Colorado
ModerateGlade Park Road to Rattlesnake Canyon — Colorado National Monument Backcountry
More arches than Arches. Zero crowds.
Difficulty: Moderate
Level 2
California
ModerateLytle Creek Road to Lone Pine Canyon — San Gabriel Mountains Desert Approach
Wild canyon in the shadow of the Inland Empire.
Colorado
ModerateSlumgullion Pass to Spring Creek Pass — San Juan Skyway High Country Connector
Two passes, one living landslide, zero crowds.
Oklahoma
ModerateLonesome Pine Road — Ouachita High Country Ridge to Athens via Brushy Creek
Red clay ridge run through the forgotten Ouachitas.
Arizona
ModerateSchnebly Hill Road — Sedona’s Red Rock Rim to Interstate 17 via Munds Mountain
Sedona's red rock back door to the Rim.
Colorado
ModerateMineral Belt Trail — Leadville’s Historic Mining Loop via Iowa Gulch
Silver boom ruins at 10,200 feet.
Oregon
ModerateBroken Top to Green Lakes — Cascade Volcanic High Country Road via Todd Lake
Pumice, volcanoes, and Oregon sky.
Colorado
ModerateBowen Gulch to Grand Ditch Road — Never Summer Mountains Wilderness Edge Traverse
Hand-dug canal road above 10,000 feet. Moose country.
California
ModerateLonesome Dove Road to Lost Horse Mine — Joshua Tree Desert Backcountry Loop
Gold mining desert — no crowds, no mercy.
Idaho
ModeratePaved Coffer to Hells Half Acre — Caribou-Targhee Volcanic Plateau Road
Apollo astronauts trained here. You can drive it.