California
ModerateMontaña de Oro Bluff Trail and Islay Creek Road — San Luis Obispo Coast Backcountry via Valencia Peak
Pacific cliffs, creek crossings, zero crowds.
Difficulty: Moderate
Level 2
Idaho
ModerateIdaho BDR Southern Segment — Murphy to Rogerson via the Snake River Canyon Rim and Owyhee Desert
Owyhee emptiness — 200 miles of nobody.
France
ModeratePassage du Gua — Col de la Bonette to Jausiers via the Highest Paved Mountain Road in the Alps
Highest paved road in the Alps. Earn the view.
New Zealand
ModerateMordor Road — Lake Ōhau to Ohau Skifield via the Mackenzie Basin High Terrace
Rohan is real. It's in the Mackenzie Basin.
USA
ModerateTrans-America Trail — Clifton Forge to Lewisburg via the Allegheny Highland Divide
Appalachian ridgelines, zero traffic, real dirt.
Tennessee
ModerateTrans-America Trail — Tellico Plains to Hector via the Cherokee National Forest and Unicoi Mountains
River crossings, ridge views, and no cell signal.
Colorado
ModerateColorado BDR Central Segment — Gunnison to Salida via Cochetopa Hills and Marshall Pass
Old railbed, aspen groves, and 10,800-foot silence.
Texas
ModerateTrans-America Trail — Hico to Meridian via the Texas Hill Country Divide
Empty Texas ranch roads nobody else knows about.
New Mexico
ModerateTrans-America Trail — Lordsburg to Silver City via the New Mexico Boot Heel Divide
Geronimo country. Cattle gates. Zero cell signal.
Argentina
ModerateRuta 40 Norte — Cafayate to Cachi via the Calchaquí Valley High Road
The real Ruta 40. Dirt, altitude, zero traffic.