North Carolina
DifficultTrans-America Trail — Tellico Plains to Robbinsville via the Cherohala Skyway Backdoor
Appalachian ridge country the pavement tourists never find.
Feature: Camping
Australia
ExpertCanning Stock Route — Well 1 to Well 9 via the Gibson Desert Southern Gateway
The benchmark. 1,850km of desert isolation.
Canada
ModerateDempster Highway — Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk via the Mackenzie Delta Coastal Tundra
Gravel to the Arctic Ocean. No shortcuts.
Morocco
ExpertPiste de l’Erg Chebbi — Erfoud to Merzouga via the Saharan Dune Sea
Morocco's real Sahara — soft sand eats rigs.
Australia
ModerateGibb River Road — Home Valley to Wyndham via Cambridge Gulf and Keep River Rim
Croc country at the Kimberley's eastern edge.
Namibia
ExpertNaukluft Mountains 4×4 Trail — Büllsport to Tsauchab River Gorge via the Naukluft Plateau High Spine
Dolomite cliff descents with zero room for error.
Australia
DifficultGibb River Road — Beverley Springs to Mitchell Plateau via King Edward River and Kalumburu Road Junction
Mitchell Falls or bust — no rescue coming.
Northern Cape
ModerateNamaqualand Diamond Coast 4×4 Trail — Port Nolloth to McDougall’s Bay via the Diamond Coast Desert Fringe
Diamond coast, cold fog, and no second chances in soft sand.
Australia
DifficultGibb River Road — Bell Gorge to Beverley Springs via King Edward River and Barnett River Crossing
The Kimberley's loneliest corrugated stretch.
Nevada
ModerateLonesome Highway — Black Rock Desert Playa to Soldier Meadows via High Rock Canyon Rim
Playa to canyon. Flat to vertical. Nevada at its loneliest.