USA
DifficultCanyonlands Needles Overlook Road — Beef Basin to Ruin Park via Beef Basin Rim
Anasazi towers, zero crowds, real desert.
Feature: Historic
Arizona
ModerateNacimiento Mine Road to Hualapai Mountain Park — Mojave Desert High Country Climb via Boriana Canyon
Mojave desert floor to pine forest in one canyon climb.
USA
ModerateForest Road 23 — Gifford Pinchot Volcanic Backcountry from Randle to Trout Lake via Cispus Divide
Volcanic country and old-growth between two giants.
South Dakota
ModerateHarney Peak Road to Black Elk Peak — Black Hills High Country Circuit via Sylvan Lake Approach
Granite spires and lookout towers above the Black Hills.
Colorado
DifficultOphir Loop Road — San Juan Mountains Historic Mining Circuit via Ophir Pass and Silver Mountain
Shelf roads and silver ghosts above Telluride.
Idaho
ModerateYankee Fork Road — Custer Ghost Town to Jordan Creek via Salmon River Mountains Spine
Gold dredges, ghost towns, Idaho high country.
USA
DifficultMuddy Creek Road — San Rafael Swell’s Hidden Gorge from Emery to Hanksville
Drive the creek or turn around. No other option.
California
ModerateAmargosa River Road — Death Valley’s Hidden Desert Sink via Shoshone to Saratoga Spring
Desert sink, pupfish, and forgotten silence.
North Dakota
DifficultBloody Run Hills to Sully Creek — North Dakota Badlands Rim Road via Burning Coal Vein
Bentonite badlands and smoldering coal in forgotten ND.
California
ModerateMojave Road South — Afton Canyon to Ludlow via Broadwell Dry Lake and Lavic Lake Playa
Playa crossings and lava fields in the open Mojave.