Idaho
EasyFortymile Salmon River Canyon Road — Clayton to Salmon via the Pahsimeroi Valley Back Road
Two mountain ranges, one forgotten valley, zero crowds.
Feature: High Altitude
California
ModerateBodie Ghost Town Road — Bridgeport to Bodie via Cottonwood Canyon High Desert Approach
California's deadest boomtown, still standing.
California
DifficultLonesome Highway — Owens Valley to White Mountain Peak via Barcroft Road
Highest drivable road in the lower 48.
Colorado
DifficultPoverty Flat Road to Idarado Mine — Uncompahgre Gorge Rim to Red Mountain Pass Backdoor
Mining ruins and shelf roads above Ouray's box canyon.
Colorado
ModerateSlumgullion to Powderhorn — San Juan Plateau High Bench via Los Pinos River Divide
San Juan mesa country with zero crowds.
Montana
ModerateLonesome Highway — Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway South via Mono Creek and Antelope Creek Divide
Montana ghost towns and granite sky, no company needed.
Colorado
ModerateWest Elk Wilderness Road — Gunnison to Crested Butte via Kebler Pass and Anthracite Creek
Colorado's great aspen back road, no crowds.
Alaska
ExtremeLonesome Highway — Noatak River Valley to Aniuk Lowlands via Baird Mountains Foothills
Six million acres. No road in.
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.