Chiapas
ModerateConzatti Road — San Cristóbal de las Casas to Comitán via the Chiapas Highland Plateau
Colonial highlands, cloud forest, and zero guardrails.
Feature: High Altitude
Mauritania
ExtremePiste du Tichit — Tidjikja to Tichit via the Aoukar Depression
Medieval caravan route. Zero margin for error.
Himachal Pradesh
ExpertManali–Leh Highway — Baralacha La to Tanglang La via the High Passes of Lahaul
Three passes over 4,900m. One brutal highway.
California
ModerateMineral King Road — Three Rivers to Mineral King via Sequoia Backcountry
Marmots, switchbacks, and no guardrails.
Kunene Region
ExtremeSkeleton Coast Wilderness Track — Möwe Bay to Van Zyl’s Pass via the Hartmann Valley
Africa's most punishing desert descent.
Gunma
DifficultOze Forest Road – Katashina to Oshimizu Highland Track
Oze's wild backside. No boardwalks here.
Hokkaido
ModerateAsahi-Dake Forest Road – Higashikawa Highland Circuit
Hokkaido's highest peak on dirt.
Ehime
ModerateShikoku Karst Forest Road – Tengu-Kogen to Tsuro Skyline
Karst ridgeline cattle country above the Pacific.
Japan
DifficultSoni Plateau Forest Road – Muro-Akame-Aoyama Quasi-National Park Tracks
Highland moorland Japan has mostly kept to itself.
Fukushima
ModerateBandai-Azuma Skyline – Fukushima Highland Traverse
Volcanic skyline, five colored lakes, no crowds.