Colorado
DifficultAlpine Loop — Lake City to Ouray and Silverton via Engineer, Cinnamon, and Animas Forks
Three 13,000-ft passes. One legendary loop.
Feature: Camping
Namibia
ExtremeVan Zyl’s Pass — Opuwo to Marienfluss Valley via the Kaokoland Wilderness Divide
One-way down. No room for mistakes.
Oregon
ModerateOregon BDR Northern Segment — Lakeview to Burns via the Warner Valley and Steens Mountain High Desert
Hart Mountain, Steens, and the Alvord at your feet.
KwaZulu-Natal
ExpertLesotho Sani Pass to Mokhotlong — Roof of Africa Eastern High Road via Sehonghong River Valley
Past the pub, into the real Lesotho.
New Zealand
DifficultRooftop of New Zealand — Lewis Pass to Hanmer Springs via the St. James Walkway High Country
Tussock, river fords, and the ghost of St. James.
New Mexico
ModerateTrans-America Trail — Pie Town to Quemado via the Continental Divide Grassland Corridor
High desert two-track across the New Mexico Divide.
Australia
ExtremeCanning Stock Route — Well 9 to Well 23 via the Gibson Desert Central Corridor
Loneliest corridor on Earth's longest stock route.
British Columbia
DifficultChilcotin Plateau War Road — Williams Lake to Bella Coola via the Chilcotin Highway and Freedom Road Descent
Built by settlers with dynamite. Still scares people.
Argentina
DifficultTierra del Fuego Off-Road Circuit — Lago Fagnano to Lago Escondido via the Sierra Alvear Spine
The bottom of the world, on dirt.
California
DifficultMojave Road — Piute Valley to Searchlight via Mojave Desert Southern Flank
Southern Mojave wash country. No crowds. No margin.