New Mexico
ModerateCoyote Ridge to Pecos Wilderness — Santa Fe National Forest High Divide via Cowles and Panchuela Creek
Pecos high country on a dirt shelf above 10k.
Feature: High Altitude
Arizona
ModerateForest Road 500 — Kaibab Plateau North to Jacob Lake via East Rim Viewpoint
Grand Canyon's North Rim without the tour buses.
California
ModerateNacimiento-Ferguson Road — Coast Range Divide to Plaskett Creek via Santa Lucia Crest
Big Sur's sharpest ridgeline — no rails, no mercy.
Oregon
ModerateLonesome Highway — Steens Mountain Loop Road via Kiger Gorge Overlook and Blitzen Valley
Oregon's highest drive, wild horses included.
Colorado
DifficultPawnee Pass Road — Roosevelt National Forest High Plains to Indian Peaks Wilderness Edge via Left Hand Canyon
Indian Peaks from the dirt side, no crowds.
Nevada
DifficultElkhorn Ridge Road to Crystal Peak — Toquima Range Desert Spine via Monitor Valley (Nevada)
Nevada's forgotten range, earned mile by mile.
California
DifficultCoyote Flat to Bishop Pass Backdoor — White Mountain High Desert Approach via Coyote Ridge
Sierra's volcanic backdoor above 10,000 feet.
Colorado
ModerateBackcountry Byway — Owl Creek Pass to Cimarron via the Uncompahgre High Basin
The San Juan pass the Skyway crowd misses.
USA
ModeratePaiute Trail — Fish Lake Plateau to Beaver via Tushar Mountains High Route
Utah's high-plateau backbone route.
New Mexico
ModerateSawmill Road to Cloudcroft High Country — Lincoln National Forest Sacramento Mountains Crest
Pine forest and limestone crest above the desert.