How long does Hellbender 28 (Fontana Dam to US-129) take to ride?

About 22 miles. At an unhurried pace with stops that is roughly 1 hour of riding, longer if you are stopping for photographs.

Where does Hellbender 28 (Fontana Dam to US-129) start and end?

It runs between Stecoah / Lauada (US-19/74), NC and Deals Gap Junction (US-129), NC. Either end works as a start; the route reads the same in both directions.

Is Hellbender 28 (Fontana Dam to US-129) a twisty road?

We count about 140 corners across 22 miles, which is consistently bendy.

Is there a GPX file for Hellbender 28 (Fontana Dam to US-129)?

Yes. The GPX is free, there is no account, and the planner will build a route that includes this road alongside others nearby.

Motorcycle Ride Planner · Routes · United States

Hellbender 28 (Fontana Dam to US-129)

United States · NC-28

22Miles

140Corners

6.4Per mile

8.0/10Difficulty

The northernmost technical section of NC-28 leading directly into the Tail of the Dragon at Deals Gap. Skirting the turquoise shoreline of Fontana Lake and the towering concrete wall of Fontana Dam (highest dam east of the Rockies), Hellbender 28 features undulating third-gear sweepers, blind rock outcroppings, and rapid transitions with superb pavement grip. Often considered faster and more flowing than the Dragon, but requires sharp vigilance for fallen rock debris and boat trailers entering recreational access points.

Hellbender 28 (Fontana Dam to US-129) runs 22 miles between Stecoah / Lauada (US-19/74), NC and Deals Gap Junction (US-129), NC. We count about 140 corners along it, which is consistently bendy. Demanding, and not a road to meet in the wet.

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Tank-bag quick reference

StartStecoah / Lauada (US-19/74), NC35.3995, -83.5042
High1,600 ft - 2,800 ftelevation range
EndDeals Gap Junction (US-129), NC35.4725, -83.9189

T-CLOCS before you go: tyres and wheels, controls and cables, lights and electrics, oil and fluids, chassis and stand.

Repair within reach

19 miWheeler's PerformanceRobbinsville, United States
29 miWaynesville Cycle CenterWaynesville, United States
35 miSmoky Mountain Harley-DavidsonMaryville, United States
40 miDual Sport TouringFriendsville, United States
52 miEurosport AshevilleAsheville, United States

Straight-line distance from the start of the route, not driving distance.

Somewhere to stop

17 miLynn's Place & Historic Robbinsville SquareRobbinsville, NC
23 miHistoric Tapoco Lodge & River TavernRobbinsville, NC
24 miWheels Through Time Motorcycle MuseumMaggie Valley, NC
24 miDeals Gap Motorcycle Resort & The Tree of ShameRobbinsville, NC
25 miJoey's Pancake HouseMaggie Valley, NC

Questions riders ask

How long does Hellbender 28 (Fontana Dam to US-129) take to ride?: About 22 miles. At an unhurried pace with stops that is roughly 1 hour of riding, longer if you are stopping for photographs.
Where does Hellbender 28 (Fontana Dam to US-129) start and end?: It runs between Stecoah / Lauada (US-19/74), NC and Deals Gap Junction (US-129), NC. Either end works as a start; the route reads the same in both directions.
Is Hellbender 28 (Fontana Dam to US-129) a twisty road?: We count about 140 corners across 22 miles, which is consistently bendy.
Is there a GPX file for Hellbender 28 (Fontana Dam to US-129)?: Yes. The GPX is free, there is no account, and the planner will build a route that includes this road alongside others nearby.

Where these numbers come from

Distances and corner counts come from the route's own geometry, not from ratings or votes. Nothing here is crowdsourced and nobody paid to appear.