A winding narrow road through Cataloochee Valley in North Carolina
Usa, north-america
21.08 km
N/A
extreme
Year-round
Okay, buckle up for an adventure! We're heading to Cataloochee Valley in North Carolina, smack-dab in the rugged heart of the Great Smoky Mountains. This isn't your average Sunday drive – the early settlers carved this road by hand way back in the 1800s, calling it the Cataloochee Turnpike, and it's still the main way in!
Starting from Jonathan Creek Road, it's a 13.1-mile (21.08km) journey along State Road 1395 (Cove Creek Road), snaking onto the Old Cataloochee Turnpike and finally, the Cataloochee Entrance Road.
Now, let's be real, this road is a bit of a beast. It's a steep, narrow, and seriously curvy mountain drive. There are some pretty significant drop-offs with zero guardrails, so take it slow and easy! You might even have to pull over to let other cars pass on those tight sections. Keep an eye out for horse trailers, too! Those single-lane blind curves? Approach with extreme caution.
But here's the thing: the views are absolutely worth it. This isolated valley is stunning! The road is mostly paved, but there's a 3-mile unpaved section leading up and over Cove Creek Gap, just to keep things interesting.
One last tip: check the weather before you go. Things can get dicey up here, especially with snow. The road often closes when there's even a dusting on the surrounding peaks. So, plan accordingly and get ready for a memorable, if slightly hair-raising, ride!
Where is it?
A winding narrow road through Cataloochee Valley in North Carolina is located in Usa (north-america). Coordinates: 42.3269, -100.0154
Road Details
- Country
- Usa
- Continent
- north-america
- Length
- 21.08 km
- Difficulty
- extreme
- Coordinates
- 42.3269, -100.0154
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