The Trans-Mountain Highway Is A Back Road You Didn’t Know Existed But Is Perfect For A Scenic Drive In Texas
As if Texas needed another scenic drive that showcases our state’s mountains like you’ve never seen them before, we have one to add to your bucket list. Traversing Franklin Mountains State Park in El Paso, the Trans-Mountain Highway is a lesser-known thoroughfare with some of the best windshield views in Texas. This scenic drive in Texas will take your breath away!
Also known as Loop 375, the Trans-Mountain Highway partially encircles the city of El Paso.
It's about 50 miles in length, but the particular section this article refers to is an 11-mile scenic route that passes through Franklin Mountains State Park.
Skirting the bases of towering mountains, the drive is gorgeous in every season.
Hairpin turns will have you white-knuckling the steering wheel at times, but the views - like the mile-high crest of Smuggler's Pass, shown here - are totally worth it.
Panoramic views of the wide-open desert landscape extend far as the eye can see into the distance.
When you're up high, you can almost see the horizon line as it stretches across the sky. On the flip side, the lower points really take you up close and personal with the unique flora and fauna of the region.
As we mentioned previously, the drive meanders through Franklin Mountains State Park, featuring several lookout spots that offer breathtaking vistas.
Katie Lawrence is a Southeast Texas native who graduated 18th in her high school class with a GPA of 4.25. She attended college in the Houston area and changed her major twice (psychology, computer science, and finally criminal justice) before taking a leap of faith and dropping out to pursue a career in freelance writing.
Today, Katie writes for the Texas and Arizona pages of OnlyInYourState.com and has never been more passionate about a job before. Outside of work, you can likely find her curled up on the sofa with a hot cup of coffee, watching a crime TV show or scary movie.
