Using Smoky’s Motorcycle Trail Map To The Great Smoky Mountain Territory

All trails on Smoky’s Motorcycle Trail Map originate in Gatlinburg, Tennessee at Smoky’s Pub & Grub (“Hot Spot”  #1) located at traffic light #10 on the south end of the Parkway (Hwy. 441).  The light is at the southern city limit and a few hundred yards north of the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

The trails are classified as short (1-3 hours), Half-day (4-5 hours) and Full-day (6-8 hours) rides. All trails are complete loops and therefore can be entered at any point along the way then returned to. All trails can be reversed if desired.

Smoky has included numbered “Hot Spots” along trails to help riders locate watering holes, services that they might need and points of interest. “Hot Spots” can also help riders navigate the trails and can act as alternative starting and ending points along the loop trail.
Riders can check out special notices, road conditions, weather reports, events and advertisers’ menus, entertainment schedules, our advertisers’ websites, special offers, coupons and discounts, throughout this website.

Smoky recommends that upon choosing a trail, riders read thru the directions for that trail, taking notice of any special challenges the trail might present and planning on stops along the trail that might be desirable. Plan ahead, especially when figuring distances on different legs of the trail. Smoky has included as many markers as possible when turns are required and all trail legs have distances provided. Distances, which are based on tenths of a mile, should be accurate to within one-tenth of a mile.

Be safe, be friendly and have a great time out there!

Short Trails (2-4 hour rides)
Trail #1:  The Newport Trail

Trail Highlights:  Mountain streams, rivers, mountain coves and valleys, town of Newport, TN, river gorge.

Half-day Trails (4-6 hour rides)
Trail #2: The Dandridge/Douglas Lake Trail

Trail Highlights:  Mountain streams, river gorge, mountain coves, mountain lake, historic town of Dandridge, TN, Tennessee Valley Authority – Douglas Dam, bypass around Pigeon Forge, TN

Trail #3:The Waynesville/Cherokee Trail

Trail Highlights:  Mountain streams, river-cut canyon thru the Great Smoky Mountains, quaint mountain resort towns, Cherokee Indian Reservation. A final ride over the high range of The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a grand finale for this scenic and entertaining trail.

Trail #4:The Maggie Valley/Blue Ridge Parkway Trail

Trail Highlights:  Mountain streams, river-cut canyon thru the Great Smoky Mountains, a quaint mountain resort town with regional amusement park combine with spectacular views at roadside overlooks, picnic areas and quiet trails along the Blue Ridge Parkway for one of the most popular motorcycle trails for locals and visitors alike. A final ride over the high range of The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a grand finale for this incredible trail.

Full-day Trails (6-8 hour rides)

Trail #5:The Dragon/Hellbender Trail

Trail Highlights:  Great Smoky Mountains National Park, mountain streams, rivers and lakes in the valleys along with quaint mountain towns are the fare when riders are not enjoying some of the most challenging switch backs, steepest (up to 9%) grades along two-lane roads with little to no shoulders. Spectacular views at roadside overlooks, picnic areas and quiet trails are abundant along this trail. Just like some of the high-ridge hiking trails, Smoky classifies this run as “maximum difficulty”. If you’ve got titanium kneepads this is the trail for you. A final ride over the high range of The Great Smoky Mountains National Park helps riders wind down after a day to remember. 

Trail #6:The Cherohala Skyway Trail

Trail Highlights:  Mountain streams, rivers and lakes in the valleys along with quaint mountain towns are the fare when riders are not enjoying crossing the highest mountain ranges in the Eastern US with some of the most spectacular views in the entire country. This is the longest of Smoky’s trails but it is possibly the most rewarding.