North Georgia & the Smokies motorcycle rides
The best motorcycle roads in North Georgia & the Smokies.
Blood Mountain on US-129, GA-60 to Suches and the Russell Scenic Highway anchor North Georgia, and the Tail of the Dragon is a short ride north.
- Roads in the app
- 4
- Miles mapped
- 89
- Best season
- April to November
- New-rider pick
- Russell Scenic Highway or the Foothills Parkway
The classics
The roads North Georgia & the Smokies riders name first.
Numbers match the map. Where one's already in Rippin', it links straight to it.
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Blood Mountain (US-129)
The climb over Blood Mountain between Dahlonega and Blairsville.
Watch for Hikers at Neels Gap and tight corners.
Not in the app yet. Ride it and add it.
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GA-60 to Suches
Tight, rhythmic curves through the Chattahoochee National Forest.
Watch for Gravel and blind corners.
Not in the app yet. Ride it and add it.
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Richard B. Russell Scenic Highway (GA-348)
Mountain overlooks between Helen and Blairsville.
Watch for Leaf-season traffic.
Not in the app yet. Ride it and add it.
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Wolf Pen Gap Road (GA-180)
Short, tight and twisty around Vogel State Park.
Watch for Narrow lanes and debris.
Not in the app yet. Ride it and add it.
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Tail of the Dragon (US-129, Deals Gap)
318 curves in 11 miles on the North Carolina / Tennessee line.
Watch for Heavy enforcement, photographers and traffic over the line.
In Rippin’ Loafer To The Dragon/Wyah Road · 27.8 mi → -
Foothills Parkway
Smoky Mountain views from a smooth parkway in Tennessee.
Watch for Sightseers and slow traffic.
In Rippin’ Foothills Parkway · 14.1 mi →
In Rippin' now
4 roads you can ride and rank today.
Every one was added by a rider and checked by a person on our team. Each opens on Rippin' Live with the route, distance and leaderboard. How roads get added.
Before you ride
What locals would tell you.
- Take the first pass easy. On the Dragon especially, and use the pull-offs.
- Expect enforcement. The famous roads are patrolled, and photographed.
- Shade means damp and gravel. Mountain corners stay wet long after rain.
- Go midweek in the fall. Foliage weekends bring heavy traffic.
Ride it with Rippin'
Record it, rank it, bring the crew.
- Record the ride. Tap Record and ride. Every mile pays points, and segments time themselves.
- Loop a road to claim turf. Ride a loop and the territory inside it is yours until someone takes it.
- Plan it with your squad. Meet spot, roll-out time and a ping to the riders most likely to say yes.
- Add the road we're missing. Draw the start and finish gates in Segments. A person checks it, and approved roads go live with your name on them.
FAQ
Questions riders ask.
What are the best motorcycle roads in North Georgia & the Smokies?
Blood Mountain on US-129, GA-60 to Suches and the Russell Scenic Highway anchor North Georgia, and the Tail of the Dragon is a short ride north. The classics on this page: Blood Mountain (US-129), GA-60 to Suches, Richard B. Russell Scenic Highway (GA-348), Wolf Pen Gap Road (GA-180), Tail of the Dragon (US-129, Deals Gap), Foothills Parkway.
What's a good North Georgia & the Smokies ride for a newer rider?
Russell Scenic Highway or the Foothills Parkway. Save the technical roads for when you're comfortable, and ride them early before traffic builds.
When is the best time to ride around North Georgia & the Smokies?
April to November. October foliage is peak, and busiest.
Does Rippin' have North Georgia & the Smokies roads in the app?
Yes. Riders have added 4 roads around North Georgia & the Smokies so far, each checked by a person on our team and each with a route, distance and leaderboard on Rippin' Live.
Can I add a road that's missing?
Yes. Open Segments in the app, tap Create a Segment, drop the start and finish gates, trace the line and send it in. A person on our team checks every road, and approved roads go live with your name on them.
Ride North Georgia & the Smokies with Rippin'.
Download the app, ride the roads above with it recording, and add the ones we're missing. Every mile earns points.