail. The Chimneys Picnic Area is up next, and you'll climb a couple switchbacks to begin the most exciting part of the ride. Stop at the Chimney Tops overlook to get a closer look at the unique rock formations above. The Chimney Tops are ancient rock slabs that have worn away over the years to resemble chimneys on top of a house. Quite fitting for a park known for its smoke-like fog.
Climb past the Chimney Tops on your right and get ready to ride a little oddity that has to be experienced on a motorcycle. “The Loop” is exactly what you think it is, a small loop where you pass under the road and then make a full loop up to higher terrain. This section feels more like a Hot Wheels track than a mountain road, and it's a memorable feature on this great ride. Keep snaking up the narrow canyon until you hit a hairpin turn followed by a dramatic climb up the side of the ridge. You'll ride through the small Morton Mountain Tunnel, and there are amazing views of the canyon below at Morton Overlook just after the tunnel. If you don't stop at the overlook, there are more scenic viewpoints at the top of Newfound Gap just ahead. At 5,048 ft., Newfound Gap is the easiest place to cross the mountains over into North Carolina. The famous Appalachian Trail follows the high ridge through Newfound Gap as well. Just after the gap, Clingmans Dome Road takes you to the highest point in the park, but since this is a long detour in itself, stay on Route 441 into North Carolina.
Route 441 curves around Luftee Overlook and snakes along the high ridge south of Newfound Gap. You'll see several trailheads along the ridge as you take in the last views from the top of the Smokies. The road then descends from a long switchback into a high canyon as you begin the descent down into lower terrain. There are more sights along the way like Cliff Branch Falls and Collins Creek Picnic Area. You'll start to see green valleys as you follow the Oconaluftee River into Cherokee, NC. This town is the recognized capital of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation. You can stop in town to see the Museum of the Cherokee Indian to learn more about their history. If you're hungry, stop at Native Brews Tap & Grill for some eats next to the river. Otherwise, you'll ride away from the area with a left off the 441 onto the famous Blue Ridge Parkway. The parkway is renown as one of the best motorcycle roads in America. It offers numerous scenic overlooks and chances to stretch your legs along the way. It's also an old road that twists through the hills and surprises riders with unexpected curves. Stay aware as you ride!
You'll climb away from Cherokee on the Blue Ridge Parkway as the road follows a high ridge through the hills. Choose wisely as you contemplate which scenic viewpoints to pull off at, because hitting them all would take an eternity. You'll descend back down for a stretch to cross Route 19, and stay on the parkway to climb back up into another remote stretch of hills. Don't worry, there are more overlooks in this section as well! At Balsam, you'll cross Route 23-74 for one last epic section of the parkway for this ride. This is perhaps the best part of the Blue Ridge Parkway as it traverses a high stretch of remote mountains. When you reach the junction with Highway 215, turn right to leave the Blue Ridge Parkway and ride south towards Balsam Grove, TN. Stay on 215 through town until you reach the outskirts of Rosman, NC at Route 64. This ends the route, but you can stop at the Forks of the River Taproom to have a beer, take a load off and watch fly fisherman on the North Fork French Broad River.
<a href="https://rever.app.link/AepsJD8LtH" class="btn article-preview__btn w-button">View In App</a>
For the next entry in Pigeon Forge motorcycle rides, you’ll step back in time into old Appalachia and cruise some of the best roads in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This two-hour out and back loop lets you tour the most popular section of the park that culminates in a loop around Cades Cove, a preserved valley that still feels isolated from the world. Cades Cove contains 12 preserved historical sites that include old cabins, churches and mills. The cove is also the best place to see wildlife in the park including deer, turkeys, and even black bear sightings. Note, the 11-mile loop through Cades Cove is closed on Wednesdays to accommodate cycling and foot traffic. You can still ride the majority of the route even on these days, just not the cove loop at the end.
Cades Cove has seen its fair share of history over the years. Before European settlers built their homes in the valley, the Cherokee Tribe used it as seasonal hunting grounds. In the Civil War, the religious settlers living in Cades Cove were staunchly abolitionist, and the valley was even an Underground Railroad stop for a time. Of course, this meant residents in the valley were subject to Confederate raids throughout the war. During Prohibition, moonshiners cooked up corn liquor in the hills surrounding Cades Cove. As you can expect, the reserved residents fought the inclusion of Cades Cove to the national park in the early 1900s, but they eventually lost in court, and the land was granted to the NPS. Now that we're done with the history lesson, let's get to riding!
Ride south out of Pigeon Forge to Gatlinburg, TN and then the Great Smoky Mountains National Park entrance. Soon after, you'll reach the Sugarlands Visitor Center, and hang a right on Fighting Creek Gap Road to continue the route. You'll trace the foothills of the mountains and then take a fun little jaunt up to higher ground at Fighting Creek Gap. Ride the little gorge and then snake down along the Little River. Mannis Branch Falls is along the road here, and there are pull offs before and after the falls if you want to take a look. Follow some long curves around the “Long Arm,” and then enter Metcalf Bottoms. Stay straight on Little River Gorge Road through the bottoms, and then get ready for some serious twisty roads along more of the gorge. There is a roaring waterfall called The Sinks along the way, and you'll want to pull off at the parking lot to see this wonder. Meigs Falls is just up the road, and there is ample parking around it as well. Take the tight turn around Cane Creek Twin Falls and enjoy the rest of this exciting ride through the Little River Gorge.
When you reach The Townsend Wye, stay straight as the road becomes Laurel Creek Road. Ahead is another fun section with tight turns to Finley Cove. From here, it is just a short ride to the Cades Cove scenic loop. Stay straight on Cades Cove Loop Road as the terrain flattens out into the hidden valley. There are several historic cabins to explore on short hikes like the John Oliver Cabin, which housed the first European settlers in the valley. Next, there are three historic churches along the road as you reach the far side of the cove. The loop curves south, and there is a trail up to the Elijah Oliver Cabin, son of John Oliver. The Cades Cove Visitor Center lies at the junction with Forge Creek Road, and you can stop to stretch your legs and see the old grist mill that once helped feed the valley. The Becky Cable House nearby was once used as a general store.
Continue on the Cades Cove Loop through a stretch of forest to the Dan Lawson Place, Cades Cove's wealthiest resident. The Tipton Place is up next and was the home of Revolutionary War veteran “Fighting Billy” Tipton. There is one last cabin on the road, a small rustic place called the Carter Shields Cabin. The loop meets back up with the entrance to Cades Cove from here, and there is a small store, camping and a picnic area if you want to stay a while. Otherwise gear up for the exciting ride back into Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge.
<a href="https://rever.app.link/bmIqZA8LtH" class="btn article-preview__btn w-button">View In App</a>
"You don't stop riding when you get old, you get old when you stop riding."
― Anonymous
50% Labor Day "Flash Sale"