The Ultimate Road Trip on the Joe Brown Highway
Usa, north-america
65 km
626 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, road trip fans, buckle up for the Joe Brown Highway – also known as the Unicoi Turnpike – a true backroads adventure snaking through the wild heart of western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee!
This beauty stretches for about 40 miles (65 km) between Tellico Plains, TN, and Murphy, NC. Picture this: mostly paved roads (20 miles of twists and turns!), then BAM! You hit about 10 miles of well-maintained dirt. It's car-friendly, but maybe leave the buses and big rigs at home for this one – it gets narrow and winding with zero spots to turn around.
You'll climb to about 2,053 feet (626 meters) at Unicoi Gap. Give yourself at least 2 hours to soak it all in, but trust me, you'll want to stop for photos. Fair warning: cell service is pretty much non-existent for most of the drive. You're essentially following an old trading route used by the Cherokee, so you're cruising through history.
Where is it?
The Ultimate Road Trip on the Joe Brown Highway is located in Usa (north-america). Coordinates: 38.9214, -95.9916
Road Details
- Country
- Usa
- Continent
- north-america
- Length
- 65 km
- Max Elevation
- 626 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 38.9214, -95.9916
Related Roads in north-america
extremeWhere is the Polihale Ridge Road?
🇺🇸 Usa
Okay, buckle up, adventure seekers, because Polihale Ridge Road in Kauai, Hawaii is calling your name! Tucked away inside the Puu Ka Pele Forest Reserve, this 5.3-mile dirt track peels off from Kokee Road (Highway 550) and plunges you straight into paradise. Think raw, untamed beauty leading directly to the stunning Na Pali Coast beach – picture-perfect doesn't even begin to cover it! Now, this isn't your Sunday cruise. Polihale Ridge Road is a bumpy, narrow, and steep unpaved beast. A 4x4 isn't just recommended, it's practically mandatory! Once you arrive at the beach, remember you're in a remote location with strong currents, dangerous shore breaks, and sharp coral – so be super careful! There's no lifeguard here, so common sense is your best travel companion. Despite the hazards, the views are worth the effort, so come prepared and enjoy the ride!
easyWhere is Hager Mountain?
🇺🇸 Usa
Okay, picture this: you're in south-central Oregon, Lake County to be exact, cruising through the Fremont-Winema National Forest. Your destination? Hager Mountain, a volcanic peak soaring to 7,188 feet! This area is all about those wide-open spaces and killer views. The road up, NF-2902, starts from Silver Lake and it's a smooth 24.7 miles of pavement. Word is you will need 4x4 for the journey. Is it worth it? Absolutely! At the summit, you'll find a fire lookout, built back in '54. It's manned during fire season and super cool – you can even book it through recreation.gov in the winter! The views are insane: think 360-degree panoramas of snow-capped peaks, volcanic landscapes, and sagebrush stretching as far as the eye can see. On a clear day, you might even spot Mount Hood and Mount Shasta way off in the distance. Heads up, though: being so high up on the Cascade Range means the road is usually snowed in during winter. Weather can change on a dime up here! Also, be aware that the final stretch is for Forest Service staff only.
hardHow long is Morgan Territory Road?
🇺🇸 Usa
Okay, buckle up, thrill-seekers, because Morgan Territory Road in Contra Costa County, California, is calling your name! Nestled east of Mount Diablo in the San Francisco East Bay, this 14.7-mile ribbon of asphalt winds its way from Marsh Creek Road up to Manning Road. Don't let the "paved" description fool you – this baby is a wild ride! Picture this: tight, twisting turns, a road that narrows unexpectedly, and a climb that tops out at 2,129 feet. Be warned: the pavement on the north side of the summit has seen better days! Beyond the driving challenge, Morgan Territory Road has some serious local lore. Legend has it that the infamous bandit Joaquin Murrieta (the real-life Zorro!) stashed his loot somewhere in these hills back in the 1800s. And guess what? People still claim to see a ghostly figure searching for it near a certain oak tree. So, keep your eyes peeled for more than just potholes—you might just spot a ghost (or some hidden treasure!). This road, named for pioneer Jeremiah Morgan, offers stunning scenery and a dose of the supernatural!
extremeCameron Mountain Pass
🇺🇸 Usa
Okay, adventure seekers, listen up! If you're in Chaffee County, Colorado and craving a serious off-road thrill, you HAVE to check out Cameron Mountain Pass. We're talking a lung-busting 9,940 feet above sea level! County Road 175 is your ticket to the top, but fair warning: this ain't your grandma's Sunday drive. We're talking a 4WD-only gravel track that gets rocky and muddy in spots. And listen, Mother Nature calls the shots up here. Don't even THINK about it if the weather looks sketchy. Avalanches, heavy snow, and landslides are real possibilities, and those icy patches? No joke. But if you're prepared and the conditions are right, the views are absolutely epic. Get ready for some serious mountain scenery!