
Telephone Canyon Road
Usa, north-america
5.31 km
N/A
hard
Year-round
Alright, adventure seekers, let's talk Telephone Canyon Road! This little gem sits pretty in Nevada's Spring Mountains National Recreation Area (Clark County, to be exact).
Clocking in at just 3.3 miles, don't let the short distance fool you. This isn't your average Sunday drive. Expect a gravelly, rocky, and occasionally bumpy ride that'll keep you on your toes. A 4x4 is definitely your best friend here, especially considering the possibility of snow and ice in the winter. And keep an eye on the weather โ thunderstorms can turn this unpaved road into a 4-wheel-drive-only zone or even make it impassable! The latter half of the trail has seen better days, with flash floods leaving their mark, so watch out for some overgrowth that could scratch up your ride.
The road itself gets pretty narrow in spots. It's a fairly easy and short climb through the forest, connecting NV-157 (Kyle Canyon Road) and NV-158 (Deer Creek Road). And, yeah, it's pretty steep: you'll gain 1,486 feet (453 meters) in elevation, with an average gradient of 8.53%.
Road Details
- Country
- Usa
- Continent
- north-america
- Length
- 5.31 km
- Difficulty
- hard
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