Kentucky
ModerateCumberland Gap Backcountry Road — Middlesboro to Virginia Line via Ridge Road and Pinnacle Overlook
Boone's Gap, still rough after 250 years.
Feature: Camping
Nevada
ModerateLonesome Highway — Sheldon Antelope Range to Virgin Valley via the Black Rock Desert High Desert Rim
Opals, mustangs, and zero cell bars.
California
ModeratePothole Dome to Tuolumne Meadows — Tioga Road Backcountry Spur via Glen Aulin High Sierra Camp
Granite sky country above 8,600 feet.
New Mexico
ModerateLonesome Highway — Pecos Wilderness Divide to Mora via Gascon Point and Rociada (New Mexico)
Sangre de Cristo foothills above New Mexico's oldest valley.
Idaho
DifficultNellie Lake Road to Lick Creek Summit — Salmon River Mountains High Divide (Idaho)
Frank Church backcountry with creek crossings and no backup plan.
Alaska
ModerateDempster Highway South — Klondike Divide to Eagle Plains via the Ogilvie Mountains
Tundra, shale, and zero cell bars north.
USA
ModerateZion Plateau Road to Kolob Terrace — Red Butte and Lava Point Backcountry Drive
Zion from above — no crowds, all payoff.
USA
ExpertElephant Hill to Chesler Park — Needles District Canyon Country Loop
Canyonlands' hardest 4x4 loop, earned.
New Mexico
ModerateZuni Mountains Loop — Cibola National Forest High Road via Oso Ridge and Agua Fria
Sky island loop above the Rio Puerco that nobody runs.
USA
ModerateLonesome Highway — Seminoe Reservoir to Alcova via the Miracle Mile Road
Red canyon, blue river, zero cell signal.