California
ModerateCoyote Canyon Road — Anza-Borrego Desert Spring Run via Collins Valley
Desert creek crossings through Anza's old canyon.
Feature: Remote
Oregon
ModerateLonesome Highway — Siskiyou Crest Road to Ashland via Mount Ashland Spine
Two states, one crest, zero crowds.
North Dakota
ModerateLonesome Highway — Little Missouri Badlands to Marmarth via Chalky Buttes Back Road
Fossil badlands on a road the maps almost forgot.
Oregon
ModerateLonesome Highway — Owyhee Uplands to Jordan Craters via the Duck Valley Back Road
Lava craters and open desert with zero company.
South Dakota
ModerateCuster Peak Road — Black Hills High Country Drive to Fire Lookout via Deadwood Backcountry
Northern Black Hills summit with 360-degree payoff.
Arizona
EasySitgreaves Pass Road — Oatman to Kingman via Black Mountains Historic Route 66 Spine
Route 66's meanest mountain crossing.
Colorado
ModerateHalfmoon Road to Mount Massive Trailhead — Sawatch Range Subalpine Approach via East Fork
Base camp road for the Sawatch giants.
Montana
DifficultLonesome Highway — Pryor Mountains Wild Horse Range to Crooked Creek via Bighorn River Benchlands
Wild mustangs, limestone canyons, and zero crowds.
California
ModerateCoyote Hills to Lassen Peak Backdoor — Lassen Volcanic Backcountry via Butte Lake Road
Volcanic backdoor most Lassen visitors never find.
Alabama
ModerateWilderness Road to Breaks of the Sandy Creek — Bankhead National Forest Canyon Rim via Sipsey Fork
Alabama slot canyons nobody's talking about.