By: kartoone

kartoone — Wed, 05 May 2010 21:09:19 +0000

Hey Neil, I’m not real familiar with the area as we only go up there once a year — but I wasn’t aware that any part of the ride was closed to cars. I have only ever ridden on Saturday. The traffic on the main highway is pretty heavy on Saturday, but if you go super early (~6AM) then you can do the climb without much trouble and then because of your speed on the descent there aren’t too many cars that pass you. Also, the last few miles after you turn off the main highway are usually closed from sometime in mid to late November until early spring because of snow. The gradient is amazingly consistent throughout the climb at right about 5% or just under. There are only a few places where it flattens a bit, and then there are only a few steeper pitches but still below 10%. The thing about this climb is just that it is super long – over 20 miles!

By: Neil

Neil — Wed, 05 May 2010 18:02:29 +0000

I’m heading here later this year, what was the gradient like? I heard part of this route is closed to cars on certain days, how was the traffic elsewhere? Thank you for your time.

Comments on: Gatlinburg to Clingman’s Dome

By: kartoone

By: Neil