Smokey Mountain 500

sm500v9.2 (8/16/2023) is the new version of this route - available below or at the Smokey Mountains 500 Facebook page. If you have an older GPS, you may need to filter the trackpoints before they will load in your device.

The SM1000 route has it's own thread on ADVrider and a new version of the gpx file (SM1000v5). SM1000 thread: http://advrider.com/index.php?threads/smokey-mountains-1000.1233049/

3 days in the Smokeys - backroads and dirt roads - motorcycle camping

Ironhorse Lodge CG - to Cherohala Mountain Trails CG - Two Wheels of Suches CG - Ironhorse Lodge CG (or start where you want)

Each leg ~160 miles - route is ~50% dirt

Gas available intervals:


Please send me your feedback, pictures, and/or ride reports.



Version 9.2 to show route around road closures related to bridge construction.


mid-route to gas (88 miles vs 129 miles)


Yellow section includes Witt Rd. Two of the 4 creek crossings can be challenging. Hundreds of people have made it through. You should try it.


Red section - includes High Tower Rd, Charly's Creek Rd, Talualah River crossing. This si the best section on the SM500. There is a hill, some 2-tracker roads, some lowlands, and the river. This section is much easier since the road was repaired in 2015.


Green section - the north end of Old Bucktown Rd is the rockiest part of the ride. It is only hard if you add speed. It is mostly just bumpy.











Smokey Mountains 500 maps!! These are screen captures of the map starting at the Ironhorse (yel 1) and going counter clockwise (yellow - green - red). You can save them to your computer and print them, save them to you phone or tablet and view them as you travel, or order them from Smugmug as photographs.

https://www.smugmug.com/gallery/n-pkWbKd

Note: Riders are having trouble downloading with internet Explorer 11. The file downloadeds as attachment.php. You can rename the file changing .php to .gpx, and the file will open with mapping software or Google Earth. I used Google Chrome to download and do not have to rename the file. Mozilla Firefox works too.

Is this big bike friendly? Are the color of the tracks different days or hardness rating?

big bike friendly = 800s and 1200s = yes with exceptions.

I put in some alternate tracks (the dark lines). The 3 alternate tracks in GA bypass bumpier sections - you could ride them with big bikes if you have good skills. The other 3 alternate tracks eliminate some miles.

Color of tracks = 1 days ride.

I rode most of this last route last month with a group. We took 4 days to do the ride, not necessarily camping along the way. Here is the ride report.

http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=919538

This looks like a great ride. How difficult? Do you need to be really experienced or could a newer rider (on KLR) do this?

The KLR will not be the problem.

There are 3 sections in GA that are a little bumpier and/or steeper that the rest of the route. The map shows "ride arounds" for those sections.

Going counter clockwise, the first dirt section out of Ellijay, GA is Old Bucktown Rd. I don't think that this road has seen a grader in 10 years. It is bumpy but not hard to ride. You just have to go slow.

The first dirt section past Suches, GA included Duncan Ridge Rd. It is bumpy but not hard to ride. The "ride around" for this section is mostly about saving some time.

The dirt section off of US 76 in northeast GA that includes Hightower Rd, Charlies Creek Rd, Sandy Bottom Rd., and the Tallulah River water crossing, This section is steep in some spots, rocky and rutted in others. The river crossing is easy, but might look intimidating for a new dirt rider. This section will be the most challenging.

The rest of the route is suitable for big bikes or new riders. Don't ride alone, especially if you are new.

Looks interesting, I may do a section or two next week. Thanks for sharing.

Let me know how it goes.

Wow, this route looks really cool. I may try this on my F800GS this next spring after i ride the Arizona Backcountry Discovery Route.. Thanks for sharing :)

Looks like a nice long weekend trip too me.
I'll have to see if. Can get the band back together and do this this spring.

Looks like a Frozen Dead Guys mini-adventure!

Like the fact it is nearby plus there was some other routes I think I have that we could turn this into a longer ride if we wanted too. But then again 160 miles for each leg maybe stretching it depending on the size of the group.

Wonder whats up with the gpx? shows a red x and wont let me download it.

It works for me. It may be a setting in your browser that is blocking download. PM me your email and I will send you the file.

OK.. there's a trip for this being organized for April 25-27.
Start in Suches, GA, and end in Suches 3 days later.
There's a signup on the NGDSR facebook page https://www.facebook.com/events/698433756863904
or PM me for more info.

Woo-woo! Take lots of pictures!

Had a similar problem when I tried to use Explorer. Switched to Google Chrome and it worked with no issues. Probably a setting I could adjust ... But I'm lazy!

For those that have ridden this route, whats the ratio of dirt to pavement?

Best guess = 50% dirt & gravel

Last pic looks like Indian Grave Gap.
can someone tell me how to open the attachment?

Do you really mean download the attachment? If so, and you can't get the attachment from Advrider, PM me with email address and I will send you the file.

If you really mean you want to see the file on a map, you can use Google Earth.

Pretty good looking ride there friend. Looks like you got into the cohutta a little bit.