When was Cataloochee Valley Road built?
Usa, north-america
21.08 km
N/A
extreme
Year-round
Craving a Smoky Mountain adventure? Head to North Carolina's Cataloochee Valley, hidden deep within the most rugged parts of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The main access road, originally carved out by hand by early settlers in the 1800s and called Cataloochee Turnpike, is your ticket in!
Starting from Jonathan Creek Road, this 13.1-mile (21.08km) journey – a mix of State Road 1395 (Cove Creek Road), Old Cataloochee Turnpike, and Cataloochee Entrance Road – is not for the faint of heart! Get ready for a steep, narrow, and winding mountain drive with some serious drop-offs and no guardrails.
Take it slow – you'll need to be extra cautious, especially on the narrow sections where you might have to pull over or even back up to let other cars pass. Watch out for horse trailers, too! The route is mostly paved, but be prepared for a roughly 3-mile unpaved section as you climb over Cove Creek Gap.
But the views? Totally worth it. Just a heads-up: this road gets tricky in bad weather and often closes when there's snow around Jonathan Valley. Check the forecast before you go! Despite the challenges, the scenery is unbeatable as you make your way to this secluded valley.
Road Details
- Country
- Usa
- Continent
- north-america
- Length
- 21.08 km
- Difficulty
- extreme
Related Roads in north-america
moderateIs the road to Slumgullion Pass paved?
🇺🇸 Usa
Dude, Slumgullion Pass in Colorado is a MUST for your next road trip! We're talking Hinsdale County, smack-dab in the San Juan Mountains, and the views? Epic! This baby's a fully paved rollercoaster, part of the Silver Thread Scenic Byway (aka Highway 149), stretching for 50 miles from Lake City to Creede. Don't let the "fully paved" part fool you – the north side is seriously steep, boasting the gnarliest grade of any paved road in Colorado (nearly 10%)! The climb from Lake City is a leg-burner: 783 meters up over just 7 miles, averaging a 6.9% grade, and it kicks off with almost 10% right away! Keep your eyes peeled for elk, deer, moose, and even bighorn sheep chilling by the roadside. Sitting pretty at 11,574 feet, Slumgullion Pass is one of Colorado's highest paved passes. It's generally an easy drive, but those steep sections and a few tight turns will keep you on your toes. The road's maintained year-round, even in winter, though you'll definitely want to check conditions before heading out if there's been recent snow. Make sure to pull over at Windy Point Overlook, just a couple miles west of the pass. The panoramic views of those 13,000+ foot peaks are totally worth it!
extremeTake An Unforgettable Drive to Sierra Negra volcano in Mexico
🇲🇽 Mexico
Okay, thrill-seekers, picture this: Sierra Negra, a totally rad extinct volcano towering in Puebla, Mexico, scraping the sky at 4,576m (15,013ft)! We're talking serious altitude here, making it one of Mexico's highest roads. Nestled near the Veracruz border within Pico de Orizaba National Park, this beast, also known as Cerro La Negra, is home to the Large Millimeter Telescope. Now, the road up? Forget smooth sailing! This 18.5 km (11.49 miles) climb from Atzitzintla to the top is a wild, unpaved rollercoaster demanding a 4x4. Get ready for hairpin turns galore – seriously, this road is *twisty* – and some seriously steep sections hitting a max gradient of 17%! We're talking an elevation gain of 1,849 meters, averaging almost 10%. Heads up, though: thin air is real! Altitude sickness is a major buzzkill, and the weather can be brutal. Also, this adventure isn't open to everyone. The road to the summit is closed to private vehicles; special permission is required for access. It's an epic journey, but be prepared.
hardA very bumpy, grueling road to McBride Peak
🇨🇦 Canada
Okay, buckle up, adventure junkies! We're heading to McBride Peak in beautiful British Columbia, Canada! This beast of a mountain boasts an elevation of 2,049m (6,722ft), making it one of the highest drives in the country. Prepare for what some call Canada's Top Climb—a real leg-burner with an average gradient of 10.81%! Forget smooth sailing, this is a proper off-road adventure. Rainbow Falls Road (aka Teare Mountain Road) is totally unpaved, seriously steep, crazy narrow, and bumpy as anything, with hairpin turns that’ll test your skills. You'll need a four-wheel-drive with decent clearance to even think about tackling this one. Leave the RV and trailer at home, trust me. The stats? From the Yellowhead Highway, it’s a 12.2 km (7.58 miles) climb, with a massive 1,320 meters of elevation gain. That average 10.81% gradient? Yeah, it spikes to a wild 22-26% in places! You'll likely only be able to do the full drive in summer, weather permitting. Halfway up, there’s a viewpoint that’s worth stopping at. It gives amazing views of the Robson Valley, Fraser River, the McBride area, and the stunning Cariboo Mountains. Nearing the top you can find the remains of the "Top Lookout" that was built way back in 1930. An unforgettable climb!
hardWhere is Crescent Lake?
🇺🇸 Usa
Okay, so picture this: Crescent Lake! It's a stunning alpine lake way up in Garfield County, Colorado, chilling at a cool 10,784 feet. You'll find it tucked south of, well, you know, somewhere in northwest Colorado, nestled on the southeast side of the Flat Tops Wilderness. Now, getting there is half the fun – and I mean *fun* with an asterisk. Forest Road 613 is the name of the game, and it's unpaved, with some seriously rocky bits thrown in to keep you on your toes. Think a wild mix of trail riding, rock crawling, maybe a little mud wrestling, plus creek crossings! Basically, it’s moderately challenging and you should drive only as far as you feel comfortable. Translation? You're gonna need a high-clearance 4x4 with low-range capabilities. Trust me on this one. The adventure kicks off from County Road 39 (aka the Derby Mesa Loop), and it's about 11 miles to the lake. Keep in mind, being up in the Colorado Flattops, this road can stay snowed in until late June or even July! So, plan your trip accordingly for some prime summer vibes.