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
hardElk Camp Summit
🇺🇸 Usa
Alright, thrill-seekers, let’s talk about Elk Camp Summit in Pitkin County, Colorado! We're talking serious altitude here – 11,348 feet! This isn't your average Sunday drive. Elk Camp Road is a rocky, gravel path, and it's actually a service road for a chairlift. Translation: steep! Think loose stones, and as you climb, it gets even steeper and rockier. Timing is everything – you’ve got a tiny window in late summer (think late August) to tackle this beast. Be prepared for wind – it's almost always howling up there. Seriously, even in summer, you could get a surprise snow day. Winter? Forget about it, it’s brutally cold. Oh, and did I mention the 30% inclines on some parts? This ski-station service road is definitely a challenge, but the views at the top? Totally worth it!
hardTelephone Canyon Road
🇺🇸 Usa
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 – 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%.
moderateWhere is Sand Creek Pass?
🇺🇸 Usa
Okay, so you're looking for a fun little adventure in Colorado? Check out Sand Creek Pass! It's nestled in Larimer County, practically hugging the Wyoming border in the Roosevelt National Forest. Heads up: you'll be off-roading on Sand Creek Road (County Road 80C), a completely unpaved path. This baby's about 8.7 miles long. Most of the trail is pretty chill. But, there's a creek crossing that can get pretty deep - like, a foot deep! - so be aware. After you splash through the creek, things get a little spicier. Expect a narrow, rough, and sometimes steep climb. But the views? Totally worth it as you start a beautiful descent! High-clearance vehicles are your best bet, but even newbies to off-roading can handle it. Fall is prime time here, super popular with campers gearing up for their adventures. When I drove it, wildflowers were popping all over the north side. Just a heads up, this road is closed from December 1st to June 14th. So plan accordingly and happy trails!
hardTreasure Hill
🇺🇸 Usa
Treasure Hill is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.805m (9,202ft) above the sea level, located in White Pine County, along the central eastern boundary of the U.S. state of Nevada. The peak is located within the White Pine Range range. The road to the top is very rough, tippy and bumpy at times. The road is usually impassable in winters. Great trail for experienced wheelers. The trail is narrow with few places for passing so meeting someone can be a challenge. In order to drive this road up, you need a high clearance vehicle! The trail is very steep. Wet conditions may make for tough driving along the muddy road. Navigating the Scenic Byways of Pennsylvania Embark on a journey like never before! Navigate through our to discover the most spectacular roads of the world Drive Us to Your Road! With over 13,000 roads cataloged, we're always on the lookout for unique routes. Know of a road that deserves to be featured? Click to share your suggestion, and we may add it to dangerousroads.org.