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Most Winding Road in Country

Started by roadman65, November 15, 2022, 11:51:11 AM

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kirbykart

Quote from: hbelkins on November 15, 2022, 01:07:43 PM
Quote from: Rothman on November 15, 2022, 12:13:59 PM
Tail of the Dragon and others in Appalachia come to mind.  I am sure KY and WV have some contenders.

US 129 gets a lot of hype, to the point that any other curvy mountainous route that's marketed as a good road for bikers and sports car drivers to try out gets a dragon-themed name. "Back of the Dragon" on VA 16 between Tazewell and Marion, "Dragon Slayer" on VA/KY 160 between Appalachia and Cumberland/Benham/Lynch, and a few routes that a Backroads of Appalachia group is promoting.

There's a four-digit state route, the number of which escapes my memory, that crosses Pine Mountain and connects KY 221 and US 119. It's nothing but curves.

Is it KY 1679?


cockroachking

Quote from: kirbykart on November 17, 2022, 04:10:26 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on November 15, 2022, 01:07:43 PM
Quote from: Rothman on November 15, 2022, 12:13:59 PM
Tail of the Dragon and others in Appalachia come to mind.  I am sure KY and WV have some contenders.

US 129 gets a lot of hype, to the point that any other curvy mountainous route that's marketed as a good road for bikers and sports car drivers to try out gets a dragon-themed name. "Back of the Dragon" on VA 16 between Tazewell and Marion, "Dragon Slayer" on VA/KY 160 between Appalachia and Cumberland/Benham/Lynch, and a few routes that a Backroads of Appalachia group is promoting.

There's a four-digit state route, the number of which escapes my memory, that crosses Pine Mountain and connects KY 221 and US 119. It's nothing but curves.

Is it KY 1679?
KY-1679 looks like it runs on top of the ridge. KY-2010 connects KY-221 and US-119 over the mountain.

Flint1979

KY-1679 has over 350 turns. It's the windiest road in Kentucky so it has got to be what you are talking about.

Scott5114

Quote from: Terry Shea on November 17, 2022, 03:16:47 AM
Quote from: Flint1979 on November 15, 2022, 05:19:36 PM
I've heard a lot of people say that M-119 is the curviest road in Michigan but I'm honestly not sure. M-119 is the Tunnel of Trees route in the NW lower peninsula.
It's gotta be the entrance to Four Winds Casino (Four Winds Dr.) off from Wilson Rd.  This map doesn't really do it justice though.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Four+Winds+Casino+New+Buffalo/@41.7813391,-86.7199641,15z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x88111b70eec75cc1:0x240b0c9c7e2db05f!8m2!3d41.7813352!4d-86.7089134

I guess that's a great way to filter out people who have had a few too many at the bar before they can get out to the main road...
uncontrollable freak sardine salad chef

Terry Shea

Quote from: Scott5114 on November 17, 2022, 07:40:54 PM
Quote from: Terry Shea on November 17, 2022, 03:16:47 AM
Quote from: Flint1979 on November 15, 2022, 05:19:36 PM
I've heard a lot of people say that M-119 is the curviest road in Michigan but I'm honestly not sure. M-119 is the Tunnel of Trees route in the NW lower peninsula.
It's gotta be the entrance to Four Winds Casino (Four Winds Dr.) off from Wilson Rd.  This map doesn't really do it justice though.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Four+Winds+Casino+New+Buffalo/@41.7813391,-86.7199641,15z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x88111b70eec75cc1:0x240b0c9c7e2db05f!8m2!3d41.7813352!4d-86.7089134

I guess that's a great way to filter out people who have had a few too many at the bar before they can get out to the main road...
Or maybe the people who designed and/or built the road had waaaaaaaay too many! :)

hbelkins

Quote from: Flint1979 on November 17, 2022, 06:50:06 PM
KY-1679 has over 350 turns. It's the windiest road in Kentucky so it has got to be what you are talking about.

No, not really. KY 1679 is the Little Shepherd Trail. It runs approximately 40 miles along the top of Pine Mountain between US 421 and US 119. I drove across it with my dad many years ago. It's a very narrow road and when we drove it, portions were gravel. It took us four hours to drive the 40 miles.

KY 2010 is, indeed, the route I was thinking of that crosses Pine Mountain and links KY 221 and US 119.

KY 160 is pretty crooked. It enters Kentucky from Virginia at the top of Black Mountain, drops in to the Cumberland River valley, then crosses Pine Mountain, runs along several streams, has a concurrency with KY 15, then runs solo through Hindman and across KY 80 before another mountain crossing prior to its terminus.


Government would be tolerable if not for politicians and bureaucrats.

pderocco

For California roads, I'll second Max about CA-130 and Generals Hwy in Sequoia NP. But I've always found CA-190 heading up into the mountains from Springville to Cedar Slope to be just as stressful as Generals. Zoomed way out, it looks straighter, but zoomed in, you can see how insanely curvy it is. It's a real workout for your tires and your arms.

There's also San Diego's South Grade Road, part of CR-S6, which goes up to Palomar Mountain, although it's not very long. Further west is Nate Harrison Grade, which also goes up to the same ridge, but which is far less maintained.

And don't forget CA-39 going up to Crystal Lake Campground.

All worth driving, if you haven't...

Bruce

Washington's State Route 21 has a fun set of switchbacks and curves leading up to the Keller Ferry.

This multistate section of Oregon 3 and Washington 129 is also very very curvy.

1995hoo

A certain thread on the Fictional Highways board would seem to suggest a certain "special" poster thinks the Pennsylvania Turnpike takes the title.
"You know, you never have a guaranteed spot until you have a spot guaranteed."
—Olaf Kolzig, as quoted in the Washington Times on March 28, 2003,
commenting on the Capitals clinching a playoff spot.

"That sounded stupid, didn't it?"
—Kolzig, to the same reporter a few seconds later.

Max Rockatansky

Quote from: 1995hoo on November 23, 2022, 07:48:01 AM
A certain thread on the Fictional Highways board would seem to suggest a certain "special" poster thinks the Pennsylvania Turnpike takes the title.

Dude didn't even realize some DOTs maintain one lane State Highways.

hbelkins

I was wrong about KY 1679. The Little Shepherd Trail was turned over from state maintenance to Letcher County east of the final Letcher-Harlan crossing. The road hugs the county line for a decent distance. The Harlan County segment is still a state highway.


Government would be tolerable if not for politicians and bureaucrats.

Road Hog

According to country artist Eric Church, it's Roosevelt Road.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocIda7QHH2k

She shakes, she shimmies like Elvis singing "All Shook Up."

kphoger

Quote from: Road Hog on December 02, 2022, 08:25:31 PM
According to country artist Eric Church, it's Roosevelt Road.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocIda7QHH2k

She shakes, she shimmies like Elvis singing "All Shook Up."

Whoa, that threw me off.  I thought it said "Epic Church".  Which is less than 2½ miles from my house.  And would seemingly have nothing at all to say about which road is the most winding.
Keep right except to pass.  Yes.  You.
Visit scenic Orleans County, NY!
Male pronouns, please.

Quote from: Philip K. DickIf you can control the meaning of words, you can control the people who must use them.

Bitmapped

Quote from: Dirt Roads on November 16, 2022, 11:05:43 PM
US-60 between Gauley Bridge and Ansted, West Virginia has 85 curves over in a little over 9 miles. 

It was wild back before I-64 was completed between Beckley and Sam Black Church, as there were several sections of truck climbing lanes on the steep grade heading east out of Gauley Bridge, many of which flipped around the hairpins.  The turns were two tight for many tractor-trailers (in both directions), so you had to carefully negotiate passing by anticipating that the big rigs needed to enter the center lane to lurch around the curve.  Sometimes you would slow down to allow the big rig you were wanting to pass upgrade to negotiate the next curve; sometimes you had to back way off because you just encountered a downhill big rig cutting off the curve from the other lane.  There was a few times that I "threaded the needle" between the two just to scare my unsuspecting passengers.

Three other contenders for curvy routes in WV:
- WV 3 between Pickaway and Alderson in Monroe County
- WV 61 between Deep Water and Kincaid in Fayette County
- WV 16 between Welch and Coalwood

There are some other routes with curvy alignments (lots of WV 10 and WV 97 for example) but you can generally maintain at least maintain at least 40mph through most curves. On these routes, you have to slow down significantly for most or all of them.

For Virginia, in addition to the mentions of VA 16 and VA 160, I'd also mention:
- US 220 near Falling Springs, north of Covington
- mountain crossings on US 250 between Staunton and the WV line, which are especially not fun to drive at night

Roadgeekteen

Massachusetts doesn't have many winding roads. I can't think of any more windy than MA 2 west of Greenfield.
God-emperor of Alanland, king of all the goats and goat-like creatures

Current Interstate map I am making:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?hl=en&mid=1PEDVyNb1skhnkPkgXi8JMaaudM2zI-Y&ll=29.05778059819179%2C-82.48856825&z=5

webny99

Quote from: Roadgeekteen on December 05, 2022, 04:19:31 PM
Massachusetts doesn't have many winding roads.

Maybe there aren't many candidates for the most winding in the country, but pretty much every road in Massachusetts is winding compared to the Midwest/Great Plains.

Roadgeekteen

Quote from: webny99 on December 05, 2022, 04:30:06 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on December 05, 2022, 04:19:31 PM
Massachusetts doesn't have many winding roads.

Maybe there aren't many candidates for the most winding in the country, but pretty much every road in Massachusetts is winding compared to the Midwest/Great Plains.
I know, I'm more talking about compared to mountain ranges like the Rockies.
God-emperor of Alanland, king of all the goats and goat-like creatures

Current Interstate map I am making:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?hl=en&mid=1PEDVyNb1skhnkPkgXi8JMaaudM2zI-Y&ll=29.05778059819179%2C-82.48856825&z=5

Max Rockatansky

Quote from: Roadgeekteen on December 05, 2022, 04:35:38 PM
Quote from: webny99 on December 05, 2022, 04:30:06 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on December 05, 2022, 04:19:31 PM
Massachusetts doesn't have many winding roads.

Maybe there aren't many candidates for the most winding in the country, but pretty much every road in Massachusetts is winding compared to the Midwest/Great Plains.
I know, I'm more talking about compared to mountain ranges like the Rockies.

The Rockies aren't as winding as you might think them to be.  The range substantially eroded compared to what lies west of it.

Rothman

Quote from: Roadgeekteen on December 05, 2022, 04:19:31 PM
Massachusetts doesn't have many winding roads. I can't think of any more windy than MA 2 west of Greenfield.
O ye of little experience.

I would go with the roads up Mount Sugarloaf or Mount Greylock.
Please note: All comments here represent my own personal opinion and do not reflect the official position(s) of NYSDOT.

Roadgeekteen

Quote from: Rothman on December 05, 2022, 06:55:19 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on December 05, 2022, 04:19:31 PM
Massachusetts doesn't have many winding roads. I can't think of any more windy than MA 2 west of Greenfield.
O ye of little experience.

I would go with the roads up Mount Sugarloaf or Mount Greylock.
I've actually been to both  :ded:. Although I don't really recall the roads being super windy on either.
God-emperor of Alanland, king of all the goats and goat-like creatures

Current Interstate map I am making:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?hl=en&mid=1PEDVyNb1skhnkPkgXi8JMaaudM2zI-Y&ll=29.05778059819179%2C-82.48856825&z=5

Rothman

Quote from: Roadgeekteen on December 06, 2022, 12:07:07 AM
Quote from: Rothman on December 05, 2022, 06:55:19 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on December 05, 2022, 04:19:31 PM
Massachusetts doesn't have many winding roads. I can't think of any more windy than MA 2 west of Greenfield.
O ye of little experience.

I would go with the roads up Mount Sugarloaf or Mount Greylock.
I've actually been to both  :ded:. Although I don't really recall the roads being super windy on either.
They're both windier than MA 2, which has the single hairpin turn.

Come to think of it, Mount Holyoke also comes to mind.
Please note: All comments here represent my own personal opinion and do not reflect the official position(s) of NYSDOT.

TheHighwayMan3561

MN doesn't have much for this. TH 1 from Ely to TH 61 has some windy segments but some straight hilly ones too. The road up Palisade Head is pretty windy, but it's a short park road.
self-certified as the dumbest person on this board for 5 years running

Roadgeekteen

What is the most windy road in Illinois  :-D
God-emperor of Alanland, king of all the goats and goat-like creatures

Current Interstate map I am making:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?hl=en&mid=1PEDVyNb1skhnkPkgXi8JMaaudM2zI-Y&ll=29.05778059819179%2C-82.48856825&z=5

webny99

Quote from: Roadgeekteen on December 06, 2022, 09:51:43 PM
What is the most windy road in Illinois

Probably somewhere in the windy city.  :-P

Big John

Quote from: webny99 on December 06, 2022, 09:56:45 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on December 06, 2022, 09:51:43 PM
What is the most windy road in Illinois

Probably somewhere in the windy city.  :-P
Which got their nickname from the politicians, not the weather.



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